2003

301 Task Force proposes zoning plan, sets public meeting

Slugline Publication Date Section(s) Page Byline By Stephanie Creech Daily Times Staff Writer Wilson's U.S. 301 Task Force put its stamp of approval last week on a proposed zoning plan that would require less dense residential construction and would tighten restrictions on business development. The task force also approved a new renters checklist that tenants can use to evaluate the condition of an apartment or house they are interested in renting. The goal of the zoning plan is to increase the compatibility between residential and commercial uses along the corridor. The zoning plan will go to Wilson City Council as part of the task force's overall recommended action plan for improving the U.S. 301 corridor. City Council, in turn, will likely send the zoning proposal to the Wilson Planning and Zoning Board for further review. Several current and past members of the planning board are on the task force. The task force will hold a community meeting May 8 to discuss its overall action plan with residents and business owners. The time and location of the community meeting will be announced. The task force will present its action plan to City Council May 15. Task force members decided it would be best to present its action plan to the community before going to City Council with it. The task force discussed holding what it is calling a Taste of 301 celebration in conjunction with the community meeting as a way to lure more people to the meeting. Restaurants along U.S. 301 would be asked to offer samples of their food and other promotional items. The idea is still in the planning stages. 301 Task Force Wilson Daily Times March 31, 2003 Local News a3

Existing zoning districts along the corridor include the following: Multi-family residential (RA-8 and RA-6), heavy commercial (B-5), intermediate business (B-4), agricultural (A-1), inner-city residential (RA-6I), industrial (I-1) and neighborhood mixed-use district (MX-1). An example of how the zoning changes could reduce the density of residential construction is found in the idea of changing RA-6 zones to RA-6I zones. The RA-6 zoning on the northern and southern ends of the corridor is proposed to switch to RA6I. The inner-city residential zoning district allows a density of up to 7.3 units per acre compared to the RA-6 maximum of 16 units per acre. Examples of tightening the restrictions on business development include changing the existing industrial zoning at the southern end of the corridor to a combination of intermediate business and inner-city residential zones. The task force is also proposing switching several of the heavy commercial and intermediate business zones to neighborhood service district (B-4A), which restricts potential uses and the required lot sizes. The neighborhood service district is geared toward spurring creation of neighborhood shopping centers compared to the intermediate business zone, which most of Wilson's businesses fall into. The proposed tenant checklist does not take the place of a minimum housing inspection. Residents will be able to get a copy of the pamphlet in the customer service area where people pay their utility bills at city hall. The checklist is also supposed to be helpful to landlords and property managers. The idea for the checklist came out of the task force's subcommittee on housing issues. Kevin Medeiros, city code enforcement officer, said city staff wants to promote use of the checklist to property managers and landlords. City staff hasn't presented the checklist to the property managers group yet, but Medeiros told the task force that the city plans to make the checklist available whether property managers support it or not. Improving the available housing stock and educating tenants are part of the overall goal of the task force. You may reach Stephanie Creech at creech@wilsondaily.com or at 265-7822.