Residents speak put against annexation, new development

Feb. 23—Some Carolina Trace residents are speaking out against a proposed housing development that would be adjacent to the new Lee County sports complex, Carolina Trace and positioned near the merger of U.S. 421 and N.C. 87.

During Tuesday's Sanford City Council meeting, a public hearing was held on a petition for voluntary annexation and rezoning by AGA Corporation, Groce Development LLC. Those against the development said they are concerned about the traffic and storm water runoff.

The consideration of the application by Brin Richards of urban Design Partners to rezone three tracts of land compromising over 52 acres of land, with frontage on N.C. 87, from residential restricted (RR), office & institutional (O&I), and general commercial (C-2) to the NC HWY 87 Mixed Use Conditional Zoning District to develop a mixed-use community consisting of multi-family, townhomes, and commercial development.

Carolina Trace resident David Smoak spoke out against the annexation and the rezoning request. He expressed concern that continuous annexation would eventually turn all of Lee County into only the City of Sanford and cautioned the council to consider this when constantly approving annexation requests. Smoak also expressed concern for the safety of new residents when fire and EMS would be needed, stretching the Carolina Trace Fire Department beyond its ability to protect the citizens already in its district.

Michael Locke spoke about the potential stormwater run-off issue; how it could possibly be a major issue down the road with this new development, expressing his concern, in all due respect, that due-diligence into this matter had possibly not been examined in detail by city council.

Kurt Bradley, of Chapel Hill, spoke in favor of the development, noting that he might be a future investor into this project, and asked to board to approve the rezoning.

Vice-President of Carolina Trace Association, Burton Witaschek asked Sanford City Council if they had received a letter with their concerns, to which it was understood they did receive said letter from the CT Association, and nothing more was elaborated on the letter.

Council also honored Lee County Manager Dr. John Crumpton, who is retiring.

In other business, council:

—Approved an amendment to a a contract between the City of Sanford and The Haskell Company for construction management for Triangle Innovation Point (TIP) water and sewer improvements was approved.

—Also approved, were the operating budget of the City of Sanford for fiscal year 2022-2023, Washington Avenue, a grant for community development revitalization grant CDBG# 21-C-4022, and rural economic development block program approval and grant agreement for the mayor to execute grant related documents were all approved.

—Several resolutions for street closures for upcoming festivals and events were approved. These resolutions included the temporary closing of Bracken Street for Toss for a Cause fundraiser, Saturday April 1, the temporary closure of the parking lot at the corner of Cole Street and Steele Street for the Blues, Brews, and BBQ Event, hosted by Hugger Mugger, Friday April 12 to Saturday April 22, 2023, until 9 p.m., and the temporary closure of selected uptown streets for the Sanford Block Party.

—Discussed a text amendment to the United Development Ordinance was discussed, to amend the matrix so that "Mini-warehousing / self-service storage leasing" is permitted with development regulations.

—Discussed of a text amendment to the Unified Development ordinance to add the land use category "Food Truck Park" under "General Sales or Service" of the permitted use matrix and make the proposed use permitted within the neighborhood commercial (NC), highway commercial (HC), light commercial & office (C-1), general commercial (C-2), office and institutional (O&I), central business district (CBD), light industrial (LI), and heavy industrial (HI) zoning districts.

The next regular Sanford City Council meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on March 7.