[0:00] We want to apologize to everybody just a

[0:03] little bit for being

[0:05] a little tardy for our meeting because

[0:07] we were all over the county commission

[0:08] meetings

[0:09] trying to watch over our

[0:11] water

[0:12] project down on 115. So, if anybody in

[0:15] this room

[0:16] gets

[0:17] good or bad information from that

[0:19] meeting, please raise your hand and

[0:21] we'll recognize that.

[0:23] Uh,

[0:24] I'd like to call upon the Scouts from

[0:26] Troop 301 to

[0:36] Scoutmaster.

[0:37] >> All right. Bow your heads, please.

[0:40] Heavenly Father, we gather today

[0:41] grateful for the community we share and

[0:44] the freedom we enjoy. As this flag is

[0:46] presented, let it serve as a powerful

[0:48] reminder of our unity, our history, and

[0:51] the shared values that bind us together.

[0:53] Grant our local leaders the wisdom,

[0:55] humility, and strength to serve this

[0:57] community with integrity.

[0:59] Bless all those who serve, past and

[1:01] present, to protect and uphold the

[1:03] ideals this flag represents. May we

[1:06] leave this room today steadfast in our

[1:08] duty to each other and dedicated to the

[1:10] service of our neighbors. Amen.

[1:18] All right. Will you all join me in the

[1:19] pledge?

[1:21] I pledge

[1:21] >> allegiance to the flag of the United

[1:24] States of America and to the republic

[1:27] for which it stands, one nation under

[1:30] God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:33] justice for all.

[1:57] » I can recognize this fine young the

[1:59] young men.

[2:01] » I'll be young today.

[2:02] >> There you go. You know enough.

[2:06] Thank you.

[2:07] Appreciate it.

[2:08] >> Thank you, sir.

[2:09] >> Thank you.

[2:09] >> Yes, sir.

[2:14] » Oh.

[2:15] What?

[2:16] was that again?

[2:17] >> Okay.

[2:18] >> You can go on the points.

[2:27] So, on behalf of the America 250

[2:29] Committee,

[2:30] we're making this presentation to you

[2:32] and I think that extends to your entire

[2:35] department. I want to recognize the

[2:37] chief. During the 4th of July

[2:39] festivities, we had not a single heat

[2:42] related incident. We had not a single

[2:44] fender bender.

[2:45] We didn't have any problem at all.

[2:47] That's the way to count on you.

[2:48] >> Thank you, sir.

[2:49] >> I'll pass it on to you.

[2:51] >> THANK YOU.

[2:51] >> [applause]

[3:04] » ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS TO THE

[3:05] RELATIONS?

[3:09] I DON'T HAVE ANY motions to bring to the

[3:10] agenda.

[3:13] >> I.

[3:13] >> On the table.

[3:15] >> I.

[3:16] >> Thank you.

[3:20] » I move to adopt.

[3:21] >> General public comments.

[3:26] » Ladies and gentlemen,

[3:27] >> I.

[3:28] Is this Ragland?

[3:30] >> Yes.

[3:32] >> Who is the one who made this

[3:33] presentation?

[3:37] » Thank you.

[3:38] >> Okay. I'm sorry.

[3:47] So, we will close today.

[3:49] Sorry. We will hold.

[3:50] Thank

[3:54] Hi, Mrs. Ragland.

[3:56] >> Okay.

[3:57] >> We'll we'll come back to you in just a

[3:59] moment, please. I've got another order

[4:01] over here. Thank you.

[4:06] Um

[4:07] Any reason

[4:09] routine business with consent? Consent

[4:11] business?

[4:13] >> Mr. Mayor, I make a motion we accept the

[4:17] routine consent agenda as written.

[4:20] >> Second.

[4:23] >> All in favor?

[4:24] All opposed?

[4:26] Mr. Manager.

[4:28] >> Mr. Mayor, if I could chime in here.

[4:30] At the last meeting here, it was

[4:31] mentioned by the board that they would

[4:33] like to

[4:35] learn some additionally about the river

[4:37] district area. And as a result, the

[4:40] developer

[4:41] Marty Pearson,

[4:43] who's with the non-profit,

[4:46] uh has suggested that he would be in a

[4:48] position to come up

[4:50] with a special meeting

[4:52] on August 24th that morning. And then of

[4:55] course that evening

[4:57] is the Wilkesboro WCC annual meeting.

[5:00] So, you can be here

[5:01] for that as well.

[5:02] Um

[5:03] Wilkesboro has expressed interest with

[5:06] the Wilkesboro board and possibly a

[5:08] joint meeting with the North Wilkesboro

[5:10] board

[5:11] at the 1915 location, which they will

[5:14] also have

[5:16] offered the use of

[5:17] on that morning of August 24th.

[5:21] And

[5:22] um we just need to

[5:24] define a time. And if that's convenient

[5:27] for you.

[5:29] » I'm good with

[5:31] We're good with that.

[5:32] >> All right.

[5:33] >> I'm good with August 24th.

[5:34] >> Okay, good.

[5:39] » Tuesday is fine.

[5:41] >> That's fine.

[5:44] » Okay, Tuesday at 9:00

[5:45] >> So, we'll have that set when we that

[5:47] coordinated and then we'll let you know.

[5:50] the time.

[5:53] Um

[5:55] May we discuss possibilities for

[5:59] coordinating a single meeting monthly

[6:02] versus two meetings which we're

[6:04] currently doing.

[6:05] Which could

[6:06] potentially result in substantial

[6:09] time savings and

[6:11] a lot of paperwork and such, especially

[6:14] efficient and

[6:15] Um

[6:17] We can have a deal with a shared file

[6:19] and putting more data out on the internet with global access.

[6:24] I just wanted to ask the board's

[6:26] consideration to

[6:28] entertain possibilities for

[6:30] a

[6:31] third Thursday meeting each month and

[6:33] move away from the two.

[6:36] >> Would you be okay if we had some

[6:38] internal discussions over the next

[6:41] couple of weeks and come back with a

[6:42] decision on the

[6:44] 20 Whatever the next board meeting is.

[6:46] 27th. Yeah, the 27th. Are you okay with

[6:49] that?

[6:50] way we can [clears throat] just

[6:50] kind of

[6:52] mull it over and

[6:53] >> Absolutely.

[6:54] >> I'm not opposed to it.

[6:56] >> Absolutely.

[6:57] >> Just want to let I just, you know,

[6:59] get a get a

[7:01] as uh someone once said, get a

[7:03] temperature of the board. See how they

[7:05] feel about it.

[7:07] has no problem with it.

[7:08] You know, there's a comment on it.

[7:10] >> It is in the town code, so we would have

[7:12] to change the code

[7:13] to make that change.

[7:15] >> My comment would be is that's in my time

[7:19] here that

[7:20] the chairman Blankly has been

[7:22] instrumental in giving us strength and I

[7:25] think that would

[7:27] allow him to use his talents more

[7:29] properly before

[7:32] consider that.

[7:35] » Uh the next item that I'll mention

[7:38] uh we had discussed with knowing the

[7:41] timing of it.

[7:43] So, I did

[7:44] work with David Weaver and Mike Rivers

[7:47] and

[7:47] they provided an estimate

[7:50] as well as the cost associated with that

[7:53] involving the use of the equipment

[7:55] staff would have

[7:57] and that total came up to $259.37

[8:03] as their estimate

[8:05] for mowing weeds.

[8:11] » I'm not

[8:12] happy to say that

[8:14] I made

[8:14] a mistake because I don't want to

[8:16] commercial

[8:20] Remember

[8:21] in that

[8:22] they could mow all of the property we

[8:24] have

[8:25] in Mississippi railway station

[8:28] and Sandy Hollow

[8:30] and 10th and Main

[8:32] that was

[8:34] it was $75

[8:36] for all of

[8:38] And may may be possible for us to look

[8:41] at

[8:42] putting out the bid

[8:44] and see what we may be able to do

[8:45] if that becomes an issue.

[8:51] » That's for information purposes.

[8:53] Lastly,

[8:55] had David Weaver

[8:57] and we

[8:59] been discussing our need for a new

[9:01] garbage truck.

[9:03] trash truck

[9:04] Uh the existing unit has

[9:07] the the canister unit on it.

[9:11] is obsolete

[9:13] Uh one of the parts is broken.

[9:16] Tried to locate a replacement part

[9:18] that's not available.

[9:20] Uh

[9:21] we've tried several resources to do

[9:23] that. So,

[9:25] David has

[9:26] identified

[9:28] a unit that

[9:30] actually was brought up as a

[9:31] demonstrator unit

[9:33] for our use for a couple of days.

[9:36] And that that truck

[9:38] David did

[9:40] I don't know if I can add anything with

[9:43] uh

[9:44] essentially that truck in lieu of two

[9:47] loads to the landfill today

[9:49] based on the

[9:50] auction

[9:52] It lessened our hauls to one time today

[9:55] for that particular truck.

[9:57] >> Yes.

[9:57] >> And so

[9:59] that alone would identify and save

[10:01] somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000

[10:04] dollars annually

[10:05] in this fuel.

[10:06] >> Okay.

[10:08] >> But the uh

[10:10] you can sort of clarify the cost of this

[10:12] unit. I think it's 287,601. [snorts]

[10:16] And uh we discussed lease possibilities.

[10:19] It doesn't appear that that's

[10:21] a viable option.

[10:25] » The lease [clears throat]

[10:26] The lease on it was like $6,000 and some

[10:29] a month

[10:31] for 18-month lease and the time you add

[10:33] those

[10:34] >> [clears throat]

[10:34] >> lease payments up

[10:36] and then I think there was somewhere in

[10:37] the neighborhood of $210,000

[10:39] left to pay at the end of the lease,

[10:41] you're $50,000 more than what it would

[10:44] be just to buy the truck straight out.

[10:47] So

[10:48] and they they done a 24-month lease also

[10:51] and it was the same way. Still coming up

[10:52] $50,000 more than what the truck would

[10:55] cost if we bought it.

[10:58] » This is a 2026 Freightliner or

[11:01] something?

[11:02] >> Yes. And it's a square body style now

[11:06] and what we're running now is the round

[11:07] canister style.

[11:08] Um

[11:10] the round canister style has one

[11:12] telescoping piston cylinder that packs

[11:15] and

[11:17] the packer goes in and people are like,

[11:18] "What is this?"

[11:19] And it pushes it where the seals and

[11:21] stuff out in that telescoping

[11:24] cylinder and that cylinder is $12,000

[11:27] and we usually go through about one of

[11:28] those

[11:29] a year.

[11:30] So it's about all we would of

[11:33] them. And uh the one that we're looking

[11:35] at, the square body, it gets up two

[11:37] cylinders that pushes the packer

[11:39] and it packs it tight. That's the way we

[11:42] can get everything in one day on one

[11:45] load.

[11:46] Instead of having two loads like we're

[11:47] doing today.

[11:50] » Now, this is So, is this truck

[11:53] Is that for recycling or is this for

[11:55] garbage?

[11:55] >> This

[11:57] The truck that we're running every day

[11:58] now will go to

[12:00] with our backup truck and run for

[12:02] cardboard on Fridays. But the new truck

[12:05] will go in service and be running every

[12:07] day for the commercial dumpster route.

[12:09] >> Now, which one

[12:10] Is this the one that we

[12:12] for the alleys that would go to sideways

[12:14] >> Yes.

[12:15] >> Yeah, I know.

[12:16] >> Yeah.

[12:16] >> We talked about that.

[12:17] >> Yeah, we talked about

[12:18] >> Yeah.

[12:19] Okay.

[12:23] Is that [clears throat]

[12:25] the future? I know a lot of commercial

[12:27] people are going to the front loader.

[12:29] >> We have looked into the front loader. Um

[12:33] It will It will work in some places in

[12:36] town. Some places it won't. Big problem

[12:37] we're going to have

[12:39] is some of the alleys here in town

[12:41] and some American Corners and the way

[12:43] they got their dumpsters laid out.

[12:45] Um it'd be hard to get into there.

