Subdivision near Wilson's Mills rejected again
Youngbloods' hog farm fueled council's opposition

Developers of the proposed "Bellamy" residential subdivision on Lee-Youngblood Road west of Wilson's Mills Road came back before the Smithfield Town Council Tuesday night with a revised plan in response to opposition that led to the original plan's rejection by the council last October.

Those changes included a reduction in the number of building lots from 1,147 to 1,076 with 191 of them for townhouses instead of 277 originally proposed, cancellation of the proposed re-routing of Lee-Youngblood Road, and moving several lot sites at least 500 feet away from the Youngblood family's hog farm.

It wasn't enough to change the minds of a majority of the council members, who voted 5-2 against the revised plan. Votes to deny approval came from Gettys Cohen, Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, Sloan Stevens, and Doris Wallace while John Dunn and Roger Wood voted in favor. (The original plan was also defeated by a 5-2 vote.)

A back-and-forth conversation about the hog farm's impact was the centerpiece of Tuesday's lengthy public hearing, the room mostly filled by Bellamy's opponents.

Speaking for the developers, consulting engineer David Bergmark emphasized several concessions related to the hog farm: the 500-foot setback, keeping the access road to the farm intact, and delaying construction of houses closest to the hogs until the subdivision's final phase, perhaps 10 years away. (Map on the right shows the portion of the Bellamy plan closest to the hog farm below Lee-Youngblood Road. The yellow triangle is a tract developers offered to the town for future municipal facilities.)

Speaking for the Youngbloods, attorney Andy Petesch said Smithfield Foods would likely cancel its contract for the family's hogs if widely publicized complaints about odors arise from future subdivision residents. He said the Youngbloods have operated their farm in its present state since 1993.

Sam Slater, an attorney for the developers, said state laws provide numerous protections for farmers facing legal challenges from nearby residents. He pointed out that the 500 acres proposed for the subdivision could be developed under the property's current zoning, but not with the quality the Bellamy plan offers. "No matter what happens tonight, this land will not remain farmland," he declared.

Councilman Stevens (of the Stevens Sausage family) said he would have supported the revised Bellamy plan if it had pushed the houses at least 1,500 feet away from the hog farm – a separation required by law for new hog operations. Hog farming, he said, "is pivotal to the North Carolina economy."

Councilmen Roger Wood and John Dunn sided with the developers. "It's unfair to deny a person's right to do what he wants with his land," Mr. Wood stated.

Also rising to speak during Tuesday's hearing was the Town of Wilson's Mills planning director, Wendy Oldham, who said her town would not have approved Bellamy if it were situated within her jurisdiction. "The Town of Wilson's Mills is not entertaining any more subdivisions," she declared, noting that six have recently been built or approved that will raise the town's new-housing count to about 5,000.

The Bellamy site is located just inside the Town of Smithfield's extraterritorial jurisdiction, which extends two miles beyond the town's corporate limits. Bellamy's developers withdrew a request for voluntary annexation to Smithfield following Tuesday's vote against their revised plan.
 

Architect's rendering of the building being planned for East Market Street.

New zoning encourages a new look for Downtown

The intent of a recently adopted change in land-use zoning along Market Street was to encourage "sight-line identity" mirroring the arrangement of buildings in the historical heart of Downtown Smithfield. The Town Council unanimously approved a particular plan Tuesday night that moves toward that goal.

Grace Homemade Intl., LLC – a real-estate company based in Wendell – proposes to construct a three-story "community flex building" on the north side of Market Street between Sixth and Seventh streets that could accommodate a ground-floor brewery and retail shops, a second-floor "fine dining" restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, and a third-floor venue for small-group meetings or large gatherings.

Councilman Dunn voiced concerns about off-street parking since the plan provides just 60 spaces for vehicles. Patty Griffin of Grace Homemade said her firm is looking at arrangements with adjacent property owners, especially Market Square to the west, to provide additional parking. Most activities in the new building would take place evenings when the nearby businesses are closed, she noted.

The former home of Little's Pontiac on the corner of Market and Seventh would be demolished to make way for the new building.
 

Convenience store approved near entrance to Amazon

The council unanimously approved rezoning to permit construction of a Sheetz convenience store near the entrance to the Amazon distribution center on US 70 Business in West Smithfield.

John Featherston of Real Zeal Property Group based in Marietta, Ga. said the store expects considerable patronage from Amazon employees but would not be set up for stops by large tractor-trailer trucks.

Council members encouraged him to take steps to prohibit roadside parking by drivers of the large trucks. Mr. Featherston noted that Amazon operates its own truck-staging system next door.

