[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