[12:48] Uh another problem we got is the town

[12:50] does not own the dumpsters

[12:53] and the businesses own them.

[12:55] And to be able to use a front loader,

[12:59] there's a cost with putting sleeves on

[13:01] the side of the dumpster so the arms can

[13:02] get them in.

[13:04] And I checked with Jim Beeman and he

[13:05] said it's about $300 a dumpster

[13:08] to put those on.

[13:09] And uh so that would

[13:11] to go to a front loader, that would have

[13:13] to be

[13:14] something that you know would have to be

[13:15] discussed between with the town and the

[13:17] customers. And also with a front load

[13:20] truck,

[13:21] you're looking at

[13:23] a little over $400,000 for a truck.

[13:27] And um

[13:28] so

[13:29] the trucks uh

[13:32] GS Products, which I got the quote from,

[13:35] uh they're in use down towards the coast.

[13:39] Um

[13:40] Gatlinburg uses them, and they're really

[13:43] big in Texas. So, there's it's not a lot

[13:46] where

[13:47] out there on the limb.

[13:49] Uh and with this truck, will we get the

[13:51] same warranty as the

[13:54] In fact, it is the same as Freightliner.

[13:55] Uh there's

[13:57] pretty much except for the truck

[13:58] chassis, uh we're going to be short like

[14:00] 3 months on it.

[14:02] >> Okay, but everything else

[14:03] >> Yeah, everything else will have warranty

[14:04] on it, just

[14:07] » How many How many units

[14:09] >> [snorts]

[14:09] >> waste disposal units are there out there some 140?

[14:14] >> There's some 140

[14:16] stops, but some of the stops has got

[14:19] more than one dumpster, like the

[14:21] Department of Correction, they got six.

[14:23] So,

[14:24] uh they're picking up several

[14:26] dumpsters in that area.

[14:29] » Is there any advantage to

[14:32] I mean, I know leasing and leasing is an

[14:34] expensive option a lot of times. Is

[14:36] there any advantage

[14:38] to

[14:39] uh financing the I mean, you know, like

[14:41] instead of just the

[14:43] single cash outlay, you know,

[14:45] putting a

[14:47] deposit down and then

[14:50] you know,

[14:50] paying the rest over time? Is there an

[14:52] advantage or not?

[14:54] >> In my opinion,

[14:56] I think

[14:57] in this situation, you'd be better off

[14:59] to

[15:00] just

[15:01] >> I get your point. Buy basically.

[15:03] Okay.

[15:03] >> Yes.

[15:05] >> Also, I have a question I can't see.

[15:07] >> Uh we usually try to get 5 years

[15:10] everyday service out of it,

[15:12] and then

[15:13] buy another one and it goes to a backup

[15:15] and get at least 5 to 10 more out of it.

[15:18] Cuz it's not running everyday.

[15:20] >> The existing unit you have, you had it

[15:22] for

[15:23] >> The existing unit we got a for a 2020

[15:26] that we're running right now.

[15:28] Uh the one that we will be replacing is

[15:30] a 2012.

[15:34] » You know, I talked to Mayor Wilson Wlkes

[15:36] for about the possibility of

[15:39] uh

[15:40] calculating some method in the future

[15:43] where we could

[15:44] uh

[15:45] share

[15:47] truck. Pay due uh bi-weekly.

[15:50] Uh

[15:52] recycling pickup, I'm assuming that's

[15:53] the roll out.

[15:55] And those are rear load, correct?

[15:56] >> Yes.

[15:57] >> Uh

[15:59] what's your opinion Well,

[16:01] could you look into that just for the

[16:03] future, not this truck. I'm not saying

[16:05] that for the future

[16:07] where we might save money for both

[16:08] towns.

[16:11] >> It'd be tight and it'd be hard to do cuz

[16:12] we we run 4 days a week uh trash and

[16:15] recycling's every other week and

[16:17] you know, something that we could look

[16:18] into.

[16:19] >> Not impossible.

[16:22] No.

[16:24] >> I would think so.

[16:25] >> Eddie, where would the funding come from

[16:27] this? Would it have to come from the

[16:27] fund balance?

[16:29] >> It would. Yes, sir.

[16:30] >> Are we in a position fund balance-wise

[16:31] to be able to afford this?

[16:33] >> We can. Yes, sir.

[16:36] >> Well,

[16:37] you know, capital expenditures what the

[16:39] fund balance is for. It's always been in

[16:41] my mind what the fund balance was meant

[16:43] to be used for.

[16:44] The services the citizens of North

[16:46] Wilkesboro. So,

[16:48] from this chair,

[16:51] I'm I'm fine with proceeding. Uh um

[16:55] do we need further investigation or can

[16:57] we just codify this in the form of a

[17:00] motion?

[17:01] >> We can

[17:02] proceed.

[17:04] This this truck is on um North Carolina

[17:06] Sheriff's Association and me and Eddie

[17:09] also talked to uh Mack representative.

[17:12] The Mack representative was 220 or 328.

[17:17] for this truck. and the only

[17:19] difference is is the chassis. It's got

[17:21] same better.

[17:23] >> Well,

[17:25] you know,

[17:26] there's nothing wrong with the

[17:27] Freightliner.

[17:29] The Bulldog is neat, but the

[17:30] Freightliner will suffice.

[17:32] >> And this Freightliner we can have it

[17:33] within a week.

[17:36] » What's the thing?

[17:38] What what are you going to do with the

[17:39] old truck?

[17:40] >> We'll put it on GovDeals and sell it.

[17:42] Yeah.

[17:43] You get what you can, I guess.

[17:46] >> Chris, what do you You you want to work?

[17:49] Good.

[17:51] Uh

[17:52] Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion

[17:53] that we proceed with the purchase of

[17:55] trash truck

[17:57] from GSP Marketing for the amount of

[17:59] $287,601.

[18:03] >> I'll second.

[18:04] >> All in favor.

[18:06] >> Aye.

[18:07] >> Thank you all.

[18:08] >> Thank you.

[18:10] >> Thanks for your due diligence, John.

[18:12] You're welcome.

[18:18] >> I did.

[18:22] » All right.

[18:24] >> Any old business?

[18:25] >> No.

[18:31] Any old business?

[18:32] >> How about that?

[18:35] » Any business?

[18:37] We can call for a public hearing

[18:40] for the removal of personal ID 2203757

[18:44] from the county of PJ.

[18:52] And and let me remind you folks that

[18:54] you'll be able to speak during this

[18:56] time.

[18:57] Uh

[18:57] and you will uh

[19:00] just maybe 5 minutes.

[19:07] » [clears throat]

[19:09] >> Can anybody else get to see you all

[19:10] again?

[19:11] >> Um

[19:12] what you've got here before you tonight

[19:14] is a request, a public hearing for the

[19:17] removal of a certain parcel identified

[19:19] as 2203

[19:22] 757 from the town's extraterritorial

[19:24] jurisdiction.

[19:26] Just as a reminder, the extraterritorial

[19:28] jurisdiction is where we govern our

[19:31] zoning regulations. We do not have

[19:33] public

[19:34] um police powers there. So, um most of

[19:37] the regulation that you find in ETJ is

[19:40] strictly to

[19:42] um straight from your zoning ordinance.

[19:45] The request tonight is to, as I stated,

[19:48] remove a parcel from the Town of

[19:49] Wilkesboro's ETJ. The property, which

[19:52] we'll get to a location of that property

[19:54] here in a minute and an actual map for

[19:55] you to look at for members of the public

[19:57] here tonight to look at, is off of Old

[19:59] US 421 Road and Lincoln Heights Road

[20:02] near the intersection.

[20:03] The total acreage for the parcel is 5

[20:05] acres.

[20:06] Town sewer is available for this par-

[20:09] parcel and access to water is available

[20:11] for this parcel through a private water

[20:13] association.

[20:14] Um just as a reminder,

[20:16] >> [clears throat]

[20:16] >> excuse me,

[20:17] any connection to town sewer in the

[20:19] future would require an annexation of

[20:21] this property.

[20:23] So, I'm going to go over the um

[20:26] location and we'll kind of flip back to

[20:29] this map just to give a general idea of

[20:30] where this property is located. So,

[20:32] you've got here the location of the property is right

[20:38] here where the circle dot is and you've

[20:40] got your

[20:41] uh Lincoln Heights Road and your Old US

[20:43] 421 Road. Um this map is quite detailed

[20:46] um because of the location where it is,

[20:48] it falls um in a unique situation. So,

[20:52] the property itself is zoned R6

[20:55] high-density residential.

[20:57] There um and we'll get to the

[20:59] surrounding zoning here in a minute to

[21:02] talk about the property in more depth.

[21:05] Um

[21:05] but you will find that there is This map

[21:08] does look a little busy, so I'll go into

[21:09] some more detail later on.

[21:12] So, as part of the request to remove a

[21:14] piece of land from the town's ETJ, the

[21:16] recommendation is to follow the same way

[21:19] it was established.

[21:20] Um, obviously we've had our ETJ for

[21:22] quite a few years now, decades. Um, and

[21:25] the way that it is established typically

[21:28] to call for a public hearing and to

[21:30] provide notice to the property owner.

[21:32] So, the town of Rolesville, you can see

[21:33] advertised on June 26th, 2026,

[21:38] which is required to provide more than

[21:39] that 2-week um requirement for

[21:42] rezonings. It's just recommended to

[21:44] provide a month, so more than a month is

[21:46] provided. Um, so on June 26th, letters

[21:49] were sent out to both the applicant, the

[21:51] Vanderbigs who are here tonight. Um, if

[21:53] you have any questions for them after I

[21:55] get done speaking, as well as to the

[21:57] neighboring property owners, and those

[21:59] property owners are identified um in

[22:01] that map here. Um, anybody who was

[22:04] adjacent or abutting to these properties

[22:07] would have been sent a letter.

[22:10] Recommendation also is to post the

[22:12] property, so as you guys can see, on

[22:14] June 26th, two signs were put on the

[22:17] property, one on the intersection, one

[22:19] on the Heights Road, and one on both US

[22:21] 401.

[22:24] As part of your agenda packet, um you

[22:26] will find what we kind of formally call

[22:28] the application. Um, it is a letter from

[22:31] the um applicants here tonight

[22:33] requesting that the board consider

[22:35] removal of the property from the town's

[22:37] extraterritorial jurisdiction.

[22:40] Again, as part of um the notification,

[22:44] um an advertisement was put in the

[22:45] Rolesville in the Rolesville Storm

[22:47] Patriot on July 1st. That ran one time

[22:50] notifying the public of the public

[22:53] hearing tonight.

[22:55] So, we need to get into the review

[22:59] criteria, but ultimately we'll start

[23:01] with the future land use map, which is

[23:03] having your comprehensive land use plan.

[23:05] So, the future land use map identifies

[23:07] this parcel as medium density

[23:08] residential. As explained in previous

[23:11] hearings, medium density density

[23:13] residential doesn't tie the board to a

[23:15] specific zoning district in our in our

[23:18] zoning table.

[23:20] However, it does allude that the

[23:22] comprehensive plan envisioned this

[23:24] property to have some kind of medium

[23:25] density residential designation through

[23:28] some zoning practices.

[23:30] So, in considering the following

[23:32] factors, in considering the request

[23:34] tonight, the following factors need to

[23:35] be considered. The first is the

[23:37] consistency of the proposed zoning with

[23:38] the Town of Wilkesboro's comprehensive

[23:40] plan.

[23:41] So, ultimately, as explained, the

[23:43] comprehensive plan identifies this as

[23:45] medium density residential. And to move

[23:47] into the next

[23:48] item, the future development oversight,

[23:52] currently, the property is in the town's

[23:53] zoning jurisdiction. If the property

[23:55] were is would be removed, the town's

[23:59] all future development would be governed

[24:00] by Wilkes County development

[24:01] regulations. And, you know, I'm sure

[24:04] there would be questions on what that

[24:05] would look like, whatever Wilkes County

[24:07] development regulations allow. And those

[24:09] could change. So, ultimately, I don't

[24:11] really want to look into a specific

[24:13] regulation because we don't control

[24:15] whether it changes or, you know, whether

[24:16] it doesn't. Um it's just ultimately

[24:18] future development is solely governed by

[24:20] the county.

