Smithfield Town Council

Smithfield
Town Council

report from May 4 session

Council members present: Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, John Dunn, Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, David Stevens, and Roger Wood

Marketed as "Spring Branch Commons," single-family houses with a shared driveway will be constructed on half a block southeast of the corner of South Sixth and Johnston streets (pictured here).

10 NEW HOUSES IN "DISTRESSED" NEIGHBORHOOD

Without opposition, the council unanimously approved conditional zoning to allow construction of 10 new houses on small lots on a 1.21-acre tract on the south side of Johnston Street between Sixth and Seventh streets. The town's Planning Department described it as "a compact urban infill development in a distressed part of Smithfield near its downtown."

The rezoning's applicant, TerraEden Landscape & Design, is planning houses of at least 1,250 square feet on lots as small as 41-by-84 feet. The project will include sidewalks along the adjacent streets. The houses will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms and "full-width front porches."

Approval of the project requires a homeowners' association to be responsible for maintenance of a shared driveway plus two parking places per residence in addition to some limited "guest parking" behind the houses.

The property, presently owned by Twin States Farming Inc. (Olivia B. Holding is the principal agent), was occupied by a large warehouse that was demolished some years ago. The project is marketed as "Spring Branch Commons"; the stream by that name is a block to the south of the proposed residences.

OFFICE BACK TO RESIDENCE, WITH STIPULATIONS

After lengthy discussion, the council gave unanimous approval to Bonnie Godwin's request to allow a vacant house in an Office & Institutional zoning district at 707 Wilkins Street near the hospital to be occupied once again as a residential dwelling, its original use before conversion into a medical office many years ago.

Planning Director Stephen Wensman had recommended denial of the requested special-use permit on grounds that "the property no longer has residential character." The council satisfied his concern by requiring Ms. Godwin to erect a six-foot-high fence between the house and a nearby commercial office building, restrict parking to the rear of the dwelling, and within 18 months remove most of the concrete pavement that covers the front yard.

Ms. Godwin said she had tried for some time to recruit a commercial tenant for the house, without success. "If this were residential it would be rented in less than a week," she told the council. "We have families that need homes."

RULES ON FENCING ADDED TO DEVELOPMENT CODE

The council amended the town's Unified Development Code to establish standards for fences --- rules that for some reason were omitted from the last major revision of the code in 2016, noted Planning Director Wensman (who was not employed by the town at the time). The added rules limit the height of fencing that's "more than 75% solid" to 48 inches in front of a "principal structure." Fences as high as 10 feet are allowed on commercial and industrial properties but portions above 7 feet "shall be of an open type similar to woven wire or wrought iron." Another key provision allows fences to be erected at property lines --- exempt from setback requirements.

NEW POLICE OFFICER REDUCES VACANCIES TO FIVE

Alyssa Jane Renee Berna took the oath of office as a newly employed police officer. That reduces vacancies in the Police Department's Patrol Division to five, with another new hire expected next week. Chief Keith Powell told the Sun. Officer Berna has just over four years' experience in police work, most recently in New Bern.

RETIRING PUBLIC WORKS VETERAN GETS THANKS

On behalf of the council, Mayor Andy Moore presented tokens of appreciation to Daniel Rodriguez, a crew leader, for his 21 years of service with the town's Public Works Department. His retirement took effect May 1.

TOWN CLERK THANKED DURING NATIONAL OBSERVANCE

Noting that this week is observed nationally as Professional Municipal Clerks Week, Mayor Moore asked Town Clerk Shannan Parrish to come forward from her post as the counci's recording secretary to receive a special thank-you from the council. "I just wanted to thank you publicly for the job you do," he told her. "I was completely surprised and humbled," Ms. Parrish told the Sun after the meeting. "I love what I do and I love that I get to do it in Smithfield."

PERMITS ISSUED FOR SEVERAL OUTDOOR EVENTS

The council approved permits for five upcoming special events, all of them outdoors:
• Family Days Fun Fest Super Carnival at Carolina Premium Outlets, May 13-23.
• Community Outreach Family Party by Rey de Reyes, First Baptist Church, May 22.
• Community Outreach Event hosted by Gerald Sanders, Smith-Collins Park, June 5.
• Piano Festival hosted by Jonathan Levin, Neuse River Amphitheater, June 18.
• Juneteenth Celebration at Smith-Collins Park, parade on Collier Street, June 19.

TWO APPOINTED TO RECREATION COMMITTEE

The council appointed C. Andrew Byrd IV to a first term and Scott Wright to a fourth term on the town's Recreation Advisory Committee.

MAY PROCLAIMED AS "WATER SAFETY MONTH"

The council adopted a resolution proclaiming May as Water Safety Month --- part of a national public-awareness campaign. Mayor Moore presented the proclamation to Laura Crumpler, aquatics supervisor at the town's Recreation and Aquatics Center.

NAMING OF GIRL SCOUT HUT, SPLASH PAD APPROVED

The council approved the naming of two town-owned facilities --- one old, one new:

• The Girl Scout Hut beside the kiddie park off South Second Street was named for the late Rachel May Mattox, in leader in the early development of Girl Scouting in Johnston County, in Smithfield especially. The council also approved Tuesday night a $ 21,295 contract with JLP Carpentry to repair and repaint the historic structure.

Rachel Mattox (right) is shown in this 1950 photo in front of the Girl Scout Hut shortly after its completion. Although the day camp was named for her at the time, the structure was not --- until now. With Ms. Mattox in the picture are Scout leaders Ginny Nash (left) and Grace Holland. (Photo from Girl Scout centennial history by Julia McCullers, published in 2012 by the Johnston County Heritage Center)

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