Several decisions regarding future local enterprises were made at Clinton’s City Council meeting this past Tuesday evening, including an adjustment to the required distance between convenience stores in the city.
City Planning Director Robert Moore proposed to the council that the distance between such stores, currently at 750 feet, be reduced to a distance of only 300 feet to match the state Department of Transportation requirement.
“It increases the possibility of economic development,” Councilwoman Wanda Corbett pointed out.
Mayor Lew Starling asked if there were questions. With none, Council members passed the motion and second unanimously.
A new duplex
Al Melvin came before the council during the public hearing portion of the meeting to ask for a special-use permit to construct a duplex along Barden Street, located in the R-6 Residential District.
“I’ve had my general contractor’s license for like nine or 10 years,” Melvin told the council in making the request.
Melvin said this is work he likes to do on the side and that the duplex would probably be ready “within a year.”
There were numerous seconds to the motion again, and all council members voted yes in approval.
“It passes, and good luck to you, sir,” Starling said.
Grace Helping Others
Carmen Jones, the founder and executive director of Grace Helping Others, proposed a separate request to Council members, asking them to consider rezoing the former Telamon Corp. site at 606 College St. into a professional office that could offer trainings, provide education and meeting spaces, and act as a community resource center.
Operating hours would be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays for special events, she said.
Jones said the organization currently has about 10 volunteers in the county. “Then we have some (volunteers) in other counties, because we serve out-of-county,” she added.
Jones has been in Sampson County as a Toys for Tots representative for four months. She explained that she’s also been hosting community baby showers as a means of helping those living in the county.
“My team and I got together when we found out that Telamon was no longer using that building. … We want to use it, and use it as a resource center for the community, as well as training volunteers.”
She stated that Grace Helping Others is a new organization and is starting small with the intent to grow.
“We’re taking it by phases. We’re gonna do what we’ve been doing with Toys for Tots; we know that’s a given. … Next phase is working with the schools and the community college, coming together.”
Council voted unanimously to approve Jones’ rezoning request..
“Congratulations, and good luck to you,” he told her.
“Thank you so much,” Jones replied. “Thank you.”