[24:22] And whatever the county imposes.

[24:25] Surrounding land uses. So, this is where

[24:26] we'll start talking about what is in the

[24:29] general vicinity.

[24:31] Um primarily, most of the surrounding

[24:33] land uses are residential to the north,

[24:35] south, east, and west. You do have some

[24:37] vacant lots. We'll flip to that zoning

[24:40] map here in a minute.

[24:41] Um

[24:42] you also have, uniquely, a parking lot

[24:44] to the northeast. The Town of North

[24:47] Wilkesboro's jurisdiction serves that

[24:49] parcel, and it's where the parking lot

[24:51] for the Rolling Pines disc golf course

[24:52] is located. And I'm going to promise I

[24:54] will flip to a map so you guys can put

[24:57] some eyes on it.

[24:59] Um

[25:00] There is some commercial, residential,

[25:02] institutional, and utility uses found in

[25:05] the vicinity in in the town of North

[25:06] Wilkesboro's jurisdiction as well. Um

[25:09] there's also a few vacant properties and

[25:11] an industrial property found in the

[25:12] vicinity that's governed by the county.

[25:14] So, I'm going to split back to this map

[25:17] to kind of give you a general idea as

[25:18] we've moved into zoning and the

[25:20] discussion of the zoning districts.

[25:23] So, to give the board a general idea,

[25:25] here is your Rolling Pines disc, of

[25:27] course, um parking lot.

[25:30] The non-colored areas are all county um

[25:35] governed parcels. So, you kind of got a

[25:37] donut hole here correct currently. But,

[25:40] the properties that are cross-hatched

[25:43] are Wilkesboro Town of Wilkesboro's um

[25:46] zoned properties. Um so, starting with

[25:49] the town of North Wilkesboro, the zoning

[25:51] in this area is primarily, as you can

[25:53] see that R-6 high-density residential.

[25:56] We have a little bit of office and

[25:57] institutional to the south where the

[26:00] Lincoln Heights School is,

[26:02] um as well as um other a few other

[26:04] parcels. And you've got to the

[26:08] east of that parcel, you've got some

[26:10] low-density residential R-10 zoned, but

[26:12] primarily R-6.

[26:14] Moving to the county,

[26:16] unzoned properties, county development

[26:18] regulations apply here on the

[26:21] non-highlighted areas.

[26:22] And then to the cross-hatched property

[26:24] of our neighbor Wilkesboro, you've got

[26:26] some cross-hatched. You've got some

[26:28] suburban residential in red. You've got

[26:31] some in light blue general residential.

[26:33] And you've got a little bit of general

[26:35] business

[26:36] um designation here off of

[26:38] Old US 421 here in the southwest

[26:41] corner of this map.

[26:46] So, moving on to this further

[26:48] discussion, you've got your

[26:50] consistency with the plan, the future of

[26:53] this site, your surrounding land use,

[26:54] and your surrounding zoning that we kind

[26:56] of touched on.

[26:57] Um

[26:59] before we move any further, does any of

[27:02] you guys have any questions for me

[27:03] before we move into the planning

[27:05] towards the determination?

[27:08] >> [clears throat]

[27:10] » Where are the cemeteries?

[27:12] >> So, there is an identified cemetery that

[27:15] is that was brought to two staff's

[27:17] attention. You know, if I don't see

[27:18] something directly on the map, it is

[27:20] there that that is something that was

[27:21] brought to my attention that is in the

[27:23] vicinity of this parcel. That is I've

[27:26] been told is not

[27:28] part of any development on this parcel.

[27:31] >> So, it is not on this parcel. Is it in

[27:33] the

[27:34] adjacent parcel?

[27:35] >> I'm going to let the applicant speak to

[27:37] that because I'm unaware of its

[27:39] whereabouts. I think what's explained to

[27:41] me is, correct me if I'm wrong, but is

[27:43] it in this south corner here?

[27:45] >> I believe so. It's not on the parcel.

[27:47] >> It's not on the parcel, though. It's

[27:48] not.

[27:48] >> No.

[27:49] >> Yeah.

[27:50] >> So, it's the family

[27:51] >> family cemetery.

[27:52] >> I I I I would assume I'm I'm unaware, to

[27:54] be honest. I would be honest about that.

[27:57] Nothing visible from the road, so

[27:59] you know, I I do try to take what I can

[28:01] see, I try to take that into

[28:03] consideration, but ultimately if there

[28:04] is something that I'm unaware of, that

[28:06] that's that would be something that I

[28:07] would defer to the applicants to speak

[28:09] more on.

[28:14] So, going through these review criteria,

[28:16] the planning board for the town of

[28:18] Wilkesboro met on June 11th to consider

[28:21] the request, and they made a formal

[28:23] recommendation to deny the request, and

[28:25] that agenda is that that recommendation

[28:27] to deny is currently in your agenda

[28:29] packet.

[28:30] Um additionally, at the June 30th

[28:32] meeting, 2026, the town of Wilkesboro's

[28:34] planning board unanimously agreed with

[28:37] the North Wilkesboro's planning board's

[28:38] recommendation, and their attachment is

[28:40] also found in your agenda packet.

[28:42] Here is a copy of the planning board's

[28:44] recommendation, and then an informal

[28:46] email sent by the planning director,

[28:48] planning and community development

[28:49] director Andrew Carlton regarding

[28:51] Wilkesboro's agreement with the town of

[28:54] North Wilkesboro planning board

[28:55] director, which

[28:58] So, ultimately there tonight before you,

[29:00] before we get obviously into a motion, I

[29:02] know there will be some moments for a

[29:04] public comment. Um

[29:06] there are also goals and policies as

[29:07] part of your motion that you are more

[29:09] than welcome to remove or add to your

[29:12] consistency statement if you feel the

[29:14] need to do so. And without any further

[29:17] comment, I'll turn it over to the board

[29:19] for any comments from me or um comments

[29:22] from the applicant and then ultimately

[29:24] the public for any comments they have.

[29:40] » Mhm, I'd like to

[29:42] uh call on

[29:43] Christina

[29:45] Vanderbilt.

[29:47] Just

[29:50] » Hello.

[29:52] Um

[29:53] did you have questions first or did you

[29:54] >> No, you signed up to speak. Tell us what

[29:56] you

[29:57] Just identify yourself, please.

[29:58] >> My name is Christina Nicole Vanderbilt

[30:01] and I'm here with my husband, Richard.

[30:03] Um

[30:04] we're here, of course, as they stated to

[30:07] request removal of our property from the

[30:10] ETJ of

[30:12] North Wilkesboro.

[30:16] Our property is approximately 5 acres.

[30:19] It directly borders the one property

[30:21] that is already in the Wilkes County

[30:24] district.

[30:25] Wilkesboro station.

[30:27] Uh while other surrounding properties

[30:29] have been in North Wilkesboro ETJ.

[30:34] Sorry.

[30:35] >> That's all right.

[30:36] >> Okay.

[30:38] >> Don't be nervous.

[30:40] >> It's a big deal for

[30:43] Um

[30:44] I'm asking the board to recognize that

[30:45] this is a unique

[30:47] uniquely large parcel with the area

[30:49] within the area and that the size of the

[30:51] intended use

[30:53] are different for the typical smaller

[30:55] residential properties that are around

[30:57] which are typically 1 acre or less.

[31:00] Um our plans for the property are

[31:02] primarily residential and family

[31:04] oriented.

[31:05] Um we intend to establish a private

[31:07] homestead with our home residence

[31:09] regarding our personal non-commercial

[31:11] animals.

[31:13] Um

[31:14] there is also an important family reason

[31:16] for how I plan to use the property or we

[31:19] plan to use the property.

[31:20] We have a son with autism and we would

[31:23] like

[31:24] eventually provide him a small home on

[31:26] the property close enough to our own

[31:28] home that we can

[31:31] be there when he needs assistance while

[31:33] still allowing him to have a safe and

[31:35] appropriate degree of independence.

[31:38] Our goal is not to separate him from the

[31:40] family or leave him without our support.

[31:42] Quite the opposite, we want to create a

[31:44] living arrangement that allows him to

[31:46] gain independence while knowing that his

[31:48] family is nearby

[31:50] and available when needed. Having his

[31:53] home close to mine would allow me to

[31:55] help with daily needs, emergencies, and

[31:57] other situations

[31:59] while giving him the dignity and

[32:01] independence of having his own space. He

[32:03] is turning 24 in just 2 months.

[32:07] This is one of the reasons the size of

[32:09] the property is so important to my

[32:11] family.

[32:11] I am trying to create a long-term family

[32:13] homestead where

[32:15] we can live close together, support one

[32:17] another, and remain on the same property

[32:19] while allowing each member of the family

[32:22] an appropriate level of independence.

[32:25] The other significant issue is the type

[32:27] of home we would like to place on the

[32:28] property.

[32:30] Um the current R-6 zoning within the

[32:32] North Wilkesboro ETJ does not allow Um,

[32:35] a manufactured home. It only allows

[32:37] modular or stick built homes.

[32:40] Um,

[32:40] the home that we

[32:42] need for financial reasons to place on

[32:44] there is a manufactured home on a

[32:46] permanent foundation.

[32:48] Um, we are seeking to place, uh,

[32:51] I think the the substantially limits

[32:54] This substantially limits my ability to

[32:57] use my land in a manner that best fits

[32:59] my family's needs and our financial

[33:01] circumstances.

[33:04] Um,

[33:05] my request is

[33:07] not simply about wanting fewer

[33:10] regulations.

[33:11] Um,

[33:12] we are request requesting

[33:14] to be um,

[33:17] sorry.

[33:18] My request is therefore

[33:20] not about wanting fewer regulations. It

[33:22] is about having the opportunity to use

[33:24] our property for reasonable residential

[33:26] purpose that is consistent with its size

[33:28] and rural character.

[33:30] If the property were returned to the

[33:32] Wilkes County jurisdiction, I would

[33:34] still be required to comply with the

[33:36] applicable county requirements and

[33:38] permitting

[33:39] um, processes. We are fully willing to

[33:42] do that and we are simply asking that

[33:44] the land use rules governing my property

[33:46] be those jurisdiction that is most

[33:49] appropriate for the parcel and its

[33:51] intended use.

[33:53] We respectfully ask the board to

[33:55] consider whether continued inclusion of

[33:57] the parcel

[33:59] is, uh, in the North Wilkes ETJ is

[34:02] necessary to accomplish the town's

[34:04] planning objectives, particularly when

[34:06] property is outside the town's limit,

[34:09] directly borders other county

[34:11] jurisdiction properties, and is intended

[34:14] for private residential and family use.

[34:20] I am not asking for the town to

[34:22] disregard planning, safety, or

[34:24] environmental standards. We are just

[34:26] asking for the opportunity to have a

[34:27] property governed by the jurisdiction

[34:30] that is most appropriate for its size,

[34:31] character, and

[34:33] intended use.

[34:35] » Most of the Let me Let me ask you a

[34:37] question

[34:40] So, the issue here is the type of home

[34:43] and its models.

[34:45] The ADU laws with govern just within

[34:49] >> Yes, right here.

[34:50] >> ADU laws within the

[34:52] allowed under state law would allow

[34:54] additional dwelling units, correct?

[34:56] >> Are you talking about under the current

[34:58] zoning?

[34:59] >> No, under the state law the ADU

[35:01] >> So, if it's if it's the county, I I

[35:04] wouldn't want to speak on the counties,

[35:05] but for our side, R-6 does allow an

[35:07] accessory dwelling unit, correct? It

[35:08] would be attached, but yes, it does

[35:10] allow for an accessory dwelling unit.

