ROSEBORO — Developers looking to build in the western part of the county now have more options when it comes to multi-family dwellings in the Thoroughfare Business Zone of Roseboro.
A third public hearing on the matter was held Tuesday night, but this time, no one spoke for or against the matter, which had been continued from a previous public hearing at the March 8 meeting. Commissioners voted to amend the town’s ordinance, allowing for the application of conditional permits for the development of multi-family residences in the town’s thoroughfare district.
Despite the approval of the change by the Roseboro Planning and Zoning Board, the Roseboro commissioners decided in February to table a decision about amending text in the town’s zoning ordinance until last month’s meeting. During last month’s meeting, commissioners still had more questions than answers, and asked that the matter be tabled again.
“As you know, we tabled any decisions last month on the text amendment changes to allow multi-family dwellings (apartments) in the Thoroughfare Business Zone,” Roseboro mayor Alice Butler said. “Several questions were asked from the public, so Faye Lewis is bringing more information to the board.”
The proposed text amendment will allow multi-family residences (apartment complexes) to be constructed in the thoroughfare business district. Lewis presented a draft of the development standards that were discussed and adopted by the planning and zoning board during their meeting last week.
“These guidelines will also apply to the residential and residential-agriculture districts,” Lewis shared.
Guidelines address specific issues related to permits, such as fire safety, electrical safety, landscaping and housing specifications.
According to Lewis, zoning administrator, a request was made to amend the town’s zoning ordinance and allow apartment buildings to be built in the town’s thoroughfare districts. Commissioners were asked to consider allowing permits to be conditional. Permitted permits would approve all apartment complexes, without further consideration, but conditional permits would require the board to consider each request individually.
The board did approve conditional permits, which will be individually addressed on a case by case basis.
The request for the change came from Peter Patel, who would like to consider converting the old American Legion building, if the text amendment was made. Tuesday night’s action would only allow for the text amendment to the zoning ordinance, not a particular project, which would have to come before the board for approval after going before the zoning board.
