Fremont approves zoning change
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on September 21, 2005 1:45 PM
FREMONT -- A specialty health-care business will be coming to Fremont, after all.
The town board on Tuesday night approved a change in its zoning ordinance to allow the facility in the Rhodes Funeral Home building at 604 Memorial Church Road.
The Fremont Planning Board had recommended in August that the town board reject a request to change the zoning for the building from residential to general business, because it would have been "spot zoning." When the town board met Aug. 16, it tabled the matter.
In the meantime, the Planning Board recommended that the business be allowed as a conditional use in the residential zone.
When a public hearing was held Tuesday on the change, no one opposed it.
The new facility will be located in the same building and operated by Dr. Camellia R. Smith, the daughter of the owner of the funeral home, J.B. Rhodes of Goldsboro.
Town Administrator Kerry McDuffie said the interior of the building would be renovated extensively for the new business. The town board denied the rezoning request for the business as a formality.
Subdivision requests
The town board approved two subdivision requests.
About nine-tenths of an acre along Pippin Street at Vance Street will be subdivided into four residential lots of about .22 acre each. John Meade of Bartlett Engineering of Wilson said the homes would be 1,100- to 1,300-square feet. Meade was representing Carl Heath.
RC Homes of Kinston also asked for a building permit for a triangle-shaped lot near Memorial Church and Hooks roads. McDuffie said the lot did not meet current standards but the Planning Board recommended a variance and the town board agreed.
Other business
*McDuffie said the new fire truck should be picked up soon. It might arrive in time for the Fire Department's 100th anniversary on Oct. 9.
*Public Works Director Tim Howell said the town sent about the same amount of wastewater to the Goldsboro sewer plant during the week of Hurricane Ophelia as it did the week before, indicating the town has corrected a big part of its inflow and infiltration problems.