[35:13] Um that is something that's being

[35:14] addressed in in future ordinance change,

[35:16] but as of right now, yes, we do allow an

[35:17] accessory dwelling unit on the side. It

[35:19] would just need to be attached.

[35:21] >> The issue was the type of home.

[35:24] >> And ultimately, you know, all removal of

[35:26] the ETJs is is not just applicable to

[35:29] the type of home. It's any future

[35:31] development, any future complaints will

[35:33] all

[35:34] go to the counties for their

[35:36] jurisdiction.

[35:37] >> One other question

[35:41] » For me?

[35:42] >> Is manufactured homes part of this

[35:46] uh

[35:47] legal legal banking in the R-1 zone? Is

[35:50] that considered in in the balance?

[35:52] >> So, as far as you know, manufactured

[35:54] homes are are limited to the R-20 zoning

[35:56] district.

[35:58] Yeah.

[36:00] >> Is the UDA

[36:01] >> Is that something that's going to be

[36:01] changed in the UDA?

[36:03] >> That No, no changes will be made in the

[36:05] UDA as of right now.

[36:08] >> Thank you.

[36:14] All right, Mr. Chairman.

[36:16] I have a question.

[36:20] » I have a question for

[36:21] >> Are you speaking about the

[36:22] uh

[36:24] I'm Juan Ragland.

[36:26] >> Yes, I have a question.

[36:28] >> Yes, ma'am.

[36:29] >> Um would you

[36:29] >> Would you mind stepping up here?

[36:30] >> I'm certain.

[36:33] I have a question for the applicants.

[36:35] >> Yes, ma'am.

[36:36] >> I just quickly read it today, but there

[36:40] was a section

[36:41] that referred to like a farm.

[36:44] Could you

[36:45] sort of elaborate on that for me?

[36:47] >> Uh I just have some chickens and um

[36:51] we were looking to possibly get a goat

[36:53] or um a horse. We just wanted to be able

[36:56] to utilize that area.

[36:59] >> And where is the planning on that?

[37:03] You, if I'm correct, you're all the way

[37:06] down to where the

[37:08] uh

[37:11] the dance studio used to be.

[37:13] >> I'm not sure where that is, but we're

[37:15] right on that corner.

[37:16] >> Okay, so you're talking about the corner

[37:18] of Lincoln Ave.

[37:19] >> [cough]

[37:20] >> Thank you.

[37:21] That's all the questions I have.

[37:23] >> But if the dance studio is considerably

[37:25] farther down the hill, is it not? Does

[37:29] the welding shop there?

[37:30] >> Yeah, yeah, it it is. I I'd have to

[37:33] defer to some neighbors on that one. I'm

[37:34] not as familiar with that area.

[37:36] >> Yeah, the dance studio's towards the end of the street.

[37:41] >> Yes, ma'am.

[37:43] >> He's talking about the welding. What did

[37:45] you just say?

[37:46] >> Ma'am?

[37:47] >> He mentioned the welding. What did you

[37:49] just say?

[37:50] >> Um he was talking about the dance

[37:51] studio. Um all of that is down towards

[37:54] the end of the road towards Lincoln

[37:56] Heights, the actual school and the the

[37:57] facility down there.

[37:59] >> Can you pull that map up and show where

[38:01] the building is located?

[38:02] >> Yeah, I I can certainly point to there.

[38:06] >> But you said it's on Lincoln Ave.

[38:11] I think it's required

[38:13] that it would have to answer on

[38:16] » I can speak, you know, ultimately you it

[38:19] is

[38:20] that is an NCDOT road, um old US 421.

[38:23] So,

[38:24] » [clears throat]

[38:24] >> yeah, and any kind of residential

[38:26] permits do not require residential like

[38:28] a driveway permit.

[38:30] But it would be there would be

[38:31] communication with NCDOT if there were any you know, we always

[38:36] verify with them. What I've been

[38:37] explaining is when it comes to

[38:38] residential [clears throat] permits,

[38:40] it would be there's there's no driveway

[38:42] permits for residential construction.

[38:44] Typically.

[38:46] >> Do you mind showing her where those

[38:47] parcels are so she can understand?

[38:48] >> Yeah, so the parcel in question tonight

[38:51] is where my highlighted red circle is

[38:53] here. It's on the intersection here

[38:54] where you got Old US 421 Road and

[38:57] Lincoln Heights. The dance studio and

[38:59] the requests are further south to this

[39:01] parcel likely are not shown on this map.

[39:07] » Well, you're talking about you're

[39:08] talking about Wilkesboro

[39:09] >> It's a welding shop

[39:11] >> Oh, you're talking about the welding

[39:12] shop. Okay, I wasn't aware that it was a

[39:13] dance studio. Yes,

[39:15] the welding shop is in actually

[39:17] Wilkesboro's jurisdiction. It is zoned

[39:19] general business and that's the town of

[39:21] Wilkesboro.

[39:21] >> But there is a considerable difference

[39:23] in that.

[39:24] >> No, so to right here there's a parcel

[39:27] and my eyes

[39:29] bear with me, but that parcel that's

[39:31] 2201756

[39:33] right here my cursor that that's between

[39:35] the welding shop and the requested parcel right here.

[39:40] And this is an individual parcel here.

[39:43] >> Okay.

[39:45] Good evening.

[39:47] But this mask annoys me. It is not

[39:51] because I was thinking any of you are

[39:53] infectious. It's because I'm in the

[39:55] middle of having implants and the front

[39:58] of me is missing. Now, if you can look

[40:01] over that, I'd like to take the mask

[40:03] off.

[40:04] Okay.

[40:05] My name is Yvonne Ryder.

[40:07] I live in Wilkesboro

[40:10] in [clears throat] Cable. So, you would

[40:12] be my neighbor.

[40:14] I am a little confused when you describe

[40:17] it as rural.

[40:19] Um

[40:20] in the what Joseph was talking about

[40:23] back to me about 4:30 because I have

[40:26] five acres on

[40:29] Do a road.

[40:31] Two houses [clears throat] on them, lots

[40:32] of trees, but it's zoned residential.

[40:36] So

[40:38] I just in what I read that there seemed

[40:40] to be an emphasis on the fact that it

[40:43] was uh

[40:45] with rural characteristics.

[40:48] >> [clears throat]

[40:48] >> And like I I own the property

[40:52] on the next block. Some of that vacant

[40:54] land that you're referring to.

[40:57] I own on one corner of Peace Street and

[41:01] the across the corner which I believe

[41:03] would be

[41:04] Old 60.

[41:06] So I own some of that vacant land he's

[41:08] talking about.

[41:09] Plus the five acres and two houses on Do

[41:13] a Road.

[41:14] So I pay my taxes.

[41:16] And just so no one wants to get the idea

[41:20] that this has a my objection

[41:23] has anything to do with race, that's

[41:25] simply not the case. I understand that

[41:28] there are several Caucasians on Lincoln

[41:30] Avenue already.

[41:32] Um my lineage

[41:34] includes my great-great-grandfather

[41:37] was somebody you all know, the Reverend

[41:40] >> Richard Barber.

[41:42] >> Okay.

[41:42] And on my mother's side

[41:46] um

[41:47] you probably know all of my relatives.

[41:50] If you know somebody named Graham

[41:52] [clears throat]

[41:53] Barber, Harris, they're related to me.

[41:56] Okay? Because that's the way.

[41:59] I don't have any historians in the room.

[42:04] And you

[42:05] and I'm probably the oldest one. I'll be

[42:07] 89 in a couple of days. So therefore I

[42:10] want to just

[42:11] go back a little bit on history if

[42:13] that's okay with you.

[42:16] One of the things about

[42:18] uh

[42:19] being a person of color

[42:21] which is how I choose to describe people

[42:24] who look like me,

[42:25] okay?

[42:26] Uh was

[42:28] years ago, the way you established

[42:31] yourself as a person of color

[42:35] with the primary Caucasian population

[42:38] was land ownership.

[42:40] It was important that we own land and it

[42:45] would often be vacant land. And so, it

[42:48] is no surprise at all that

[42:50] >> [clears throat]

[42:51] >> well, Larry, of course

[42:54] he bought it as an investment. Who? You

[42:57] bought it from his estate. But before

[43:00] that, adjacent to your property is the

[43:03] property that was owned by Dr. uh

[43:06] Paisley.

[43:07] >> Paisley.

[43:08] I'm sorry.

[43:10] Uh

[43:10] the Redding property is across the

[43:12] street and part of what she's talking

[43:15] about.

[43:16] In the olden days, okay?

[43:19] Not only was it important that you own

[43:21] land

[43:23] and cuz that's how you sort of proved

[43:25] your importance to the community

[43:28] but Haygood

[43:30] was a major part of Wilkes County of

[43:34] Wilkesboro.

[43:36] And it is

[43:38] the farm part it is the residential

[43:43] part that is important to me today.

[43:47] Had I known that they were about to sell

[43:50] the land, I would have bought it. Not

[43:51] because I need any more land.

[43:54] My son said no, but to preserve Haygood.

[43:59] Because [clears throat] it's

[44:01] the

[44:02] it is the center of

[44:07] what happened for people of color

[44:09] in the 1800s and 1900s, too, to a large

[44:14] degree, even now.

[44:16] Cairo is the center of the population.

[44:21] Even if you live in Fairmount, Cairo is

[44:24] still referred to

[44:25] as the center of what was important to

[44:30] people of color.

[44:31] And that is what I am asking you not

[44:35] because

[44:37] you are anything other than very nice

[44:40] people,

[44:41] but because we need to preserve history.

[44:46] And Cairo is so important to our

[44:50] community.

[44:52] And residential is what Cairo was and

[44:55] what we want to keep it to be.

[44:58] Any questions?

[44:59] >> I'm going to have to pause you. Your 5

[45:01] minutes are up. I would describe you as

[45:04] a beautiful lady.

[45:05] >> Thank you.

[45:06] >> Not a lady of color. And thank you for

[45:07] speaking.

[45:08] >> Thank you. Bless you.

[45:09] Any other questions?

[45:12] >> No.

[45:13] >> Thank you.

[45:14] On preserving the land,

[45:17] how do you mean what what do you mean by

[45:19] preserving the land?

[45:21] >> You mean when I said what I just said?

[45:24] >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. I'm just trying

[45:26] >> For residential, for to build

[45:28] at one point,

[45:30] I was confused because

[45:32] >> [clears throat]

[45:33] >> I I said this is a plan

[45:35] for that.

[45:36] They zoned Lincoln Heights multi-family,

[45:41] but yet when you go to rural, which is

[45:45] just vast land,

[45:47] um it's one thing.

[45:49] So, you know, I'm kind of confused on

[45:51] what the planning board has

[45:54] planned. The rural zone

[45:57] Well, there there isn't any rural.

[45:59] >> No.

[45:59] >> There there was and there still isn't

[46:01] any road. It's just vacant land with

[46:04] blocks of people.

[46:07] Any questions from the community?

[46:11] Thank you very much.

[46:14] I have a question.

[46:15] >> Yes, ma'am.

[46:16] >> Uh I would like to know how far up

[46:19] um

[46:19] my

[46:20] sister owns land

[46:23] up near where the uh

[46:25] gray spot is.

[46:27] And I want to know how far up that you want to sell.

[46:32] >> Can you show us where the gray spot is

[46:34] on that map?

[46:36] Can you come to the come to the large

[46:37] map and show us?

[46:39] >> The land is on

[46:41] >> It's on Grayson Street.

[46:42] >> Okay, so it's on Grayson Street.

[46:45] >> No, it's on Grayson

[46:47] >> Grayson You can see the Grayson Street

[46:49] here. If you see the kind of

[46:51] bottom third of the page, there with me.

[46:54] Let me see if I can zoom up here.

[46:57] >> I know it's above where my sister Ruby

[46:59] Houston owns the land, and the grave

[47:02] site is above

[47:04] where her land is.

[47:05] >> So, it's it's my understanding from

[47:07] recent conversations that the the the area in question is is more in

[47:12] this southern area where my house is.

