The Alexander County Board of Commissioners approved the 2045 Alexander County Comprehensive Plan as presented by Planning & Development Director Brian Burgess at the April 8th meeting. Burgess also presented a draft copy of the Land Development Code.
Burgess said that a county must have a comprehensive plan in order to enforce zoning. The new plan was completed in-house with input from the public, a steering committee, and the planning board.
“Marty (Pennell) and I were involved in the comprehensive plan process. The idea of a comprehensive plan is smart, as it allows the county to look down the road and plan for the future,” said Josh Lail, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
Chapters of the comprehensive plan include land use, transportation, economic development, housing, public services, environment & recreation, and historic & cultural resources. Each chapter includes a narrative that explains the logic behind the recommendations, as well as a tiered system of goals, objectives, and strategies.
Burgess then reviewed the draft Land Development Code (LDC). Articles of the LDC include general provisions, zoning, subdivisions, public facilities, landscape design, general standards, signs, natural resources, nonconformities, decision-making bodies, review processes, enforcement/violations/appeals, nuisances, legal status, and definitions.
The Alexander County Planning Board will meet on Thursday, April 11, to consider the LDC and to make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners for their May 6th meeting.
The 2045 Alexander County Comprehensive Plan and the draft Land Development Code are available on the county website at https://alexandercountync.gov/departments/planning.
• A public hearing was held to consider a rezoning request from Shannon Lyndon for his property located at 6741 NC Hwy. 16 South, from Neighborhood-Business (N-B) to Highway-Commercial (H-C). Burgess said the property owner has requested the rezoning to allow for the use of electronic signage for his business, Lyndon’s Riverview Sports.
“I’ve been in business for 29 years using a letter sign. I’m requesting this change in zoning so I can update our sign,” said Lyndon.
Brenda Price, who lives nearby, said that she and many neighbors are opposed to the rezoning and submitted a petition with more than 40 signatures to deny the rezoning. “Traffic is horrible, and an electronic sign will provide additional distractions for the people traveling on Hwy. 16 South,” she said.
Price said she is not only concerned with a new electronic sign, but the many possibilities that could occur on Lyndon’s property if it is rezoned H-C.
Burgess said the area in which Lyndon’s property is located is classified as commercial by the Alexander County Future Land Use Plan and is consistent with the Alexander County Comprehensive Plan.
The Alexander County Planning Board voted unanimously on March 14 to recommend approval of the rezoning request.
Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the rezoning request, with Larry Yoder opposed.
• Health Director Billie Walker and Director of Nursing Dori Maltba presented information about the Community Child Protection Team (CCPT) and the Child Fatality Prevention Team (CFPT). The purpose of the teams is to develop a community-wide approach to child abuse and neglect, understand the causes of childhood deaths, identify gaps in service delivery, and make and implement recommendations to prevent future child abuse, neglect, and death.
Walker said the CCPT falls under the Department of Social Services, which will review selected active cases of child abuse/neglect and cases in which a child died as a result of suspected abuse/neglect. The CFPT is managed by the Health Department, which reviews all additional child fatalities and makes recommendations to state policymakers via submission of the CFPT Confidential Report Form for each case reviewed.
Maltba presented the 2023 Local Child Fatality Activity Report (based on 2022 data), which included three child deaths. One death was due to congenital heart disease, one death was due to an ATV accident, and one death was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. For the latter two deaths, the CFPT recommends using the Safe Kids Alexander County Coalition’s 2024 Action Plan to increase community awareness regarding ATV safety and firearm safety for children.
Commissioners approved the presentation and the report submitted to the state.
• Commissioners approved three budget amendments. The first amendment transferred emergency management funds to 911 Communication due to a recent reorganization. The second amendment increases the DSS budget to account for additional Crisis Intervention Program funding from the state and increases the Health Department budget for grant funding to be used for the purchase of a Narcan vending machine in cooperation with the Substance Use Disorder Coalition and Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT). The third amendment closes out the Soil & Water State Emergency Disaster Stream Debris Removal Project and transfers the remaining balance of local funds to the county’s general fund.
• In the County Manager’s Report, Shane Fox reported that the Bethlehem Park improvement project is well underway. The old building, lights, and poles have been removed. The park will remain closed until the project is complete.
Land is under contract for the Bethlehem water tank project. A geotechnical report was just received. If results are favorable, the project will move forward with the bidding process for the water tank. The project will help resolve water pressure issues as well as accommodate future growth.
The new canopy at the Alexander County Health Department should be completed in the next two to three weeks.
The Bowman Court sewer project was rebid, with a bid opening scheduled for April 25.
One bid for engineering services was received for the Sterling Lane Community Development Block Grant project. If the bid is approved by the board, the project will then progress to the design and construction phases.
Once gravel is delivered and a road is established, the new fire training facility will be ready for use at the Taylorsville Lions Club Fairgrounds.
Mr. Fox said the 2024-2025 county budget will be discussed at upcoming budget work sessions. He commended the finance department and department heads for their hard work.
He also expressed appreciation to local emergency services personnel, who go above and beyond the call of duty every day.
The Alexander County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a budget work session on Monday, April 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Alexander County Services Center (151 West Main Ave, Taylorsville). The next regular meeting is set for Monday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education (room #103). Regular meetings are recorded and can be viewed on the county’s Government Channel on Spectrum channel 192 or the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/alexandercountync. Meeting agendas, minutes, videos, and more are available on the county’s website at https://alexandercountync.gov/commissioners.