AG 1997 02 17 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

STAFF ANALYSIS - PETITION 97-01 There are two petitioners involved in this single petition. One is requesting a change from Medium Density Residential to Limited Commercial. The second is requesting that two parcels, currently zoned Limited Commercial and Medium Density Residential, be rezoned to General Commercial - Special Use. Those petitions are combined because they are in the same block of N.C. 73 East, they adjoin, and the same factors affect their zoning. The intersection of N.C. 73, Irish Potato Road and Cold Springs Road serves as a neighborhood business and service center. It was studied in 1990 through the small area plan process and it was determined that it should be supported as a n~ighborhood commercial node. The requested change from MDR to LC is a straight rezoning that would allow an existing non-residential building to be used for light commercial and service purposes. The building is currently vacant and the MDR zoning would permit very limited non-residential uses. The Limited Commercial zoning is compatible with the neighborhood business role of this intersection and the change should be approved. The parcels requested for change from MDR and LC to a Special Use General Commercial are currently occupied by a non-conforming business - Interstate Plumbing. They are requesting the change to make the business conforming, to allow consolidation of all of their business at one location, and to make the zoning consistent between the two parcels. The plumbing business and supply yard are more intensive than most neighborhood businesses. The owners recently applied for a Certificate of Non- conforming Adjustment and it was denied in large part because of that intensity. The Special Use request allows the Planning and Zoning Commission to propose conditions that if accepted by the petitioner could address possible negative external effects. The petitioners have agreed to the following conditions to address any negative effects on surrounding properties and to limit the intensity of the business: 1) all parking in the front lot to be paved, 2) landscaping in the front area around the existing building to be improved and upgraded, 3) a new driveway cut to facilitate ingress/egress, 4) awnings placed over doors on the existing building to improve its appearance, 5) no more than 10,000 square feet of warehouse on the rear parcel, 6) meet all buffer and landscape requirements in the zoning ordinance, 7) no increase in large tractor trailer traffic, 8) no operation on Sundays, and 9) the entrance to the existing building will be moved from the front to the side.