New rezoning request filed
Published 12:04 am Tuesday, February 10, 2015
After withdrawing a rezoning request to have 6.49 acres near Washington High School designated for office and institutional uses, the same applicant is seeking to have 2.12 acres near Eastern Elementary School designated for general business (B2) use so a child-care center can be built on the property.
The Washington City Council is scheduled to conduct a public hearing on the news request during its meeting Monday. Robert M. Leggett and Belinda Gail Leggett of Greenville filed the latest request. The owner of the 2.12 acres is William R. Waters of Washington. The Planning Board recommends the request be approved. The hearing is set for 6 p.m.
Last month, the Leggetts withdraw the request to have the 6.49 acres reclassified from residential (R9-S) to office and institutional so a child-care center could be built on the land. That request ran into opposition from nearby residents who voiced concerns that some of the allowed uses in an O&I zone would not be compatible with the adjacent residential area.
Currently, the 2.12 acres on Hudnell Street are classified R6 (residential). The 2.12 acres are adjacent to the school and Washington Housing Authority.
The Planning Board determined that rezoning the 2.12 acres would be consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, which guides development in and near the city.
The council will conduct another public hearing on a voluntary annexation request submitted by DCD Enterprises Inc., which wants 5 acres to become part of the city,
The property is on U.S. Highway 264 near the Beaufort County Industrial Park. A site plan submitted to the city identifies the property as the future home of Washington Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. That site plan was prepared by J.S. Janowski Engineering and dated Oct. 20, 2014.
Late in 2014, the council unanimously authorized the city manager to sign required documents related to seeking a grant to help pay for sewer-infrastructure improvements. Those improvements would support the dealership’s plans to locate in Beaufort County, according to a city document. To receive water and sewer service from the city, the owner of commercial property outside the city is asked to submit a petition for annexation. If that annexation is approved, the property also receives other city services such as police and fire protection.
The new dealership plans to create about 33 jobs, according to a city document. The dealership pledges to create at least 21 jobs, the document notes.
The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. To view the council’s agenda for a specific meeting, visit the city’s website at www.washingtonnc.gov, click “Government” then “City Council” heading, then click “Meeting Agendas” on the menu to the right. Then click on the date for the appropriate agenda.