Police vehicle, housing appointment, responder training approved

The council approved several items placed on Tuesday's Consent Agenda without discussion, including:
• Purchase of a Dodge Durango for the Police Department from Deacon Jones for $42,536. A grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Program will cover the cost.
• Confirmation of Mayor Andy Moore's appointment of Latasha Stancil to the Smithfield Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners.
• Permit for MedicalTraining.me to conduct Active Threat Responder Training at the Neuse River Amphitheater next Tuesday and Wednesday. Activities will require Front Street between Johnston and Market to be closed from 2:30 till 4:30 p.m. "Community members are asked to avoid the immediate training area during these times," reads a notice from the Downtown Smithfield Development office. "The area will be clearly marked, and all activity observed is part of a controlled training scenario designed to strengthen first-responder readiness and community safety."

The Town Council recessed Tuesday's meeting until 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday to consider Nondepartmental Budget requests for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
 

New Indian
restaurant is
officially open

Curry Corner is a new version of an eatery featuring Indian cuisine that previously occupied the space on the north side of Downtown's Market Street between Second and Third opposite the Courthouse.

It officially opened last Friday afternoon following a "soft opening" that enabled the restaurant team "to test operations and ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for guests," explained Heidi Gilmond, executive director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation which arranged the ribbon-cutting pictured above.

In the center of the photograph (holding the scissors) is Vanu Sharma, the restaurant's owner who's part of a team that also has a restaurant in Raleigh. Coming from Nepal, he moved to the United States in 2003 to study at Wright State University. His "journey into hospitality" began with a catering job, and during his college years he also worked in fast-food and Indian-cuisine restaurants, Ms. Gilmond noted.

He's employed as a data scientist with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

"Curry Corner offers a flavorful and authentic Indian-cuisine dining experience, featuring a diverse menu with options for a wide range of preferences and dietary needs," Ms. Gilmond wrote in a her announcement about the Smithfield restaurant. "Guests can enjoy vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, as well as meals prepared mild or spicy to taste."

Arpan Pyakurel is the restaurant's manager. For more information, including hours of operation, visit the Curry Corner website>
 

Audit shows County Government's growth

General Fund has increased by 48.65% since '21

Johnston's County Commissioners Monday evening received the annual audit report from the Whiteville-based accounting firm of Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Company. For the most part, Alan Thompson praised the county's management of its finances – a recurring theme over the past several years.

His firm's audit confirmed what commissioners already knew about the growth of the county's General Fund Balance. It surpassed $271 million as of last June 30, the end of Fiscal 2024-25. That's a key number as the board moves into borrowing for major construction projects starting with the new Clayton High School and a new home for the Department of Social Services.

The county's General Fund Balance exceeds what comparable North Carolina counties have amassed, Mr. Thompson reported. That should pave the way for approval of financing for those construction projects by the state's Local Government Commission while maintaining Johnston's triple-A bond rating which keeps interest rates on big loans as low as the market allows.

Mr. Thompson's report also includes some instructive numbers about the growth of County Government in one of North Carolina's fastest-growing counties. Since 2021 Johnston's annual General Fund expenditures have risen from $238 million to $354 million – an increase above 48%. This chart from the audit tells the story:

Those numbers show that the biggest expenditure increase, by service category, has been Public Safety – up 76.8% since 2021. Education spending by the county has increased by 51.9%; Human Services saw a 40.1% rise. (Public Safety includes the Sheriff's Department, Emergency Management, 911 Communications, and rural fire departments. Education includes Johnston County Public Schools and Johnston Community College. Human Services includes the Health Department, Social Services, and agencies targeting military veterans and the elderly.)

The audit for 2024-25 did find a few flaws. It cited some budgetary oversights related to insurance claims, "technical errors" in Medicaid administration, and "significant errors" in CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program that covers youngsters in families just beyond Medicaid qualification. The report noted that "a corrective action plan is in place to address the issues."

VIEW the audit summary presented to commissioners at Monday's meeting>

County to help pay for America250NC local events

Commissioners readily agreed to contribute up to $30,000 to help pay for activities planned here to commemorate the nation's 250th birthday this summer.

Allison Elsee, who chairs the Johnston County Committee for America250NC, gave the board a rundown of events in the making:
• Dedication of the Tuscarora mural in Downtown Smithfield at 11 a.m. March 11.
• Bus tours of historic sites and structures throughout the county in late spring.
• An "America250 Fair" on the Smithfield campus of Johnston Community College on Saturday, June 27 including a "living history" encampment, art displays, a puppet show, carriage rides, food and craft vendors.
• Presentation of the Broadway musical "1776" June 26-28 in the JCC auditorium/
• Unveiling of markers at colonial-era historic sites to be determined.

