Zoning commission approves developments, special use permit
The Greensboro Zoning Commission met Monday from 2 p.m. to about 7 p.m. to discuss a variety of rezonings, annexations and one special use permit for a scrap-processing facility on Holts Chapel Road.
The commission unanimously approved the rezoning of about an acre of land on the east side of Arlington Street between East Lewis and East Lee streets for another phase of Bob Isner's Southside Neighborhood.
And zoning officials, in a lengthy and somewhat contentious discussion, approved by a vote of 6 to 3 a special use permit for the operation of a salvage yard and scrap processing facility on 5.46 acres of on Holts Chapel between East Market and East Camel streets. The commission reviewed this item in a quasi-judicial hearing, in which every speaker had to be sworn in.
Salvage America already has been operating at that location for about a year, but a series of what some see as errors or omissions and others see as misunderstandings has called into question whether the company's use of the land fits the city's plans for it. Monday, the commission was charged with determining whether Salvage America could receive special permission to continue its operations - breaking down and recycling waste from new construction - just off Market. But the conversation between zoning officials, planners, area business owners and company representatives often deteriorated into semantics.
Zoning officials first voted to deny the company a permit, but the motion failed. The majority of commission members approved the company's operations at its current location, sealing the deal for Salvage America unless someone appeals to the City Council at its meeting June 20.
Salvage America also has taken its case - basically that it's a recycling center and not a salvage and scrap yard and therefore should be able to operate in the city without a permit - to the Board of Adjustment. The board ruled against the company, 6 to 1, on Sept. 26. Monday, Marc Isaacson, the attorney representing the company, said Salvage America is appealing this decision.
Other commission decisions from the Monday meeting went as follows:
* The commission unanimously approved (an 8-0 vote with one recusal) the rezoning of the Timco Structures Center at 819 Radar Road. Timco plans to vacate the building, and the owner, Empire Building LLC, asked to expand the property's zoning to allow an increased range of uses when appealing to potential tenants.
* The commission approved, by a 7-2 vote, a proposal to raze The Record Exchange, H&R Block and two single-family homes at Spring Garden and South Aycock streets for a Walgreens with a drive-through. The proposal, which evoked some strong resident protest and disapproval from city planners, could land before the City Council on June 20 if appealed. For more, see today's News & Record.
* Kavanagh Associates brought forward two proposals for about 11 acres at the southeast quadrant of Lees Chapel Road and Yanceyville Street. The company hopes to put in a series of condominiums for sale there as part of a mixed-use development - with business at the immediate corner of Lees Chapel and Yanceyville. The residences will be similar to those at Cotswold Corner - two bedrooms and two bathrooms starting at $90,000. A site plan showed at the meeting depicted about 9 residential buildings boasting a maximum of 108 condos. Kavanagh did not state any definite plans for the commercial tract on the corner, but neighbors said they hope to see a restaurant or neighborhood-serving retail there. The zoning commission ruled favorably on both proposals, which will come before the City Council at a June 6 public hearing.
* The commission ruled favorably on an annexation that would bring about 6.1 acres into the city for a town home project near the future Urban Loop. The project, which will come before the City Council on June 6, could include up to 108 condos on the south side of West Wendover Avenue east of Brewster Drive and north of Cates Drive. A site plan showed at the meeting depicted four condo buildings on the property.
* The commission ruled favorably on an annexation of about 1.9 acres at the northeast quadrant of Guilford College Road and Sapp Road for a drive-through coffee shop and small strip retail. The proposal will come before the City Council on June 6.
* The commission unanimously approved a rezoning for a town home development at 4607 to 4710 Tower Road, despite protests from residents of Tower Glen, a neighboring town home development. The project would be phase two of the Villas at Hamilton Lake, and would, according to a site plan, boast 20 units in 10 buildings. Neighbors who own single-family homes in the area showed up at the meeting to express support for the development, which they said would clean up an area that includes some rundown houses.