Greenville Board of Adjustment Meeting – November 18, 2021

The Greenville Board of Adjustment held a virtual meeting on November 18, 2021, at 6:00 PM via Zoom. The board considered election of officers, five public hearings under old business, three new business items, and a proposed decision and order for Metronet Fibernet. The meeting lasted approximately 4.5 hours, with a 10-minute recess. The board consists of seven voting members.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 23, 2021 meeting were approved unanimously by roll call vote (7-0).

Election of Officers

• Chair: Rodney Bullock was elected chair by unanimous vote (7-0).
• Vice Chair: Christopher Lilly was elected vice chair over Ryan Purdle by a vote of 6-1 (Lilly abstained from voting for himself).

Old Business

1. Willie Moore Jr. – Special Use Permit for Mobile Home (Withdrawn)

• The applicant requested to withdraw the application. The board unanimously approved the withdrawal (7-0).

2. Sabreen Mezher – Special Use Permit for Microblading/Microneedling (Approved)

• Applicant: Sabreen Mezher, operating Brow Edge at 807 Red Banks Road, Suite 7. The use is a personal service (microblading and microneedling) in an existing salon. Staff recommended conditions (no lottery, services limited to microblading and shading only). No public opposition. The board unanimously approved the findings of fact and the petition with staff conditions (7-0).

3. DeRonde Dalas Nixon-Turnage – Special Use Permit for Microblading (Approved)

• Applicant: DeRonde Dalas Nixon-Turnage, operating at 214 E. Arlington Blvd, Suite E. The use is microblading within an existing salon. Staff recommended same conditions. Despite the use not being in full compliance with the Horizons plan (which recommends institutional/civic development), the board approved the findings of fact and petition unanimously (7-0).

4. Faith and Brandon Lam – Special Use Permit for Drop-In Child Care (Approved)

• Applicant: Brandon Lam (wife absent), operating at 3107 Evans Street, Unit D. The drop-in care would operate 2-6 PM for after-school and 4-8 PM for tutoring, with a maximum of 25 children. Staff recommended conditions (all activities indoors, maintain applicable licensing). Board member Ann Bellis asked about occupancy load; staff clarified that building code will determine the final cap. The board approved the findings of fact and petition unanimously (7-0).

5. Terry Wethington – Special Use Permit for Mini Storage Warehouse (Approved)

• Applicant: Terry Wethington (Ample Storage), proposing a 14.10-acre self-storage facility at 3103 Williams Road. The company has operated for 38 years across four states. The facility will include a manager’s apartment (resident manager on site). Staff recommended conditions (final platting, stormwater, NC DOT access, no exterior storage). Steve Janowski (Rivers & Associates) was accepted as an expert in traffic and stormwater (7-0). He testified that the facility would generate about 560 vehicles per day, less than ITE predictions. The board approved the findings of fact and petition with staff conditions and the added condition of a resident manager on site (7-0).

New Business

1. Down East Tires and Quality Work-Flex Car Wash – Special Use Permit for Minor Repair Facility (Approved)

• Applicant: Troy Coggins, operating at 1009 Dickinson Avenue. The facility will perform minor repairs (tires, brakes, etc.) and a car wash. Mr. Coggins described installed water containment and backflow prevention. Staff recommended conditions (site plan approval, vehicles stored at rear, repairs inside only). No public opposition. The board approved the findings of fact and petition with staff conditions unanimously (7-0).

2. B&M Wang, LLC – Variance from Parking Requirements (Continued to December 16, 2021)

• Applicant: Represented by Bill Fleming, property manager at 655 S. Memorial Drive. The property is a multi-unit commercial building with a vacant 3,100 sq. ft. former laundromat. The site is deficient in parking (29 spaces) due to subdivision and increased unit count. The variance would allow up to 15 additional parking spaces above existing. Board member Sharon Evans expressed concern about limiting the variance to a laundromat only. The board voted unanimously to continue the case to allow legal research on whether conditions can be use-specific. The next meeting is December 16, 2021.

3. Andrew & Christy Garris – Special Use Permit for Major Repair Facility (Continued to December 16, 2021)

• Applicants: Andrew and Christy Garris, proposing an auto body and restoration shop at 701 Peed Drive. The existing building was previously used for classic car restoration. The application did not specify a paint booth; Igor Palavoda (Baldwin Design Consultants) clarified that a paint booth is required. The board voted unanimously to continue the case to December 16, 2021, to allow clarification of the application and conditions.

4. Ironwood Development, Inc. – Amendment to Special Use Permit for Carolina Crofts Master Plan (Not Heard)

• This item was not reached due to time constraints. The board did not discuss or vote on it.

Proposed BOA Order for Metronet Fibernet, LLC (Tabled)

• The board considered a proposed decision and order granting a special use permit (from a contested September 9, 2021 hearing). The order memorializes findings, including a weekly generator test (finding of fact #28). Several board members expressed concern that the original vote did not include conditions regarding a sound barrier fence and generator testing times. A motion to table the order to allow legal research on adding conditions passed 4-3 (Rodney Bullock, Ann Bellis, Hunt McKinnon, Sharon Evans in favor; Christopher Lilly, Nathan Cohen, Ryan Purdle opposed). The board directed staff to contact Metronet representatives to determine if they wish to appear at the December meeting. The matter will be revisited pending legal guidance.

Key Outcomes

• Approved (unanimous): Sabreen Mezher, DeRonde Nixon-Turnage, Faith & Brandon Lam, Terry Wethington, and Down East Tires special use permits.
• Continued (unanimous): B&M Wang variance and Andrew & Christy Garris special use permit to December 16, 2021.
• Tabled (4-3): Metronet Fibernet proposed order; further legal research and potential rehearing directed.
• Not Heard: Ironwood Development amendment request.
• Next Regular Meeting: December 16, 2021, at 6:00 PM.