[47:15] >> Near where Ruby Ingram crossed the

[47:18] street from where Ruby Ingram used to

[47:20] live.

[47:21] >> Yes. Yes.

[47:25] » All right.

[47:27] But we we haven't

[47:28] identified specific where it is, so I'm

[47:31] not sure.

[47:34] » To answer your question, sir,

[47:36] I am hoping basically that

[47:39] it will remain residential.

[47:42] And that if it is true that there was a

[47:45] plan

[47:46] to develop it further residential, that

[47:50] it it wouldn't occur so.

[47:53] When I made the statement about I would

[47:54] have bought it to preserve it,

[47:57] I would have

[47:58] seen

[48:00] uh what the planning department was

[48:02] planning, and then I would have moved in

[48:05] the direction of developing K bar.

[48:10] I mean it's it's

[48:12] There's people who want development again both kind of

[48:16] all over the place, and they seem to be

[48:18] particularly interested in K bar for

[48:20] whatever reasons.

[48:21] >> May

[48:22] What was it?

[48:23] >> No, no. I I don't know.

[48:24] >> All right, that makes sense.

[48:26] >> Yeah, I have two.

[48:27] >> Yes, ma'am.

[48:27] >> Well, that's fair.

[48:28] >> Yeah, you did.

[48:29] >> Thank you so much.

[48:30] >> Thank you.

[48:31] >> So, I would just like to ask a question.

[48:34] Um

[48:38] They had zoned

[48:40] the area on Lincoln Heights

[48:41] [clears throat] Street as a

[48:43] residential.

[48:44] >> Mhm.

[48:45] >> They said no

[48:46] trailers,

[48:48] no um

[48:53] you know, I can't even think.

[48:56] No trailers, no um animals of no kind.

[49:00] You couldn't do that. My grandparents

[49:03] raised everything, pigs,

[49:05] cows, chickens, and all. And then they

[49:08] come along and said, "No.

[49:11] Uh you have to give up everything."

[49:13] So, if you're going to do

[49:15] that, then everybody's included in uh

[49:20] raising pigs and cows.

[49:23] >> Just you have an answer for that?

[49:24] >> Yes.

[49:25] >> Yeah, I do. So, I can I can explain. So,

[49:27] in town limits, there are limits to the

[49:30] amount of farm animals that can be that

[49:33] can be, you know, had on one parcel at a

[49:35] given time.

[49:37] Um and if you want to get into the

[49:38] nuances of what that quantity is, cuz I

[49:40] don't have the code ordinances right in

[49:42] front of you, but that's a town code

[49:44] um

[49:45] something the town code addresses. In

[49:47] the extraterritorial jurisdiction,

[49:49] unless you're operating a farm,

[49:52] and I I mean that by saying you know,

[49:54] unless you're operating a commercial

[49:55] farm,

[49:57] the you know, how many chickens you have

[50:00] and how many pigs and horses, you know,

[50:03] it's obviously something that the zoning

[50:04] administrator is going to look at, but

[50:06] there's not like a you're limited to six

[50:08] chickens. You decide to have a flock of,

[50:11] you know, 30 and 30 chickens, you're

[50:13] limited on the amount of land. Accessory

[50:15] structures you might be able to have,

[50:17] you might you're limited on the

[50:19] on where those accessory structures are

[50:21] located, being on the side or the rear

[50:23] of the the home chosen.

[50:27] Um you're also limited on there having

[50:29] to be in a residential district a

[50:31] residential use. So, you couldn't just

[50:33] have a blank piece of land with

[50:36] you know,

[50:38] cattle. You know, there would have to be

[50:39] some kind of association with, you know,

[50:41] it's clearly a home and the animals on

[50:45] that parcel are clearly tied to the

[50:47] home.

[50:48] But, when it comes to outside of the

[50:50] town limits, there are not limits on the

[50:51] amount of animals you can have. It's

[50:53] just a matter of what the function of

[50:56] the operation is.

[51:01] » Can I say one other thing that I forgot?

[51:04] I grew up on a farm in Illinois, so I

[51:07] know all about farms.

[51:09] >> [clears throat]

[51:09] >> I know that sometimes when we think

[51:11] we're going to start small, and then we

[51:14] there and then we expand and we take on

[51:17] more animals.

[51:19] And um

[51:20] you know,

[51:21] chickens, fine. But, we grew up in Cairo

[51:26] with the smell of the sewage and man,

[51:29] whatever it was,

[51:31] all the way over on Dula Road, man, it

[51:34] stunk to high heaven.

[51:35] Um and I know having grown up on a farm

[51:39] that there are odors associated with

[51:44] » [snorts]

[51:44] >> Um did Mr. Murphy leave?

[51:47] >> Just stepped out to the restroom.

[51:49] >> [snorts]

[51:52] » I'm on record.

[51:54] >> [clears throat]

[52:06] » Anybody else want to say anything?

[52:09] It's your opportunity.

[52:10] >> I will.

[52:13] » Yes, sir.

[52:15] Yes.

[52:16] >> Um you want me to come up to the front

[52:17] or just

[52:18] >> Just come up. Come up.

[52:19] And state your name.

[52:20] >> All right.

[52:25] Everybody uh my my name is Matt Bowles.

[52:28] Um I am born and raised in North

[52:30] Wilkesboro and

[52:33] um actually with my brother and uh

[52:36] fellow

[52:37] applicants at Lincoln Heights, we are

[52:39] running the old school and trying to use

[52:42] it as a community center.

[52:44] Um

[52:45] with the current efforts, I I understand

[52:47] where they're coming from. I actually

[52:49] had

[52:50] um a little small farm and I completely

[52:52] understand where they're coming from. Um

[52:54] but I in opposition of that, I look at

[52:58] that as if

[53:01] something like that is granted and I

[53:02] know that there's other options

[53:04] available. If something like this is

[53:05] granted, what's it going to stop from

[53:08] future people being able to move modular

[53:11] homes because the next thing you know,

[53:13] somebody's going to come in and say,

[53:14] "Hey, they were able to do it, so can I

[53:17] put that there?" And it's no disrespect

[53:18] to you guys.

[53:20] Um but we we're fighting right now to

[53:24] try to revitalize the Lincoln Heights

[53:26] area. Um we're wanting to use it for a

[53:28] community-based

[53:30] uh facility to where young people and

[53:33] old people can come there and see

[53:35] heritage and see growth, see not just

[53:39] color, but see the community come

[53:41] together, West County at large. And so,

[53:44] um

[53:45] I

[53:46] I'm I'm I'm going 50/50 with this

[53:48] because I I do I am sympathetic with the

[53:51] farm um West County people who were born

[53:54] and raised here on farms. So, I am

[53:56] sympathetic, but this parcel of land is

[53:58] right on the corner as you come into the

[54:01] uh Lincoln Heights facility. So, my

[54:03] brother's running the basketball

[54:04] facility, and we're talking about trying

[54:07] to revamp um that in order to revive our

[54:10] lots in the neighborhood. And a lot of

[54:11] people in the neighborhood are starting

[54:12] to to

[54:13] uh bring up their homes. You have some

[54:15] of the older uh people here who have

[54:17] been there forever, and they they have

[54:20] smelled

[54:21] the sewer that's been there, and ever

[54:23] since I've been there I've smelled that.

[54:24] So, adding to that is definitely not

[54:27] going to uh be any any good. So,

[54:30] what I'm looking at is like

[54:32] if we have um my brother has people from

[54:35] Mooresville, from Winston-Salem, from

[54:38] everywhere coming into the Lincoln

[54:40] Heights facility, these people they come

[54:43] for for basketball, they come for the

[54:45] dance studio, they come for their kids

[54:46] to be watched there. And so, if the

[54:48] first thing that they see uh is a a

[54:52] farm, and I

[54:53] knowing how farm is, you can try to keep

[54:56] as much as you can looking good, but

[54:59] horses, goats,

[55:01] I've I've had them, they eat everything.

[55:03] It turns into mud, and it just after a

[55:05] while it's just it's that's all you're

[55:07] going to see. Um no matter how much you

[55:09] try to move them around, that's what

[55:11] it's going to be. So, um

[55:13] as I keep saying, I'm sympathetic to

[55:15] them. It's just it's being right there

[55:17] on the corner of Lincoln Heights Road,

[55:19] it's going to kind of put a staple on

[55:22] this is what this is what the community

[55:24] is, this is what the um the the Cairo

[55:28] area is about. And so, I just look at it

[55:31] like if this right here is allowed, then

[55:35] what's the next thing that's going to be

[55:36] allowed on the next parcel of land

[55:38] that's still there or going in behind

[55:40] it? The people are going to start

[55:41] saying, "Well, how did they How are they

[55:44] able to do it and we're not able to?"

[55:46] So,

[55:47] I I want to make sure that that that

[55:50] whole entire area just stays residential

[55:52] so that way people there know that

[55:55] there's heritage there that there the

[55:57] people have been fighting for the

[56:00] Lincoln Heights area, the Cairo area to

[56:02] be as it has been from the beginning.

[56:05] And and there's there's other places,

[56:07] there's other areas in Wilkes County

[56:09] that can be utilized for for farming.

[56:12] But, right here on the corner of Lincoln

[56:14] Heights Road, it's just going to set a

[56:16] stable and a precedent of of this is

[56:19] what the the community behind it is. And

[56:21] so, as we're trying to build and get the

[56:23] community more involved into it, it's

[56:25] going to be tougher to allow

[56:28] a stop from anybody else from being able

[56:31] to come in and say, "Well, I'm I'm going

[56:34] to buy another little piece of parcel

[56:35] cuz these people did and they were able

[56:37] to do this. And so, if they're able to

[56:40] allow this to happen, what stops not

[56:43] just a farm, but what stops the next the

[56:45] next plan of action from coming in there

[56:47] and being able to say, 'Well, this is

[56:48] what we're going to do because they were

[56:50] able to get that.'" And

[56:52] I I apologize to to the family here and

[56:54] I'm I'm sympathetic to them as as well,

[56:56] but I also want to look out for the

[56:58] community and Lincoln Heights community

[57:01] deserves to kind of stay stay how it's

[57:04] been. So,

[57:05] I appreciate you guys' time. Thank you.

[57:09] >> Well,

[57:10] Mr. Parham,

[57:11] I'd like to announce that by 4-1 vote,

[57:15] the Wilkes County Commissioners

[57:18] passed the $4 million

[57:22] improvement

[57:23] project

[57:24] in partnership with North

[57:26] Broadway Water Association. So,

[57:29] a lot of people involved in that, so

[57:31] thank you very much.

[57:33] Mr. Parham.

[57:36] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[57:38] Y'all all know me, but for the record,

[57:40] my name is Jim Burkey.

[57:42] And I am I'm not here representing

[57:45] Richard and his wife,

[57:47] but when the planning board had a

[57:49] meeting and denied their request

[57:53] to put their house on their property, I

[57:55] was extremely disappointed.

[57:57] I voted for them to do it.

[58:00] And in my humble opinion,

[58:02] it's American.

[58:03] You're not going to allow a man

[58:05] to live in his home on his own property.

[58:08] I mean, I understand

[58:10] zoning,

[58:12] and I don't want to put it that way,

[58:15] but

[58:15] this couple

[58:17] I've heard the opinions of what they

[58:19] think is going to happen, and that's an

[58:20] opinion. That's not a fact. That's an

[58:22] opinion.

[58:24] That it it

[58:26] will not turn into what they're talking

[58:28] about.

[58:29] We have a commentary. They have a son

[58:31] with autism.

[58:33] They have a son who is well known in the

[58:35] community. He has a wheelchair, has

[58:36] several problems. I'd do anything I I

[58:38] can to make my son's life better.

[58:42] And

[58:44] what they're talking about is exactly

[58:46] what they're trying to do.

[58:48] They want a place for their son

[58:50] to grow, to be as normal as humanly

[58:53] possible, just like just like everybody

[58:55] else.

[58:56] Also, you need you got to think about

[58:58] the the tax revenue.

[59:00] They're putting a nice house on this

[59:02] property.

