Johnston County
Board
of Commissioners report from March 2 sessions |
 |
Commissioners present for both
sessions:
Chairman Ted Godwin, Tony Braswell, Jeff Carver,
Patrick Harris, Butch Lawter, Chad Stewart, and Larry Wood
Absent: none
Go-Triangle's
map of proposed commuter-rail services.
WHERE WOULD JOHNSTON GET ITS FUNDING?
Katharine Eggleston, chief development officer of the regional transit agency known as GoTriangle, presented Monday's report on commuter rail's estimated costs and projected ridership. Originally, the plan called for trains running during rush hours between Garner and Durham. Recently, the agency's study was expanded eastward to Clayton and Selma and westward to Hillsborough and Mebane --- on tracks of the state-owned North Carolina Railroad.
The report estimates the capital cost of Mebane-Selma service could run as high as $3.2 billion with a yearly operating and maintenance expense of $57 million based on 8,000 to 10,000 passengers per day.
Durham-Clayton service could cost $2.1 billion up front and $37 million annually based on 7,500 to 10,000 passengers per day. (Costs for Durham-Garner service could run as high as $1.8 billion and $29 million.)
Federal funding for capital costs --- additional tracks, stations, and train sets --- would be essential for whatever project is chosen, Ms. Eggleston said. To be eligible, projects must achieve at least a "medium" rating based on federal criteria. Only the Durham-Garner or Durham-Clayton alternatives rate that high at present, she said.
Commissioner Butch Lawter asked where commuter-rail stations would be located east of Raleigh. Under consideration, Ms. Eggleston said, are sites in Downtown Garner, near the interchange of I-40 and soon-to-built I-540 at Auburn, and near the intersection of US 70 Business and NC 42 at Clayton.
Stations like the Clayton location would include park-and-ride lots, she noted.
How would Johnston County pay its share of commuter rail's costs? "We don't have a dedicated funding source" as do the other participating counties, Commissioner Tony Braswell pointed out.
How many years before commuter rail would reach Johnston if the county made a long-term funding commitment? "About 10 years from now," based on projects done elsewhere across the nation, Ms. Eggleston replied.
The next step, she said, would be development of a "detailed capacity model" that would assess costs and benefits as well as engineering constraints and community support. That would "get you the information you need on whether to move forward," she told commissioners.
While Johnston's share of the next step would be $250,000, Wake County's share would be $6 million and Durham County's $2.7 million, she noted.
READ more on GoTriangle's website about its commuter-rail study>
PROPOSED CHANGES IN LAND-USE RULES DEBATED
Commissioners conducted a public hearing Monday evening on proposed changes to the county's Land Development Code. Included are new rules eliminating residential building lots of less than 30,000 square feet and restricting Planned Unit Development housing units on small lots to Municipal Transition Districts surrounding Johnston's 11 incorporated towns. (The county's new rules would not apply within the towns' zoning jurisdictions.)
"We're not trying to stop growth, but we are putting a speed bump on it," declared Commissioners' Chairman Ted Godwin.
For the most part, rural residents who spoke during the hearing thanked commissioners for the new rules. "You're on the right track... move on it rapidly," urged Lanny Thomas.
Real-estate interests warned of negative consequences with the new rules. Developer Wade Corbett predicted an increase in land prices and home prices. Realtor April Stephens said there's already a shortage of houses priced below $300,000 and that the new restrictions "will kick some deserving people out of Johnston County" because of affordability.
Developer Dickie Braswell said he fears some of Johnston's towns won't be able to handle the growth that will be pushed their way. "Every small town has sewer infiltration problems," he said.
Commissioner Chad Stewart insisted most towns will welcome increased development. Bemoaning the rapid residential development of outlying rural areas of Johnston, he said: "I'm not trying to stop growth; I want to relocate growth."
A second public hearing on the proposed rule changes will be held during the commissioners' April 6 meeting. Adoption by the board could follow immediately. An effective date for the new rules is unsettled at this point.
READ the text of proposed changes in the Land Development Code>
VIEW maps of proposed Municipal Transition Districts>
PLANNING BOARD GETS TWO NEW MEMBERS
Using paper ballots to make their choices, commissioners appointed five of 11 applicants to three-year terms on the Johnston County Planning Board. Newly appointed: Denise Benson Byrd and A. Brooke Holmes, both residents of Pleasant Grove Township. Reappointed: Nicole M. Hackler of Wilson's Mills Township, William (Will) E. Letchworth of O'Neals Township, and Larry W. Massengill of Benson. Other members of the Planning Board are Adam Caldwell of Benson, Russell L. Creech of Micro, Allan C. DeLaine of Clayton, and Marcia K. Stewart of Smithfield. Commissioner Tony Braswell and school board member Mike Wooten are ex officio board members.
