MINUTES

MARCH 14, 2005

The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners met Monday, March 14, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. for their regular Board meeting.  Members present were Mayor Elizabeth Mofield and Commissioners Pat Ann McMurray, Donna Shannon, Robbie Farrell and Terry Marquez.  Commissioner Arthur Parker was unable to attend.  Others in attendance were Town Manager Bill Zell, Planning Director Giles Hopkins, Deputy Planner Heather Brown, Finance Officer Beth Wentland, Town Clerk Nancy Matthews and Matthew Moriarity, Reporter for the Pilot.

Planning Board members in attendance were Mike Dunn, Bill Prevatte and Elease Goodwin.  There were approximately thirty citizens in attendance to the meeting.

1.       Call to Order

Mayor Mofield called the meeting to order.  She welcomed all that were in attendance and acknowledged former Town Commissioners, Marshall Donathan and Walter Wright.  She stated that Mr. Wright also served as the Town’s interim manager.  Mayor Mofield then stated there were three Public Hearings to be held.

2.       PUBLIC HEARINGS

a.                 Public Hearing on Proposed Zoning Code Text Amendment ZA#05-01 concerning adding adult novelty retail as a conditional use in the HC Highway Commercial District.

Mayor Mofield opened the first Public Hearing on Proposed Zoning Code Text Amendment ZA#05-01 for public comments and Board discussion.

Planning Director Giles Hopkins stated this proposed zoning code text amendment is an effort to limit where novelty retail can be located.  He stated this will only strengthen the Town’s zoning code and the change will strictly limit where these types of places could operate.

With no further comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on ZA#05-01 closed.

b.                 Public Hearing on Application for Rezoning RZ#05-01 submitted by Elease Goodwin to rezone property located on the northwest corner of Maple Street and Pine Street from I-H Industrial (Heavy) District to B-1 Central Business District.

Mayor Mofield then opened Public Hearing on Application for Rezoning RZ#05-01 submitted by Elease Goodwin for public comments and Board discussion.

Planning Director Giles Hopkins stated Mrs. Goodwin is proposing to purchase the building and property which is currently owned by the A & R Railroad.  He stated the most logical use for this property is to rezone to B-1 Central Business District.

Mr. Abel, Plant Manager of W. C. Richards Company, spoke briefly stating he had no problem with this rezoning request but wanted Mrs. Goodwin to realize that her business would be next to a chemical coating and paints company and wanted to be able to have a friendly business relationship.

Mrs. Candy Hitchcock, 300 N. Pine Street, stated she is very excited that Mrs. Goodwin will be doing something to this property.  She asked if this would increase traffic in this area.

Mrs. Elease Goodwin stated she has made a proposal to A & R Railroad to purchase the property and building.  She stated, at this time, she does not know what she will do with the property.  She stated the building needs extensive repairs.  She also stated she has not problem with the coatings/paint company adjacent to her.  She also stated this property is in the historic district so she will have to adhere to the historic property regulations.

With no further public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Pubic Hearing on RZ#05-01 closed.

c.                 Public Hearing on Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#05-02 submitted by Partners in the Pits for a Residential Planned Development located at the Pit Golf Course, NC 5 Highway, Aberdeen, N. C.

Mayor Mofield then opened the Public Hearing on Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#05-02 for public comments and Board discussion.

          Planning Director Giles Hopkins stated the developers are asking for twenty-seven condo units and to possible construct an inn and conference center.  He stated these units would be on the Town’s water and sewer system.

With no further public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on CU#05-02 closed.

3.       Setting of the Agenda

Manager Zell asked to add as 8-c: New Business, Arbor Day Proclamation.

With no further changes, a motion was made by Commissioner Shannon, seconded by Commissioner McMurray, to approve the Setting of the Agenda as amended.  Motion unanimously carried.

4.       Approval of the Consent Agenda

All items listed below are considered routine or have been discussed at length in previous meetings and will be enacted by one motion.  No separate discussion will be held except on request by a member of the Board of Commissioners.

a.       Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of February 14, 2005; Work Session of March 7, 2005.

Commissioner Marquez stated the time of the Retreat was to be held at 9 a.m., not 8 a.m. and she pointed out several typographical errors.  Commissioner Farrell pointed out a correction of the name of the Scout Troop Leader. (Corrections have been made.)

A motion was made by Commissioner Marquez, seconded by Commissioner Shannon, to approve the Consent Agenda with needed corrections.  Motion unanimously carried.

5.       Financial Report

Finance Officer Beth Wentland spoke briefly giving the financial report for the month of February, 2005.  She stated in the General Fund, the February revenues exceeded the expenses by $128,184.38 which brings the current financial condition in the General Fund to a strong year-to-date net gain of $534,310.34.  She stated in the Water/Sewer Fund, the February revenues exceeded the expenses by $112,575.64 bringing the current financial conditional in the Water/Sewer Fund to year-to-date net gain of $195,902.34.

