TRACY HARRIS-Staff Writer
The Lewisburg City Council met on March 12 at City Hall. First was a public hearing at 5:50 p.m. to hear comments or opinions concerning the following:
- Ordinance 23-33 request by owner to rezone 1478 New Columbia Highway from R-1 to C-4
- Resolution 24-06 Plan of Services for the annexation of 31 acres on Webb Rd.
- Annexation Resolution 23-34 request by owner to annex 31 acres on Webb Rd.
- Ordinance 23-35 request by owner to rezone 31 acres on Webb Rd from R-1 to R-3
- Ordinance 24-01 request by owner to rezone 1.3acres on Old Belfast Rd. from C-2 to R-2
- Resolution 24-07 Plan of Services for annexation of 61.02 acres at unaddressed Globe Rd.
- Annexation Resolution 24-02 request by owner to annex 61.02 at unaddressed Globe Rd.
- Resolution 24-08 Plan of Services for the annexation of 51.15 acres on Globe Rd.
- Annexation Resolution 24-03 request by owner to annex 51.15 acres on Globe Rd.
- Ordinance 24-04 to amend Ordinance 23-26 and approve the budget amendment for the 2023-1024 Budget, Amendment #1
According to Fire Chief Drew Hawkins, there were 67 people present by 5:40 p.m. but several more came in before the public comments opened. City Hall’s meeting room is restricted to 96 per fire code. While the room was full of Globe Rd. and Webb Rd. residents, the room was not nearly as full as it was in February.
There were still signs in the room that read Keep Globe Road Rural. Citizens spoke up against the area being annexed. Public comments were kept at a maximum of three minutes but everyone was given a chance to speak.
There were statements about the importance of farmland preservation, how annexation impacts everyone, and how the new subdivisions would completely change the layout of our county.
Another resident from the area repeatedly asked the mayor to recuse himself from all votes on the Globe Rd. and Webb Rd. properties during the meeting. She claimed that Mayor Bingham has a conflict of interest because he owns a nearby property.
A longtime educator brought forth a few good questions: Where would all these new students attend schools? How would their education be funded? Would classrooms accommodate 40 children? What about staffing shortages that already exist? The public comments concluded after about an hour and a half. There was a short break before the regular meeting opened.
Frank Sullivan of HOPEtown opened the regular meeting with prayer. Next was the Pledge of Allegiance and statements by City Attorney Thomas Hutto.
CJ Coble gave a short presentation to the Council. It showed what the houses will look like on Webb Rd. He described them as $350,000-$400,000 with concrete drives, 3 houses per acre, having designated areas for walkways, and at a much higher value than the average $262,000 homes in the county. Insight Properties will be the developer. Coble aid, “They don’t use vinyl siding, gravel driveways, and they don’t build cheap houses. They’re real nice.”
Old Business was next on the agenda and the council voted as follows:
The following items were passed unanimously:
- Second reading of Annexation Resolution 23-34, owner request by Cameron Coble & William Coble, Jr. to annex 31 acres on Webb Rd.
- Second reading of Ordinance 23-35, owner request by Cameron Coble & William Coble, Jr. to rezone 31 acres on Webb Rd. to R-3.
- Resolution 24-06, a Plan of Services for the annexation of 31 acres on Webb Rd.
The following items passed (3-1) but the votes were not unanimous. Votes are calculated below:
- Annexation Resolution 24-02, a request by owner Veeda Kielbasa to annex 61.02 of Globe Rd. into Ward 5 of the City of Lewisburg. Councilmember Tommy Burns voted no.
- Resolution 24-07 Plan of Services for annexation of 61.02 acres on Globe Rd. Councilmember Tommy Burns voted no.
- Annexation Resolution 24-03, a request by owner William Coble, Jr to annex 51.15 of Globe Rd. into Ward 5 of the City of Lewisburg. Councilmember Tommy Burns voted no.
- Resolution 24-08 Plan of Services for the annexation of 51.15 acres on Globe Rd. Councilmember Tommy Burns voted no.
- Ordinance 24-04 to amend and approve a budget amendment for the 2023-2024 Budget (Amendment #1). Councilmember Vickie Michael voted no.
New business included an approval to sell surplus equipment belonging to parks and rec including a damaged elliptical on govDeals.com, naming the meeting room in the Historic 1st Avenue Building the “Robert O. Binkley Meeting Room,” budget amendments, and applying for a grant for Harmon Park. The first reading of Ordinance 24-05 passed the council unanimously to allow restaurants in the Industrial Park after it received a favorable recommendation by Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 30.
City Manager Bam Haislip reported that Zaxby’s has broken ground officially and “moved dirt.” Directors gave brief reports and a motion to adjourn was made at 7:45 p.m.
