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10OctoberPB ,601Y. A►ptt MINUTES y RANDOLPH COUNTY PLANNING BOARD o :'? . o dal • NNW October 23, 1985 Tra i7 1778 � There was a meeting of the Randolph County Planning Board on Wednesday, October 23, 1985 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom B, County Courthouse, Asheboro, North Carolina. The following members were present: Don Hancock, Chairman ABSENT Doyle Stout, Vice-Chairman Tal Harrison Charles Adams Bud Osborne Ray Farlow Terry Coble 1. Doyle Stout made the motion, seconded by Terry Coble to approve the minutes of the September Board Meeting. This motion passed unanimously. 2. REQUEST FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT: Chairman Hancock called to order the Public Hearing scheduled to consider the following request for a Special Use Permit: A. Everett & Robert Cooper, Asheboro, North Carolina, were requesting a Special • Use Permit to develop and locate a Mobile Home Park on approximately 30 acres of land located on Cox Road; SR #2834; Grant Township; Map #76780009; Property #01039; Tract 8499; N. C. Zoological Park Zoning District Environmental One. Bill Ivey, Attorney, representing the Coopers was present and addressed the Board. Mr. Ivey said that the property had been in the Cooper family for over 50 years and that the Coopers felt that the Mobile Home Park would be the most beneficial use of their property. Mr. Ivey said that the Coopers wanted to be good citizens and that he believed that special conditions could be placed on the Mobile Home Park development that would not cause harm to the N. C. Zoo. Mr. Ivey stressed that he did not feel the Planning Boar-d would be establishing a precedence by allowing this Mobile Home Park in the E-1 District. The Planning Board should review each Mobile Home Park request on it's own merits. In concluding, Mr. Ivey advised the Planning Board that the Master Plan of Development for the N. C. Zoo did not project Zoo development in the area on Cox Road of the proposed Mobile Home Park. Also in attendance at the Public Hearing was Robert Fry, Director of the N. C. Zoological. Park, and Dwight Holland, Curator of Design for the Zoo and the Zoo's Ex-officio member on the County Planning Board. Mr. Fry had submitted a detailed letter to the Chairman of the Planning Board and the County Director of Planning & Development on the Monday afternoon prior to the Planning Board meeting on Wednesday. Mr. Fry stressed that his thoughts in opposition to the establishment of a high density Mobile Home Park were outlined in the letter. He also advised the Board that this was the opinion also of the Zoological Park; it's Citizen Advisory Council, and the N. C. Department of Natural Resources and Couuuunity Development. Chairman Hancock asked that the letter dated October 21, 1985 be included in and made a part of the official minutes of the October 23, .1985 Planning Board record. The Public Hearing was then ended, and the regular meeting of the Board began. Terry Coble made the following motion, seconded by Tal Harrison: WHEREAS, Everett & Robert Cooper, Asheboro, N. C. , has filed an application for a Special Use Permit so as to maintain and operate a Mobile Home Park within the Environ- mental Zoning District I adjacent to the N. C. Zoological Park; and WHEREAS, in the opinion of the Planning Board it is not necessary for a ruling upon said application concerning if the Zoning Ordinances permit a Mobile Home Park within Zone E-1 and WHEREAS, the ruling of the Planning Board be based on the following findings of fact and conclusions based thereon: 1. The granting of a Special Use Permit in the Environmental District One for a high density Mobile Home Park would alter amd' change the character of use of this district to a high density urban character area. MINUTES RANDOLPH COUNTY PLANNING BOARD OCTOBER 23, 1985 PAGE 2 2. A Mobile biome Park next to the N. C. Zoo property would not be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the First Environmental District as it was originally established to protect the zoo site from high density encroachment, abnormal noises, and undue pollution of all types. Based on the foregoing findings the Planning Board orders that the application for a Special Use Permit to maintain and operate a Mobile Home Park in the E-1 Zone adjacent to the N. C. Zoological Park be hereby denied. This order is entered upon the findings of fact and the discretionary ruling of the Randolph County Planning Board. The above motion was approved unanimously by the Board. 3. PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION PLAT: Bud Osborne made the motion, seconded by Terry Coble to approve the Preliminary Plat of the following Subdivision: A. Popular Ridge Estates Subdivision; Tabernacle Township; State Road #1408; Sections 1 and 2; 88 lots; Jerry C. Rowe, owner. This motion passed unanimously. 4. Dwight Holland, Curator of Design, N. C. Zoo; addressed the Board concerning the possibility of using the First Environmental District as a possible pilot project in developing a standard type of information signs for the public. The Board tabled any action on the matter pending further study. 5. Being no further business the meeting adjourned. NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY 461457L."--7 Director of Planning & Development . 3 0A -J DATE NOTARYtOlY .0 4114. 7778 NC ;u \orth Carolina Zoological Park Robert L Fry. Director ,t- ri Department of Natural Resources and Community Development 1 James G. Martin, Governor S. Thomas Rhodes. Secretary 21 October 1985 ;01I Y, A►p_ Mr. Donald Hancock, Chairman _ ;t' ' I' Randolph County Planning Board " � =`1 cm 1' r. 145 Worth Street Asheboro, N. C. 27203 �, .t. Dear Mr. Hancock: !77g It is my understanding that the Planning Board intends to further con- sider the request for a Special Use Permit to authorize construction of a mobile home park in the zoned First Environmental District adjacent to the zoo. On behalf of the Zoological Park, its Citizen Advisory Council and the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development I strongly oppose the granting of such a permit in the First Environmental District because it will unalterably change the Character Of Use of this district from one of low density with a very high aesthetic quality of natural features, rural setting and pristine attributes of nature to one of urban character with a high density • of development, which is not in keeping with the spirit and intent of this zoned district as it was originally established to protect the zoo site. `., It seems apparent that the designation of two Zoo Environmental Districts was a deliberate action to preclude high density/high traffic development such as a mobile home park adjacent to the zoo itself. For this reason the Second Environmental District specifically refers to allowing Special Use Permits for mobile home parks and such permits have been granted in the past with no adverse affects. But the intent of excluding mobile home parks in the First Environmental District as candidates for Special Use Permits is a signal by the commissioners to make a clear distinction between the intent, character, and aesthetics of these two districts. Locating a mobile home park in the First Environmental District on property adjoining the Park itself sets a precedent for additional such developments which is contrary to the intent of the County Commissioners to ". . .protect it (the zoo) from outside encroachment, abnormal noises, smog, and undue pollution of all kinds. " (County Commissioner Resolution of 5 Oct. 1970, Minute Book #9, page 252. ) One of the outstanding features of the North Carolina Zoological Park is the opportunity afforded our state citizens to leave the congestion of their various urban areas and spend a few hours communing with nature and natural things in an environment which encourages an appreciation of the natural world around us. The absence of urban development, local traffic congestion, and related activities greatly contribute to this inspirational feeling. Maintenance of the Randolph C� Continued ; IN institution of The American Asc:,ciation of Zoological Parks una Aquariums �A•A•T'/M 1p�M Route a, &;r: 83. Asheb.go, Noith Carolina 27203 Telephone (919) 870 5D5 An r pool Opc xvtunity Ari rrnatNe Actor,Employer Mr. Donald Hancock Page 2 21 October 1985 County vistas and horizons in this zoned district (the First Environmental Dis- trict) are essential to keeping the spirit and intent of the Zoological Authority Site Selection Committee intact when they chose Randolph County for the location of the state Zoological Park. It is my opinion as well as that of the Zoological Council and the Depart- ment of Natural Resources and Community Development, that location of a mobile home park in this zoned district (the First Environmental District) is not harmonious with this district and is not within the spirit or intent of the governing ordinance. On behalf of the Park, and over five hundred thousand citizens who visit the Park each year I recommend that the Planning Board not approve the issuance of a Special Use Permit in this Zoning District. 'I — /'o.ert L. • Director RLF:drl cc: r. Hal Johnson ATTACHED AS PART OF THE RECORD: RANDOLPH COUNTY PLANNING BOARD MEETING: OCTOBER 23, 1985 4_ _ el 4v414_ d - Z 1779 .