2005

Roney Williamson Store property rezoned for future development

Slugline Publication Date Section(s) Page Byline City Council roney willimanson The Wilson Daily Times July 25, 2005 Local News a3

By Margaret J. Stair Daily Times Staff Writer By a split vote, Wilson City Council rezoned the land where the Roney Williamson Store sits on N.C. 42 west of the city. The small lot is a triangle bound by three state rights-of-way: N.C. 42, Old Raleigh Road, and Airport Boulevard. The store, which has been there for decades, became a grandfathered-in nonconforming use when it came under city zoning authority. It has been rezoned from agricultural to intermediate business, which would allow it to be used for a convenience store and gas station. But it will still be a non-conforming use because the lot is too small to meet city standards for the building. The zoning ordinance requires a 50-foot setback from N.C. 42 and 30-feet setbacks from the other two roads. Once N.C. Department of Transportation finishes its planned widening of Airport Boulevard, it is possible that it would give up its right-of way on the stub of Old Raleigh Road. A funding shortfall has delayed the project, however. The section of Old Raleigh Road between Airport Boulevard and N.C. 42 was closed to through traffic several years ago when N.C. 42 was widened and its intersection with Airport Boulevard was redesigned. It remains open from one end only as a driveway to access the store and three homes. Several neighbors spoke to council objecting to the re-zoning, but they are also unhappy with the impact of the current store on their properties. Susie Williamson asked council to delay its decision to give the neighbors time to find alternatives. "I'm begging you to give me time to see what I can do with the state people," she said.

Phil Hawley of Bartlett Engineering, on behalf of the owners, said that the rezoning is needed for there to be any other use of the property than the one that currently bothers the neighbors. It will have to be zoned commercial before a prospective buyer could get bank financing on it. Once the right-of way is closed, one 30-foot setback would no longer be required and the owner could buy half of the right-of way from NCDOT. That would result in a buildable lot. Meanwhile, keeping it zoned agricultural would not close the store. Council voted 5-1 to approve rezoning, with Bill Pitt casting the dissenting vote. Don Evans, Bob Thaxton, Bill Blackman, A.P. Coleman, and James Johnson III voted for it. Gwen Burton was absent. In other business, council unanimously: * Annexed by petition 11 parcels of property totaling 61.6 acres. * Accepted the reports of the Housing Improvement Focus Group and the Sidewalk Advisory Committee and authorized city staff to work on their recommendations. * Approved an agreement with N.C. Department of Transportation that the city will maintain landscaping the state will install along U.S. 301. * Granted a Highway Development District Conditional Use Permit for Parker Landscape & amp; Accents at 4937 N.C. 58 North. * Approved purchase of Motorola in-car digital video recording equipment for 20 police cars at a cost of $162,907.80, to be paid for out of asset forfeiture money. * Approved a contract with Cherry, Bekaert & amp; Holland to audit the city financial records for the 2004-05 fiscal year at a cost of $48,500. * Approved the sale of a 1970 T250 crane to Intercontinental Equipment Co., for no less than $9,500. * Authorized an Urgent Repair Program to be paid for with a $75,000 grant from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency. margaret@wilsondaily.com | 265-7878