Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - October 20, 2020
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Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - October 20, 2020
The Greenville Planning and Zoning Commission met virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at 6:00 PM due to COVID-19 restrictions. The meeting included public hearings on two rezoning requests, a continuation of a preliminary plat, and a text amendment to allow microdistilleries downtown. The commission recessed the meeting to reconvene on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 6:00 PM to discuss and vote on these matters.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the September 15, 2020, and September 17, 2020, meetings unanimously by roll call vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 2 – Rezoning (3810 Charles, LLC): Ken Malpus, representing the buyer (adjacent owners of Greenville Auto World), stated the property was purchased for potential future parking expansion; no immediate development plans. No speakers opposed.
- Item 3 – Rezoning (Langston Farms, LLC): Mike Baldwin, representing the applicant, stated that the rezoning would bring the property into harmony with surrounding commercial uses along Memorial Drive. No speakers opposed.
- Item 5 – Text Amendment (Microdistillery): Trey Herring, a prospective distillery operator from Goldsboro, spoke in support, emphasizing that microdistilleries provide education, entertainment, and tourism. He noted that 25 years ago tourists sought golf, but now they seek microbreweries and distilleries. No speakers opposed.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Rezoning Request (3810 Charles, LLC): Planner Brad Sevier presented the request to rezone 1.254 acres along Charles Boulevard/NC Highway 43, south of Fire Tower Road, from RA20 (Residential-Agricultural) to CH (Heavy Commercial). The property is vacant and currently could support three single-family lots; if rezoned, it could accommodate about 10,000 square feet of commercial development. Staff recommended approval, noting the surrounding area is already heavy commercial and the request alignes with the Horizons 2026 plan. No commission questions; public comment heard.
- Item 3 – Rezoning Request (Langston Farms, LLC): Planner Brad Sevier presented the request to rezone 1.881 acres at the northeastern corner of South Memorial Drive and Regency Boulevard from O (Office) to CG (General Commercial). The property is vacant and currently zoned office, allowing a 5,000-square-foot office building; if rezoned, it could support uses like a 1,500-square-foot fast-food restaurant. The future land use designation was recently changed to commercial, approved by City Council in September 2020. Staff recommended approval. No commission questions; public comment heard.
- Item 4 – Preliminary Plat (East Carolina University, "Millennial Warehouse Property"): The commission received a written request to continue this item. After brief discussion, a motion to continue was made, seconded, and approved unanimously by roll call vote. The item was removed from the October 20 agenda.
- Item 5 – Text Amendment (Microdistillery): Ms. Gooby presented the staff request to add "microdistillery" as a special use in the CD (Downtown Commercial) district, with a definition and standards. Key provisions: limited to the CD district, special use permit required, maximum 5,000 square feet for distilling equipment, minimum 30,000 square feet total floor area, allows on-premise and off-premise consumption, no cover charge, accessory uses include retail, food/beverage, tasting room, and entertainment. Outdoor amplified sound permitted only if not within 150 feet of a residential use. Staff cited policies from the Horizons 2026 plan supporting downtown nightlife, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, and infill development. Commissioner Allen Thomas questioned whether other nodes (West Greenville, Fire Tower) should be considered, noting the city's growth. Ms. Gooby responded that the downtown focus aims to revitalize many vacant large buildings and build critical mass. No other commission questions; public comment heard.
Key Outcomes
- The minutes from September 15 and September 17, 2020, were approved unanimously.
- Item 4 (preliminary plat by East Carolina University) was continued unanimously at the applicant's request; no further action this meeting.
- Public hearings were held for items 2, 3, and 5; no votes were taken on these items.
- The commission recessed the meeting by unanimous vote to reconvene on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 6:00 PM to deliberate and vote on all remaining matters.
Meeting Transcript
Mr. Robinson, you're ready to go. Thank you. All right, great. Welcome everyone to the October 20th planning and zoning commission meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission is a public body established by the Greenville City Council pursuant to North Conjugal statute. The commission makes final decisions on preliminary subdivision plates and makes recommendations to the city council on rezonings, text amendments, ETJ extensions, street closings, street name changes involving honorary designations, and comprehensive plan, text or map amendments. We eat uh we meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., typically in the city chamber uh city council chambers, but because of COVID 19 restrictions, we are now meeting via Zoom and also through the website and TV. And because of that, we also will consider the items tonight and hear evidence on the items, which are five in number, but we will recess the meeting and reconvene on October the 22nd at 6 p.m. to consider these matters and finally vote on them. So with that in mind, uh I'd call for the invocation, and Mr. Thomas has not yet joined us, so I will do the invocation. If you care to join me, please do so. Lord, we thank you for this opportunity to gather once again. We ask that you give us the patience to consider all these matters and give due wisdom to each matter that comes before us, and that we deliberate kindly and generously and try to do the best for every citizen within the city limits of Greenville. We ask that we be mindful of those who give comments to us on each side, and you give us the wisdom to make the correct decision. We also ask that you give your blessings to those of us who are less fortunate to uh to us, and you give the blessings to them. Thank you so much. In your precious name we pray, amen. All right, Mr. Parker. Sir, would you please call the roll? Yes, sir. Les Robinson. I'm present, thank you. Michael Overton? Present. Billy Parker? Present. Max Ray Joyner. Hat Maxwell? Present. John Collins? Present. Kevin Faison. Chris West. Present. Brad Gooth. Present. Alan Thomas. Mr. Cheerry Eva Quarum. Thank you, Mr. Parker. And will everyone be voting tonight? Yes, sir. All right, great. Thank you so much. Has everyone received a copy of the minutes from both the September 15th and September 17th meetings? And if you haven't, please so indicate.
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