[59:03] values are going to go up.

[59:05] Let's say it won't do

[59:06] that. So, what tax values go up?

[59:09] I mean, more folks will get more taxes from their property.

[59:14] >> I don't know if we remember from the

[59:15] APJ.

[59:16] >> Mhm.

[59:17] >> I mean, we don't get tax revenue from

[59:19] the APJ anyway.

[59:20] >> That's because it's in the county,

[59:21] right?

[59:21] >> It's the county.

[59:22] >> The county would get more tax.

[59:25] Property values would go up, so the

[59:26] county would get more tax.

[59:32] But I don't understand

[59:35] why a man cannot put a house on his own

[59:38] property.

[59:40] I want to be down the road down the

[59:41] street down there, you know, I don't

[59:43] mean to offend anybody at all. Not

[59:45] whatsoever.

[59:47] But the house they going to build on the

[59:48] property, they're going to build a nice

[59:50] little house on the property.

[59:52] It's brand new.

[59:55] And they have a foundation to it.

[59:58] It's not going to be a somebody mobile

[1:00:00] home.

[1:00:01] Second generation house they're going to

[1:00:03] build.

[1:00:04] It's a beautiful home.

[1:00:08] So I'm pleading with you

[1:00:13] to adopt a resolution to

[1:00:16] allow him to put the house on the

[1:00:17] property.

[1:00:19] I have one other thing I wanted to talk

[1:00:21] about.

[1:00:22] I live in the ETJ.

[1:00:25] Maybe they did it to stop the rumble

[1:00:26] there. I am asking the board to adopt

[1:00:30] ordinances

[1:00:31] not to allow engine brakes

[1:00:34] within the city limits including the

[1:00:37] ETJ.

[1:00:39] Those trucks come by my house.

[1:00:41] It sounds like dynamite going off

[1:00:43] when they got those engine brakes on.

[1:00:45] And they going to have to have a public

[1:00:47] hearing to

[1:00:52] Okay.

[1:00:55] I know what we're taking all the time on

[1:00:57] this issue.

[1:00:57] >> All right, I understand

[1:01:00] But that's that's that's it. That's what

[1:01:02] I wanted to say. I was just

[1:01:04] um

[1:01:05] Just you know,

[1:01:07] put your heart in the right place.

[1:01:08] I think that these people

[1:01:10] They're going to They want to do the

[1:01:11] right thing.

[1:01:13] They really really do. They want to do

[1:01:14] the right thing.

[1:01:15] I don't know what they uh

[1:01:18] Those are the

[1:01:20] If they decided to sell that property,

[1:01:23] could a

[1:01:25] business come in

[1:01:27] and build business there?

[1:01:29] >> Um are you talking in its current state?

[1:01:31] So, the current ordinance R6

[1:01:33] high-density residential, you know, as

[1:01:35] it's as it's name, it's primarily geared

[1:01:37] towards residential uses. There are a

[1:01:40] few commercial uses allowed in the

[1:01:42] current R6 density residential.

[1:01:44] >> If they were to sell to a developer,

[1:01:46] and they want to build

[1:01:49] condos.

[1:01:51] >> So, you know, obviously you're looking

[1:01:52] at one home per parcel

[1:01:55] with an ability to do an accessory

[1:01:57] dwelling unit.

[1:01:59] But, any any more than the density of a

[1:02:02] single-family home would likely require

[1:02:03] some kind of subdivision.

[1:02:05] Um there is

[1:02:06] >> there any road?

[1:02:07] >> There is street frontage there, and

[1:02:09] ultimately when you say condominiums, I

[1:02:11] mean, I I would say at its present

[1:02:12] state, um

[1:02:14] the, you know, I I have to see plans

[1:02:16] before that. You know, it's right single

[1:02:18] high-density residential. The reason why

[1:02:20] the name is high density is typically

[1:02:22] those are 6,000 sq ft lots.

[1:02:24] If you can get 6,000 sq ft lots, you

[1:02:26] could have a substantial amount of

[1:02:27] single-family homes. Obviously, you've

[1:02:29] got some topographical challenges here

[1:02:31] because it's not, you know, there is no

[1:02:33] connection to sewer currently. Even if

[1:02:34] the sewer's available, you've got, you

[1:02:36] know, you've got septic field

[1:02:38] requirements.

[1:02:40] Um but, yes, the truth is its current um

[1:02:44] its current

[1:02:46] location does have the ability to

[1:02:48] connect to town sewer. And yes, the R6

[1:02:51] district would allow for 6,000 sq ft

[1:02:53] lots if you can get the street frontage.

[1:02:54] >> Could there be something they sold the

[1:02:56] land

[1:02:57] there could be something coming in

[1:02:59] that would be maybe even more acceptable

[1:03:02] to the landowner.

[1:03:03] >> Ultimately, if it's permitted in that R6

[1:03:05] district, yeah. I would just say the R6

[1:03:06] district in general is more conducive to

[1:03:09] single-family residential homes. So,

[1:03:10] yeah. More residential than that.

[1:03:13] >> Glad you don't.

[1:03:14] >> I appreciate it.

[1:03:17] Thank you.

[1:03:18] I'm I'm not I'm not trying

[1:03:22] to be

[1:03:23] nitpicky here,

[1:03:25] but in to Mr. Perkins' statement,

[1:03:29] saying we're not trying to tell these

[1:03:30] people they can't put a home on this

[1:03:32] piece of property.

[1:03:34] The question is is

[1:03:37] whether it's

[1:03:38] a manufactured home, which is not

[1:03:40] allowed in R-6,

[1:03:42] and or some other type of either modular

[1:03:45] or stick-built home. Now, I know that

[1:03:47] there's cost, and I and I understand

[1:03:49] that,

[1:03:50] but I don't want anyone in this room to

[1:03:53] feel like this board

[1:03:55] is denying this couple the ability to

[1:03:58] put a home

[1:04:00] on this piece of property, because we're

[1:04:01] not. It's It's It's the type of home,

[1:04:04] and that really is

[1:04:07] kind of what it boils down to. I would

[1:04:09] love

[1:04:10] to see this couple purchase that piece

[1:04:13] of property,

[1:04:14] and you know, do it with a house that is

[1:04:17] allowed in this particular zoning, and

[1:04:19] become part of this community, because I

[1:04:22] know a lot of people in this Kero

[1:04:24] community. I've worked with a lot of

[1:04:26] people over at the Lincoln Heights

[1:04:28] um school and the program and all of

[1:04:31] that and the history that's involved

[1:04:32] with it. It's a great community.

[1:04:34] >> I agree.

[1:04:35] >> them to add an addition to their

[1:04:37] community, regardless of who it is,

[1:04:41] you know, but

[1:04:42] zoning, unfortunately,

[1:04:44] is kind of a It's kind of an issue that

[1:04:48] you know, it it's we're kind of

[1:04:50] defined by boundaries.

[1:04:52] And so, I personally

[1:04:54] am the one that believes in the ETJ as

[1:04:58] far as respect to us being able to

[1:05:02] uh oversee,

[1:05:04] you know, how areas that are directly

[1:05:07] connected around our

[1:05:09] immediate town boundaries, you know, are

[1:05:13] developed and what is [clears throat]

[1:05:14] the best use for that. Now, I know

[1:05:17] people disagree with it and that's

[1:05:18] unfortunate, but it is just a fact of

[1:05:20] life. Life is about disagreement at

[1:05:22] times.

[1:05:23] But, the thing is is you you make a

[1:05:26] statement about Again, I'm not picking

[1:05:29] on you, Jim. I'm just I'm just making

[1:05:31] some statements, okay?

[1:05:33] Um

[1:05:34] if you change this property and remove

[1:05:37] it from the ETJ, okay, and then it

[1:05:39] becomes part of the county's So,

[1:05:42] the county's

[1:05:44] overseeing of property is much, much

[1:05:48] different than the town's. So,

[1:05:51] therefore, let's say something with this

[1:05:54] couple they changed Valley Road and we

[1:05:56] removed it from the ETJ. Then, someone

[1:05:59] could come in on that property and

[1:06:01] whatever the county allows on that type

[1:06:05] of property would be allowed and and the

[1:06:08] residents would have no say, the town

[1:06:11] would have no say. So, therefore, you

[1:06:15] know, the protection for the community

[1:06:18] um would be diminished. And so,

[1:06:22] again,

[1:06:23] I would love to see this couple move

[1:06:26] into that community.

[1:06:27] Um but, you know, we have to follow, you

[1:06:31] know, to me I want to protect the ETJ

[1:06:34] and not just in the Cairo area, but in

[1:06:38] all of our ETJs that we have around the

[1:06:40] entire town.

[1:06:42] And so, you know, it's it's

[1:06:46] I I just needed to make that statement

[1:06:47] cuz I like I said, I don't want it to

[1:06:49] seem like we are cold-hearted and and

[1:06:53] not trying to help them, but it's, you

[1:06:55] know, unfortunately,

[1:06:57] in this circumstance,

[1:06:59] this is where we are.

[1:07:06] » For For

[1:07:07] Joseph, I just want to make sure I'm

[1:07:09] understanding this.

[1:07:10] >> Perfect. And I want to clarify some

[1:07:12] statements that have been made about a

[1:07:14] quote farm.

[1:07:16] So, I live here inside of this city

[1:07:18] limit. Yeah. Right on Garden Street.

[1:07:21] I can have chicken.

[1:07:23] I can have goat.

[1:07:25] I can have

[1:07:26] one.

[1:07:27] >> Yeah.

[1:07:27] >> [laughter]

[1:07:29] >> one.

[1:07:29] >> Yep.

[1:07:30] >> Up to a certain size. So, I can, by all

[1:07:32] measures of the law our policy,

[1:07:35] have a farm within the city limits.

[1:07:39] Whether they do this on that property or

[1:07:42] not, you guys can. If If you live there,

[1:07:44] you can have chicken, you can have a

[1:07:46] pig, you can have a goat. You guys can

[1:07:47] do that

[1:07:49] should you wish.

[1:07:51] The clarification and the difference

[1:07:54] here,

[1:07:55] specifically, is the manufactured home,

[1:07:57] a mobile home. It In In my understanding

[1:08:00] of this

[1:08:01] entirely.

[1:08:01] >> So, to provide like a big picture, like

[1:08:04] you're asking, so yes, in town limits

[1:08:06] there's restrictions on the amount of

[1:08:07] farm animals.

[1:08:09] >> I cannot have a commercial farm. I can't

[1:08:11] cuz this is for myself only.

[1:08:13] >> Yeah, and that would be the same here is

[1:08:15] that you can't have a commercial farm in

[1:08:17] that, you know, but you there isn't like

[1:08:19] a limit on the amount of

[1:08:20] goats and chickens. There you could I

[1:08:22] mean, someone have 20 chickens. Again,

[1:08:24] some people have larger families, they

[1:08:26] might want to have You You are limited

[1:08:27] in the town code to the amount of

[1:08:28] animals you can have. In the ETJ,

[1:08:31] because it's not part of the town code

[1:08:33] and zoning applies, the only thing that

[1:08:35] would apply to that is the use of the

[1:08:36] property. If someone is operating a

[1:08:38] agricultural business,

[1:08:41] again, it's it's a case-by-case

[1:08:42] situation, but if someone is operating

[1:08:45] actual farm and they're there is a

[1:08:46] business and they have, you know,

[1:08:47] increased traffic and all these things.

[1:08:49] I'm not talking about one person showing

[1:08:50] up and then buying dozens of it. Cuz I'm

[1:08:51] talking about, you know, an actual

[1:08:53] operation. Then yes, that would be

[1:08:56] restricted because again, it's in our

[1:08:57] state's high-density residential. But

[1:08:59] what starts getting restricted in the

[1:09:01] ETJ, you've got fence standards. You've

[1:09:04] got fence height standards. You've got

[1:09:05] fence type standards. You've got It's

[1:09:07] where accessory dwelling units can be

[1:09:09] located. You've got where accessory

[1:09:11] structures can be located. You've got

[1:09:12] separation between accessory structures.

