Subdivision approved
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on February 3, 2004 2:02 PM
The land that could be the site of a future movie theater in Goldsboro made it through one hurdle at Monday night's City Council meeting, but there are still obstacles ahead.
"All we're doing tonight is subdividing the land," City Councilman Chuck Allen said. "There's been so much written about the flooding problem, I want people to know that this decision is only about subdividing, and not about building."
The council approved a final subdivision plan for nine lots on the south side of Berkeley Boulevard between Central Heights Road and New Hope Road. Two of the nine lots will have retention ponds to prevent flooding problems caused by the development.
Assistant City Planning Director Jimmy Rowe said that no construction could begin until stormwater plans were approved by both the city and the state.
The city has been looking for ways to clean out a ditch in the area to improve drainage, but the details haven't been worked out. The ditch is identified by a "blue line" on state engineering maps and is protected by the stringent Neuse River buffer rules.
A state transportation engineer has said the drainage pipes under Berkeley Boulevard are too small, but that they won't be replaced until they deteriorate.
The state said it would consider replacing the pipes earlier, but only if an agreement to keep the ditches in the area clean were in place.
"The city is working on trying to keep that area from flooding," Allen said.
Property owner Sue Fallin is also in the process of building a DOT approved three-lane road, which will eventually be a public road.
The road and one of the residential tracts are the only pieces of property, so far, with stormwater permits. Rowe said each additional lot would have to have individual stormwater plans.
The All Star Entertaiment's 14-screen theater is included in one of those lots, as is a lot designated for upscale apartments.
All Star Entertainment Corp., based in Shallotte, has some competition from another company planning to build a movie theater, so the race is on to see which theater can move forward first.
United Entertainment Co. announced its plans a week ago to build a 12-screen theater off the Martin Luther King Expressway, near the Best Western Motel and Norwood Avenue.
In other matters, the council:
*Approved a final subdivision plat for almost two acres owned by Sherman Best on the northwest corner of Tommy's Road and Hare Road.
*Deferred making a decision about closing Sunset Lane until more information is gathered about the effects on residents and whether the city could obtain an easement.
*Accepted the low bid of $112,847 submitted by Piedmont Parks/Miracle Recreation Equipment Co. of Greensboro, to buy playground equipment for Mina Weil and Fairview Parks.
*Approved rezoning the north side of Wayne Memorial Drive between Fourth and Sixth streets from R-9 residential to neighborhood business.
*Approved rezoning the north side of Wayne Memorial Drive between Humphrey Street and Ninth Street from R-9 residential to neighborhood business.