No one spoke in opposition to either proposal during public hearings on the matters and Roanoke Rapids City Councilman Wayne Smith, who was present at the meeting, told the board, “We will take the matter up when it comes to council.”
Rezoning
In the first matter on the agenda, the planning board approved a rezoning request for two parcels of land totaling 1.9 acres located at Highway 48 and Smith Church Road.
Rodney Yates, a Roanoke Rapids real estate broker, told the planning board he has had a three-year history with the company making the application — Glandon Forest Equity of Raleigh. “They look after their neighbors very well,” he said.
Yates told the planning board the business wanting to locate on the land will be light commercial retail. “Some of their competitors would be like Family Dollar.”
Cecil Faison, one of the owners of the property, said, “I think the property is in disrepair. Anything done will be an improvement. It will be better for the community than what’s there now.”
Frances Rackley, another owner of the property, said, “It was a very hard decision to make. We felt like this was the best thing for the community.”
Cell tower
Drake Brinkley, an attorney for Ward and Smith representing U.S. Cellular said the tower, which will be located behind Chichester Law Office, “Will fill in coverage gaps and increase capacity.”
He said the Chichester Law Office has already signed a waiver to allow construction of the tower, which, with a lightning rod, will top out at 199 feet.
Co-locators, Brinkley said, will allow others to use the tower. It will have a 50-foot fall zone in which it would break upon itself should it topple. “It’s not a deterrent to public safety. It promotes public safety.”
Answering a question by planning board member Terry Buffaloe, both Brinkley and company representative Mike Doran said the tower would help to strengthen Wi-Fi in the area.
Officers
In another matter this evening Gregory Browning was re-elected as chairman of the board while Sherry Hux Mills was re-elected as its vice chair.