Todd Johnson, director of the Johnston County Heritage Center and vice chair of Johnston's 250th committee, said $40,000 has been granted by the state for Johnston's celebration yet another $30,000 may be needed to cover all expenses, including employment of an event planner. Commissioners approved the request.

Chairman presents annual "State of the County" report

Done by means of a video shown at Monday's meeting, it was the first one from recently elected Commissioners' Chairman Patrick Harris.

Highlights include farmland preservation (a total of 837 acres saved this past year), the new job-training center at Four Oaks coupled with a major new industry coming to Benson, groundbreaking for the county's first park – in Cleveland Township, adoption of a countywide trails and greenway plan, and landing of a collegiate-level baseball franchise – coming to Smithfield.

Chairman Harris also took note of real-estate revaluation, which this past year increased property-tax bills for most Johnstonians. He defended the new tax rate to pay for "needs that simply could not be postponed," especially for added personnel in emergency services.

VIEW the "State of the County" video posted on the county's website>

Five appointments made to county's Planning Board

Four of those are reappointments, the fifth a new member – all elected by commissioners' written ballots since nine citizens had applied for five available seats. Newly appointed: Chad Holloman of Oak Grove Inn Road, Selma. Reappointed: Brooke Holmes of Willowcroft Court, Garner; Gary Lovering of Saint Jiles Drive, Clayton; Jack (Jay) Sasser II of Roderick Drive, Smithfield; and Jared Crenshaw of Red Angus Drive, Smithfield.

Uncontested positions filled by the County Commissioners Monday:
Board of Health – Tamara W. Barbour, nurse, of Bear Oak Drive, Smithfield.
Tourism Authority – Nicole Youngblood, N.C. State Extension Agent.
Veterans Service Advisory Board – Demetrius Johnson of Otter Hole Drive, Kenly.
Micro Firefighters Relief Fund Board of Trustees – Trenton V. Lassiter.
 

Story & photo from County of Johnston Public Information Office

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Postponed MLK Parade rescheduled for this Saturday

The NAACP Johnston County Branch will host the annual MLK Jr. Parade – with the theme “Urgency Meet Legacy: Living the Dream Today” – starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parade will move along Market Street from Sixth Street to Second. Doris Wallace of the Smithfield Town Council will serve as Grand Marshal, comedian Jay Derrell as Master of Ceremonies. Originally scheduled last month, closer to the January 15 birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the event was postponed because of a threat of wintry weather.

Film about 1898 Wilmington insurrection to be shown

The Black History Committee of the Johnston County Heritage Commission, in partnership with PBS North Carolina and Working Films, will stage a screening next week of American Coup: Wilmington 1898 – a film that shares the story of a deadly race massacre and insurrection in what was then the state's largest city.
The screening will take place at 7 p.m. next Thursday (February 26) at Smithfield's envisioned Performing Arts Center in the former movie theater on South Third Street. A panel discussion will follow including Earl Ijames, the N.C. Museum of History's curator of African-American history. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be offered.

 DEATHS AND FUNERALS 
Click on the name to read an obituary, usually posted by the funeral home:

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Commissioners wrestle with constituent-connecting

During the first afternoon of last week's two-day Strategic Planning Session for Johnston's County Commissioners, the conversation turned to communication. Specifically, how can county leaders and staff do better to "get the word out" about the functions and actions of County Government?

Still rattled by the recent public hearing on a new Unified Development Ordinance where many citizens said they weren't aware of the proposed new rules until the last minute, commissioners offered ideas on how to reach more people for their input on important decisions to be made.

Here are some of the suggestions offered during the discussion:
• Paper "mailers" on timely topics inserted with utility bills.
• A "citizens academy" to bring folks in to classes on how government works.
• A phone-based "text notification service" that goes beyond emergencies.
• "Ambassadors" who volunteer to make sure citizens know what's going on.
• "Us" – meaning stepped-up efforts by commissioners to talk with constituents.

"Social media" wasn't mentioned much, perhaps for two reasons:
(1) The county has an expanding communications staff posting all sorts of information along with videos on Facebook and the like.
(2) "We don't have Internet everywhere," Commissioner Bill Stovall noted; and even where Internet reception is strong, many folks – especially seniors – aren't turning to phone "apps" and computer laptops to find out what's going on around them.

Perhaps the problem isn't the means of communication as much as some folks' feeble attempts to keep up with the doings of government. "We can't shove it down their throats; we can't make 'em care," observed Commissioner April Stephens.

Meanwhile, it'll be interesting to see if we get a better version of the new Unified Development Ordinance in the wake of the recent public-hearing breakdown.
 

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