Ms. Wentland stated in the General Fund, the Town has earned 8.01% of the budgeted revenues as of the end of February and have incurred 71.84% of budgeted expenses.  She stated in the W/S Fund, have earned 62.37% of the budgeted revenues and incurred 49.98% of the budgeted expenses in the W/S Fund.

6.       Informal Discussion and Public Comment

a.       Mayor Mofield stated the Litter Sweep Campaign is coming up soon. She wants the Town cleaned up before the US Open Golf Tournament comes to the Sandhills area.  She also suggested to contact DOT to get US#1 cleaned up.

b.       Mr. Marshall Donathan, representing a group of friends of the late Lawrence Wicker, stated this group wanted to do something as a tribute to him.  He stated they came up with the idea of having a picture of him, which has been framed, and would like for this picture to be placed at the Aberdeen Fire Department as he served many years as the Town fire chief.  He also asked that the street in front of the fire station be renamed to “Wicker Street.”

Mayor Mofield asked that Mr. Donathan meet with Fire Chief, Tommy Brock, and have a picture taken of Mr. Donathan presenting this picture to the Aberdeen Fire Department.

c.       Manager Zell stated there would be a ribbon cutting on Tuesday the 15^th at 10 a.m. for CED/Sandhills Electrical Supply located on Highway #5.

d.       Manager Zell stated he had received the test results of the radium detected in Well #12.  He stated the tests came in at a total level of 2.8.  He stated the natural diffusion there has cleaned up whatever was in the water.  He stated he and Public Works Director, Rickie Monroe, feel really good about the results.  He stated the Town will still continue to send water samples for testing as required by the State of North Carolina. 

7.       Old Business

a.                 Consideation of approval of Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-09 requested by Gerald E. Bateman for Record and Data Storage Solutions, Inc.

A motion was made by Commissioner Shannon to make findings A-G for a Record and Data Storage Solutions, Inc. as follows:

A.      That the establishment, maintenance or operation of the conditional use will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort or general welfare;

B.      That the conditional use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted or substantially diminish and impair property values within the neighborhood;

C.      That the establishment of the conditional use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of the surrounding property for uses permitted in the district;

D.      That the exterior architectural appeal and functional plan of any proposed structure will not be so at variance with either the exterior architectural appeal and functional plan of the structures already constructed or in the course of construction in the immediate neighborhood or the character of the applicable district as to cause a substantial depreciation in the property values within the neighborhood;

E.      That adequate utilities, access roads, drainage, and/or necessary facilities have been or are being provided;

F.      That adequate measures have been or will be taken to provide ingress and egress so designed as to minimize traffic congestion in the public streets; and

G.      That the conditional use shall, in all other respects, conform to the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located except as such regulations may in each instance be modified by the Board of Commissioners pursuant to the recommendation of the Planning Board;

          Additional Conditions:

(1.)    All work on the conditional use must be completed within five years of Board approval or the permit shall be null and void.

And further to approve the Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-09.  Seconded by Commissioner McMurray. Motion unanimously carried.

8.      New Business

a.                 Consideration of approval of Application for Site Plan Review SP#05-02 submitted by Construction Systems, Inc. to construct a metal building to the left of the existing Polythin Films, Inc. building located at 155 Anderson Street, Aberdeen, N. C.

A motion was made by Commissioner Farrell, seconded by Commissioner McMurray, to approve Application for Site Plan Review SP#05-02.  Motion unanimously carried.

b.                 Consideration of filling vacancy for ETJ alternate member for the Planning Board.

Mayor Mofield stated there were two people who have volunteered to serve on the Board:  Tommy Davis and Elaine Smith.  She stated the Board would make their nomination by written ballot and votes would be tallied by the Town Clerk.

With nominations tallied with a vote of three to one in favor of Elaine Smith.  A motion was then made by Commissioner McMurray, seconded by Commissioner Marquez, to recommend to the Moore

County Board of Commissioners to appoint Elaine Smith to fill the vacancy as ETJ alternate member of the Aberdeen Planning Board.  Motion unanimously carried.

c.                 Proclamation proclaiming March 18, 2005 as Arbor Day.

Mayor Mofield stated there would be an Arbor Day event at the Lake Park with the planting of a dogwood tree.  She stated Aberdeen Elementary School would be in attendance and each child would receive a pine seedling to take home and plant.  She also stated Commissioner Farrell would be in attendance and would read the Proclamation to al the school children.  She then read the Proclamation to the public proclaiming March 18^th as Arbor Day.

9.       Other Business

Mayor Mofield informed the public that the Parks & Recreation Department would be having an Easter Egg Hunt at the Malcolm Blue Farm on Saturday, March 19^th.

Mayor Mofield reminded the Board of the Retreat for Saturday, March 19^th to begin at 9 a.m.  She stated the staff and Board members would be talking about plant for the next fiscal year.

10.     Adjourn

With no further items for discussion or action, motion was made by Commissioner Farrell, seconded by Terry Marquez, to adjourn the meeting.  Motion unanimously carried.

_____________________                               ______________________

Nancy M. Matthews, Town Clerk                        Elizabeth B. Mofield, Mayor