ROCK-QUARRY REQUEST POSTPONED AGAIN
Postponed once more was Martin Marietta's request for permission to operate its quarry between Four Oaks and Benson around the clock after county officials found that three neighboring property owners did not receive legally required notice of Monday's public hearing on the matter. As a result, it will come up at the commissioners' next regular meeting on Monday evening, April 6. The matter was postponed last month to give company officials and nearby residents time to work out a compromise.
ONE REZONING DENIED; THREE OTHERS APPROVED
Commissioners denied a request for General Business zoning to permit a home-health office in a residence at 10321 NC Highway 210 in Elevation Township. Commissioners received a petition in opposition from members of nearby Berea Presbyterian Church, and the Planning Board had recommended denial.
Rezonings approved Monday:
• General Business with a Special Use Permit for a small tract at 340 Two Claude Road in Pleasant Grove Township --- to allow parking of vehicles used by a septic-tank business.
• Industrial 2 with a Special Use Permit to bring into compliance a sand-and-gravel mining operation on 130.5 acres at 651 Williford Road in Bentonville Township.
• Agricultural Residential for 2.16 acres at 14766 NC Highway 50 in Cleveland Township --- "downzoning" for a site previously OK'd for Community Business.
COUNTY JOINS TRIANGLE TRAILS INITIATIVE
Commissioners adopted a resolution adding Johnston to a list of nearby counties endorsing the Triangle Trails Initiative --- a program of the East Coast Greenway Alliance funded by the A.J. Fletcher Foundation of Raleigh that "supports the concept of working within a regional framework to plan, design, develop, and link protected undeveloped landscapes and natural resources." Chuck Flink of Greenways Inc., a Durham consulting firm, told commissioners such efforts are "bubbling up all across the United States." The Triangle Trails Initiative, he said, will provide technical support for greenway planning at no cost to the county.
AIRPORT AUTHORITY MAY BE ENLARGED
Commissioners agreed to look into expanding the Johnston County Airport Authority from five to seven members after Trey Walters of Blue Line Aviation complained about the board's current makeup that includes owners of aircraft and hangars at Johnston Regional Airport. He said those members have a conflict of interest on matters before the authority like hangar rent and fuel prices. (Blue Line Aviation is presently constructing a large pilot-training center at the airport.) The Airport Authority, Mr. Walters said, "should be charging more for hangar space and tie-downs." Commissioner Chad Stewart said he supports adding two members to the authority to represent more areas of the county. (State legislation would be required to do that.) Following that discussion, commissioners reappointed Bruce Johnson of Smithfield and elected Freddie Stancil of Pleasant Grove Township to join John Bullock, Dwight Lowery, and Ken Starling on the board.
NURSING-HOMES REPORT AND APPOINTMENTS
Following an annual report by Chairman Jimmy Parker of the Johnston County Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Advisory Council, commissioners reappointed Cynthia Heafy and Constance M. Moreno to the board. Mr. Parker noted that the 13-member board this past year made a total of 72 inspections of Johnston's five skilled-nursing facilities, 12 assisted-living centers, and 10 adult-care homes. "Most residents are satisfied with the the care they receive," and just a few of Johnston's facilities have waiting lists, he reported. "The trend is keeping more people in their homes," Mr. Parker said. Principal concerns identified by his committee were inadequate staffing ratios and high staff turnover, lack of appropriate activities for residents, complaints about the "dining experience," and inadequate state funding. Identified as positives, he said, were "excellent" rehab services by nurses, church and family support, and "great cooperation" from the county's Department of Social Services.
LEGISLATURE URGED TO RELEASE LOCAL FUNDING
At Chairman Godwin's request, the board adopted a resolution listing local projects currently unfunded by the standoff between the N.C. General Assembly and the Governor that has prevented adoption of a state budget for 2019-20. The resolution urges legislators to "support Johnston County by taking measures to ensure these important programs ... are funded for the communities that they will so clearly benefit." The list includes $27.6 million in construction funds for Johnston County Schools, $5.1 million for construction at Johnston Community College plus another $75,000 for JCC's Truck Driver Training Program, $5.1 million for Johnston Regional Airport over the next two years, $260,000 for Town of Kenly civic-center renovations plus another $50,000 for asbestos removal, $257,000 for Selma Union Station, $150,000 for Town of Smithfield infrastructure needs, $100,000 for the Banner American Legion, $100,000 to the Town of Smithfield for building renovation, $75,000 for the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, $50,000 for the Pine Level Police Department, $25,000 for the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, $15,000 for Town of Princeton downtown revitalization, and appropriations to four towns for water infrastructure: Four Oaks, $200,000; Benson, $100,000 and $25,000; Wilson's Mills, $100,000; Micro, $50,000.
RETIRING PINE LEVEL TOWN CLERK HONORED
The board adopted a resolution honoring Sharon Thompson upon her retirement after almost 40 years as Pine Level's town clerk. Read by Commissioner Tony Braswell, a former mayor of Pine Level, the resolution praises Mrs. Thompson for her "familiar and comforting presence" in assisting the town's citizens.