[1:09:14] You have the amount of accessory

[1:09:15] structures. All these things fall under

[1:09:17] the zoning ordinance.

[1:09:19] Removal of this parcel says

[1:09:22] ultimately, you know, going back to what

[1:09:23] the mission of a parcel does prevent the

[1:09:26] town from having any say on what this

[1:09:27] property does. Currently, the say that

[1:09:30] the town has is zoning and that is

[1:09:32] basically restricted to use and

[1:09:34] restricted to, you know, uses allowed in

[1:09:37] R6. If they're permitted by right or

[1:09:39] they're permitted with supplemental

[1:09:40] standards and those uses meet them, it

[1:09:41] doesn't matter what it is. Removal of

[1:09:43] this means that, you know, ultimately,

[1:09:45] no one comes to me and gets a permit

[1:09:46] anymore. Um now, going back to the farm

[1:09:49] animals, I do want to reiterate that

[1:09:51] booth.

[1:09:51] I'll let you do that.

[1:09:53] Sorry.

[1:09:53] Um I do want to reiterate that yes, farm

[1:09:55] animals are allowed in the ETJ as they

[1:09:57] are allowed in town limits. The

[1:09:59] difference is town limits restricts the

[1:10:01] amount of farm animals. And if you guys

[1:10:02] actually look to the screen right there,

[1:10:05] you can see this section right here.

[1:10:06] This is actually a satellite image

[1:10:08] property. So, as

[1:10:11] whatever reason down the road when this

[1:10:12] property uh

[1:10:13] in the past when this property was

[1:10:15] annexed in, they're now held to those

[1:10:17] town town code standards. So, the amount

[1:10:19] of farm animals. Um

[1:10:21] any connection to sewer would require

[1:10:24] annexation. Again, that would bring you

[1:10:26] to the town code.

[1:10:28] Currently, on the town code, I can

[1:10:29] enforce the height of the grass and I

[1:10:31] can tell people they need to mow their

[1:10:32] grass if it's over height. In the ETJ,

[1:10:34] that's not something. Those are police

[1:10:35] powers. So, it kind of gives the public a general

[1:10:41] idea of the difference between the

[1:10:43] zoning and the town. The

[1:10:45] town is In the town, you have police

[1:10:47] powers. You have noise ordinances. You

[1:10:49] have, you know, you have

[1:10:51] those things that apply. And in the ETJ,

[1:10:54] you don't have police powers. So, it's

[1:10:55] all with the county, but you do have

[1:10:57] that zoning

[1:10:59] restrictions. Does that answer your

[1:11:00] question?

[1:11:01] >> Yeah. Yeah. So,

[1:11:03] to to agree, and it's still the

[1:11:04] differentiating factor here is the

[1:11:06] mobile home. Because in our ETJ, that is

[1:11:09] what is not allowed. Everything else is

[1:11:11] allowed within standards.

[1:11:13] The mobile home is the the one

[1:11:14] differentiating factor, and that's what

[1:11:17] you're requesting guys to have in our

[1:11:18] town, correct?

[1:11:19] >> The the the alternate option would be

[1:11:21] manufactured housing is allowed in our

[1:11:23] jurisdiction in our in the R-20 zoning

[1:11:25] district.

[1:11:26] Um this property does not sit adjacent

[1:11:29] to or abutting our R-20 district. So, we

[1:11:31] do allow manufactured homes, it's just

[1:11:33] the zoning doesn't allow for

[1:11:34] manufactured housing.

[1:11:35] Yeah.

[1:11:36] >> So, in order to do R-20, it would be

[1:11:37] considered a spot zone.

[1:11:39] >> You'd have to rezone it, yeah, correct.

[1:11:40] And then you'd have to defend that spot

[1:11:41] zoning request.

[1:11:43] >> And it would be hard.

[1:11:44] >> Yes.

[1:11:44] >> I know it.

[1:11:45] >> Multi-thousands of fees.

[1:11:48] >> Yeah, I you know, I try my best when

[1:11:50] putting together these maps to give, you

[1:11:51] know, a kind of a bird's-eye view of the

[1:11:53] surrounding zoning. There's only so much

[1:11:55] you can fit on a map before I'm going to

[1:11:56] give you guys all

[1:11:58] like that. I really do try to be, you

[1:11:59] know, specific about this entity and

[1:12:01] above and adjacent. I can't zone

[1:12:03] Unfortunately, cannot zoom out so far to

[1:12:06] where you see all of the zoning

[1:12:07] districts in our in our district

[1:12:09] without, you know, confusing the public.

[1:12:12] I'm trying to be realistic with what

[1:12:13] they can see on these maps.

[1:12:15] >> And currently in our ETJ, that's mobile

[1:12:17] homes are not allowed.

[1:12:18] >> [clears throat]

[1:12:18] >> And I know this has come to our our

[1:12:20] table. Currently in the ETJ, mobile

[1:12:22] homes are not allowed at all.

[1:12:23] >> Are they not?

[1:12:24] >> They are.

[1:12:25] >> Yeah, in the zoning district, R-20.

[1:12:26] >> In our ETJ as well.

[1:12:28] >> Right. There's no R-20 inside our

[1:12:30] corporate boundaries, but there is R-20

[1:12:32] in our ETJ.

[1:12:33] >> Okay.

[1:12:34] So, this

[1:12:35] >> Yeah.

[1:12:35] >> This zoning is R-20.

[1:12:38] >> It's not allowed.

[1:12:39] >> I don't know. It's going to be very

[1:12:40] difficult.

[1:12:41] >> It's a spot zone.

[1:12:43] >> I I do want to pipe in and say, you

[1:12:44] know, nothing stops R-20 from being

[1:12:46] sought again in town. And it's it's

[1:12:48] simply

[1:12:49] from this zoning. You got to put a

[1:12:51] policy in put it on.

[1:12:53] >> And I think we've been pretty consistent

[1:12:55] in not allowing it, and I think we have

[1:12:58] to

[1:12:59] I don't know why, but we need to be

[1:13:00] consistent in that.

[1:13:02] I would just say, echoing

[1:13:05] Commissioner Parsons a little bit, and

[1:13:07] Matt, I'm sorry I can't remember your

[1:13:09] last name.

[1:13:09] >> Golds.

[1:13:10] >> What you said about

[1:13:12] I worry about

[1:13:14] the precedent set

[1:13:16] by letting somebody just leave the ETJ.

[1:13:19] I do you think it could open I mean, how

[1:13:22] would we say no to

[1:13:23] anyone who came and wanted to do it?

[1:13:26] And I think we'd have a hard time.

[1:13:31] » How about this?

[1:13:33] That's the problem because they did away

[1:13:35] with the ETJ, so

[1:13:37] Did you have something, Ms. Cole?

[1:13:38] >> I think that lady's got her hand up.

[1:13:40] >> Yes, ma'am.

[1:13:41] >> We start with chickens and horses and

[1:13:43] goats. Suppose it expands to pigs and

[1:13:47] others.

[1:13:48] Is there any restriction on that?

[1:13:51] >> No, ma'am.

[1:13:53] >> So, you know, you know

[1:13:53] >> There are no additional restrictions,

[1:13:55] but it is allowed.

[1:13:55] >> And and and I would go as far as saying,

[1:13:57] you know, I without getting into the

[1:13:59] weeds on this, bonafide farms in the ETJ

[1:14:01] is a statutory 160D allowance. If you

[1:14:04] establish yourself as a bonafide farm in

[1:14:06] the ETJ, zoning does not have any

[1:14:08] regulations.

[1:14:09] Um that is something that was

[1:14:10] established in 160D. So, again, farming

[1:14:14] is allowed in the ETJ

[1:14:16] to meet the bonafide farm requirement,

[1:14:18] there are a few, you know, required

[1:14:19] There are a few allowances that is

[1:14:21] specific to the ETJ. Bonafide farms

[1:14:23] means building and zoning regulations do

[1:14:27] not apply. Um I'm not suggesting that

[1:14:30] there is a request of bonafide farms,

[1:14:31] but I do want to reiterate that in the

[1:14:33] ETJ, if you establish yourself as a

[1:14:35] bonafide farm, zoning does not apply.

[1:14:38] >> This one.

[1:14:39] >> Um I'd like to clarify something.

[1:14:41] Currently, at the current zoning,

[1:14:44] I'm allowed to have chickens and goats

[1:14:46] and pigs and horses on the property as

[1:14:51] it is right now.

[1:14:52] So,

[1:14:54] taking it out of the ETJ would not

[1:14:56] change that.

[1:14:58] So, if if we we already bought the

[1:15:00] property.

[1:15:01] If we had a different home placed on it,

[1:15:05] you could still have the farm we're

[1:15:07] talking about.

[1:15:08] The only difference is is that I can get

[1:15:11] a manufactured home as opposed to a

[1:15:13] modular home.

[1:15:15] And the only difference with that is the

[1:15:17] pitch of the roof.

[1:15:19] That's the only difference.

[1:15:23] » And the property

[1:15:23] >> I mean, there's there's different

[1:15:26] standards on building, but they are

[1:15:29] built

[1:15:31] almost exactly the same aside from the

[1:15:33] pitch of the roof.

[1:15:35] They are on a permanent foundation. They

[1:15:37] are a home.

[1:15:39] And it doesn't change anything about the

[1:15:41] farm that we're going to have.

[1:15:43] Whether they allow it or not.

[1:15:46] >> So, that's just something to think

[1:15:47] about.

[1:15:48] >> Yes,

[1:15:50] as I learned about this situation and

[1:15:52] thought about it,

[1:15:53] something

[1:15:54] that was a concern for me is

[1:15:57] often have people ask me like, "Why

[1:15:59] would you want to live in town cuz we

[1:16:00] pay double taxes?" You know, well, we

[1:16:02] have police and we can get there quickly

[1:16:04] and fire and they scrape the roads, but

[1:16:06] one thing that I've learned from doing

[1:16:07] this job is when you live in town, I

[1:16:09] think one of the things is that you have

[1:16:11] a zoning. Because if you're in the

[1:16:12] county, you don't have a zoning. For

[1:16:13] people that I don't know if I agree with

[1:16:15] zoning, but you know, for people that

[1:16:17] like it and want to have some rules and

[1:16:18] regulations, I think they move into town

[1:16:20] and I feel like if we take the property

[1:16:22] out and of the ETJ,

[1:16:25] then it sets a precedent that other

[1:16:27] people might want to do that and I just

[1:16:29] think it's bad for our city.

[1:16:32] » All right, we're going to exit the

[1:16:34] public hearing.

[1:16:38] Do we have a motion to the board?

[1:16:44] This is Mayor, I'm going to make a

[1:16:45] motion, please.

[1:16:46] >> Yes.

[1:16:47] >> I move to adopt the proposed consistency

[1:16:50] statement dated August 4, 2026 contained

[1:16:53] in the agenda materials and to deny the

[1:16:56] removal of parcel ID 220

[1:16:59] 3757 off of

[1:17:02] Old US 421 Road and Lincoln Heights Road

[1:17:05] from the town of North Wilkesboro's

[1:17:07] extraterritorial jurisdiction.

[1:17:10] You'd also need me to

[1:17:12] read the consistency statement at the

[1:17:13] bottom of the

[1:17:14] >> No, no, that that that will suffice. You

[1:17:17] don't need No need. The request would be

[1:17:19] if you add anything to the goals and

[1:17:21] policies, but

[1:17:22] here and now, that's

[1:17:25] >> Well, I have a second.

[1:17:27] >> I second.

[1:17:28] >> Second.

[1:17:29] >> All right.

[1:17:31] All in favor?

[1:17:32] >> Aye.

[1:17:36] 21 vote.

[1:17:40] I want to say

[1:17:43] I didn't know that.

[1:17:46] You're the second mother that has

[1:17:48] approached me this week with an autistic

[1:17:50] child. So, I feel for you.

[1:17:52] Anything we can do

[1:17:54] to help you.

[1:17:55] And I know that's not solace here.

[1:17:58] But

[1:17:59] please know that.

[1:18:01] Thank you.

[1:18:04] All right.

[1:18:07] Mr. Davis

[1:18:14] » Good evening, Mayor and council.

[1:18:16] I'm here representing the Community

[1:18:18] Development Department. I have two

[1:18:19] separate road closure requests. The

[1:18:21] first is for Food Truck Fiesta on

[1:18:24] Saturday, October 24th. The event itself

[1:18:26] is from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The road

[1:18:28] closure request is from 3:00 p.m. until

[1:18:31] midnight.

[1:18:32] It would be for Main Street, C Street,

[1:18:33] and 9th Street. Good job.

[1:18:37] And there is a map of the pleasure

[1:18:38] request and ordinance in your city

[1:18:40] department.

[1:18:42] >> Just read 1 2000 to protect her and then

[1:18:46] they hit since day one.

[1:18:49] It is

[1:18:50] a big boost.

[1:18:52] And it it has been a

[1:18:55] I mean, to see the kids costume and the

[1:18:59] support of

[1:19:02] groups that come and

[1:19:03] participate.

[1:19:05] It's It's Yeah.

[1:19:08] I've been on that one every one of them

[1:19:10] and they are

[1:19:12] fun. Thank you. Really fun. And it

[1:19:14] provides a safe environment for the

[1:19:17] kids.

[1:19:18] And um

[1:19:20] So, yeah. I'm It's

[1:19:23] I'm very supportive of

[1:19:25] the groups of the group that does this.

[1:19:33] » We've both had them again.

[1:19:34] >> Now, what do you say?

[1:19:38] » I'll make a motion.

[1:19:40] >> So moved.

[1:19:41] >> I'll second.

[1:19:42] >> Second.

[1:19:43] >> All in favor?

[1:19:44] >> Aye.

[1:19:47] >> And so, the second request is for

[1:19:48] lighting downtown. It is scheduled for

[1:19:50] Friday, November the 20th. The event

[1:19:53] itself is from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The

[1:19:55] road closure request is from 3:00 p.m.

[1:19:57] to 11:00 p.m. And again, it'd be for

[1:19:59] Main Street, B Street, and Ninth Street.

[1:20:03] » Again, another very successful event.

[1:20:08] >> Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to approve

[1:20:09] the street closure ordinance for the

[1:20:11] 26th lighting of downtown event.

[1:20:13] >> Second. Second.

[1:20:14] >> All in favor?

[1:20:16] >> Aye.

[1:20:17] >> Thank you.

[1:20:21] >> We uh

[1:20:29] We're just I'm a public hearing.

[1:20:33] What do we do?

[1:20:34] Are we going to have them too?

[1:20:37] Well, we're just calling for a public

[1:20:39] hearing on that, I believe.

[1:20:45] Was that the

[1:20:46] That's correct. And then you want to do

[1:20:48] >> Yeah, it's just the introduction and we

[1:20:50] have to call for a public hearing.

[1:20:51] >> you can save all your questions for that

[1:20:53] night.

[1:20:54] >> Yeah, I was going to say yeah, we need

[1:20:56] to talk.

[1:20:56] >> I have a motion to call for a public

[1:20:58] hearing on the ordinance.

[1:21:00] >> I'm trying to base it on the wildlife

[1:21:01] feeding ordinance.

[1:21:03] >> Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to call for a

[1:21:04] public hearing on August 27th for the

[1:21:06] wildlife feeding ordinance.

[1:21:08] >> Second that.

[1:21:09] >> All in favor?

[1:21:10] >> Aye.

[1:21:12] >> Do I have a motion to adjourn?

[1:21:15] >> Hold on.

[1:21:15] >> Oh, sorry.

[1:21:16] >> Do we have any information on the the

[1:21:19] ordinance?

[1:21:20] >> On the wildlife ordinance?

[1:21:22] >> Yeah, that's what I was talking about.

[1:21:24] >> I apologize, but I thought that's what

[1:21:26] the public hearing was for.

[1:21:29] >> No, we

[1:21:32] » See, I'd like to talk to you about it.

[1:21:35] >> So, typically the state statutes

[1:21:37] requires that any new ordinance first be

[1:21:40] introduced

[1:21:41] and then during that introduction period

[1:21:43] we can call for the public hearing and

[1:21:45] then have a public hearing and then we

[1:21:47] can vote.

[1:21:48] >> Take it away, Amy.

[1:21:52] It's my understanding that we've

[1:21:54] actually had some

[1:21:55] folks who have identified that we have

[1:21:57] some wildlife problems in the greenway.

[1:22:01] As a result have folks putting out dry

[1:22:03] food and those sorts of things.

[1:22:07] A couple of different species of

[1:22:09] wildlife have

[1:22:12] near the folks who are walking the greenway.

[1:22:16] So,

[1:22:18] we discussed and identified

[1:22:21] that there are

[1:22:23] ordinance options

[1:22:25] uh that can address those feeding

[1:22:28] concerns and hopefully will learn how we

[1:22:30] can

[1:22:31] better protect our

[1:22:34] walking

[1:22:34] areas. So,

[1:22:37] um

[1:22:38] hence the reason for you

[1:22:40] presentation to us.

[1:22:44] » Yeah, I can just

[1:22:46] speak to First of all, I do want to say

[1:22:50] there is a current group

[1:22:52] that is responsible. So, I'm going to

[1:22:53] state this clearly in the front. There

[1:22:55] is a current group that has been taking

[1:22:58] care of the feral

[1:23:00] cats

[1:23:01] >> which at

[1:23:02] >> the Greenway

[1:23:02] >> at Smooth Park.

[1:23:04] >> And they do

[1:23:04] >> So, we are this this this is a way to

[1:23:07] kind of

[1:23:09] codify this so that

[1:23:11] the people that are supposed to be

[1:23:14] feeding

[1:23:15] the animals continue. We're not taking

[1:23:17] that away. We're not

[1:23:19] wanting to hurt

[1:23:21] the cats.

[1:23:22] Um

[1:23:24] I I'm the one that experienced

[1:23:27] the raccoon on the side of the Greenway

[1:23:30] with my wife in a walk one evening.

[1:23:34] And it was deep enough down

[1:23:36] uh on the Greenway that

[1:23:39] um

[1:23:41] you know, it it

[1:23:43] the raccoon

[1:23:45] although did not exhibit aggressiveness,

[1:23:49] it also did not exhibit shyness.

[1:23:52] And when you are 5 ft

[1:23:54] from a raccoon that's looking at you

[1:23:57] while it's munching on dry cat food,

[1:24:00] um

[1:24:01] it's a little unnerving.

[1:24:04] And so, um

[1:24:06] the current gentlemen that are feeding

[1:24:08] the cats

[1:24:10] at Smooth Park,

[1:24:11] they currently go in, they feed the

[1:24:14] cats, they clean up their mess, and they

[1:24:17] exit the property.

[1:24:19] » [clears throat]

[1:24:19] >> This is this was a pile of food

[1:24:23] approximately

[1:24:24] a plate size

[1:24:26] that was just dumped on the dirt. So,

[1:24:31] you know, it's

[1:24:32] we we've already had an incident where a

[1:24:36] rabid animal

[1:24:38] had some issues with

[1:24:40] >> [clears throat]

[1:24:40] >> people using the greenway. So, it's just

[1:24:44] The greenway, as Andrew has said many, times, is our one of our crown

[1:24:48] jewels of this town.

[1:24:50] And

[1:24:51] I want it to be I want people to be able

[1:24:53] to use it and feel safe.

[1:24:55] You know,

[1:24:56] I want to, you know,

[1:24:59] I I think so. I think that's why we kind

[1:25:01] of

[1:25:03] um

[1:25:03] are talking about it. And this this

[1:25:05] ordinance is going to have to have some

[1:25:07] guidelines and a permitting process.

[1:25:11] So,

[1:25:12] um

[1:25:13] I I think it's

[1:25:15] what we're considering.

[1:25:17] >> I'm concerned of my friends who walk in

[1:25:19] the greenway. The ordinances that were

[1:25:22] out there and there's

[1:25:25] They have peanuts that just ain't you

[1:25:27] know, they set them on the railings for

[1:25:29] the

[1:25:30] squirrels to get, for the birds to get,

[1:25:32] and they feed those dogs and

[1:25:35] I mean, the squirrel, I mean,

[1:25:37] I understand what Michael's saying

[1:25:39] because if you start dumping a big pile

[1:25:40] of food, that's that's one thing. But,

[1:25:42] for the folks who are just have a

[1:25:44] little bag and I think rather

[1:25:48] we won't be arresting those folks.

[1:25:50] >> Mhm.

[1:25:52] >> Can you put Can you put that aside? I I

[1:25:54] understand I'm I'm just wondering how

[1:25:56] recent it is. Yeah, how we can figure

[1:25:58] that part out and make it

[1:26:00] um

[1:26:01] I'm it's

[1:26:03] I've seen what Michael's saying.

[1:26:06] >> And I'll go a little bit further. In

[1:26:08] neighborhoods where people feed deer, my

[1:26:11] neighbors do it out of good heartedness,

[1:26:14] but you're taking the and away from its

[1:26:15] natural habitat, they become more

[1:26:18] aggressive, they start

[1:26:20] you know

[1:26:22] Thank you.

[1:26:23] >> [laughter]

[1:26:24] >> You know, instead of relying on their

[1:26:26] natural habitat, so I'm anxious to see

[1:26:28] what you guys do with this because it's

[1:26:30] a real problem and the more they

[1:26:32] congregate, the more likely they are to

[1:26:35] have chronic wasting disease.

[1:26:54] » [laughter]

[1:26:55] >> There are some exceptions like one of

[1:26:57] them is bird feeders.

[1:27:00] And so we can look into adding

[1:27:01] >> Is it the people feeding the bird or

[1:27:03] the house

[1:27:04] >> it's actually the placement of bird

[1:27:06] feeders. Um that's an exception. You

[1:27:08] don't have to get a permit to do that.

[1:27:10] Um but we can look at an exception like

[1:27:12] that if you would want to discuss it.

[1:27:14] And I do mention to you that there are

[1:27:16] penalties,

[1:27:17] um both civil penalties, fines, and then

[1:27:20] ultimately it could be a misdemeanor. Um

[1:27:22] this does equip though our police force

[1:27:25] with authority that if there was a

[1:27:27] situation that arose that they did need

[1:27:30] to take action that they do have

[1:27:31] specific authority under this ordinance.

[1:27:33] So it it does protect them and us in in

[1:27:37] the town as it stands right now.

[1:27:38] >> And is this is this specifically for

[1:27:41] public land or

[1:27:42] >> Yes.

[1:27:42] >> Yeah, we we are on the

[1:27:44] >> We will see there's more exceptions like

[1:27:47] your own like hunting, trapping,

[1:27:49] education,

[1:27:51] garden gardening, agricultural, those

[1:27:54] types of things are all exceptions.

[1:27:58] >> Are there any state or federal laws

[1:27:59] against feeding wild animals?

[1:28:01] >> I actually looked into that quite a bit.

[1:28:02] There are

[1:28:04] um there are but none that

[1:28:07] >> It depends on the intention.

[1:28:08] >> Yeah, it kind of yeah, it kind of can

[1:28:09] depend. So we're we're able to put this

[1:28:12] into place without violating those, but

[1:28:14] they actually do not recommend putting

[1:28:15] it on the

[1:28:16] state or or federal property.

[1:28:22] » I have a motion. Mr. Mayor, I make a

[1:28:23] motion we adjourn this

[1:28:26] Second

[1:28:28] Good luck to the two of you on your

[1:28:29] coming up to Wildlight.

[1:28:32] All in favor

[1:28:40] Good job.

[1:28:42] It's okay. We got it out. It's good.

[1:28:46] Yes, sir.

[1:28:50] Huh?

[1:28:52] All in favor

August 4, 2026 Board of Commissioners Meeting Town of North Wilkesboro

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