Mayor’s Vote Clears Major Hurdle For Smithfield Baseball Stadium

Mayor Andy Moore Breaks Tie Vote To Approve Rezoning For Future Smithfield Baseball Stadium

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — After months of public debate over the future home of the Smithfield Tobs baseball stadium, the project cleared another significant hurdle July 21 when Mayor Andy Moore cast the deciding vote to approve rezoning more than 90 acres of town-owned property south of Community Park.

The Smithfield Town Council split 3-3 on the request to rezone two adjacent tracts totaling 90.39 acres from R-10 and R-20A residential zoning to Office and Institutional (O&I), a designation that allows public recreational facilities, including the proposed baseball stadium. Mayor Moore broke the tie in favor of the rezoning.

The close vote was unexpected by many in attendance, as the council has spent months discussing the stadium’s location and cost and the rezoning had been recommended for approval by both the Planning Board and town planning staff. The Planning Board endorsed the request in a 4-1 vote in June.

The rezoning request was submitted by the Town of Smithfield, which owns the property immediately south of Community Park between Buffalo Road and the Eden Woods and Fairfield subdivisions. Town officials said the rezoning is intended to bring the property into the same zoning classification as Community Park and other municipal recreation facilities while allowing future park expansion.

The property is heavily wooded and marshy, with Buffalo Creek running through the site. A substantial portion of the land lies within the floodplain or protected riparian buffer, limiting where development can occur.

Town officials stressed during the meeting that the rezoning does not mean all 90 acres will be developed.

Instead, they said only a relatively small portion of the property outside the floodplain is expected to be used for the proposed baseball stadium, while much of the remaining acreage will remain undisturbed because of environmental regulations and natural constraints.

Residents Voice Environmental Concerns

Four residents spoke against the rezoning during the public hearing, urging council members to consider the long-term environmental consequences of clearing part of the forest.

Resident Rick Bruckner questioned whether the proposal truly met the legal standard of serving the public interest.

“How does this serve the public interest?” Bruckner asked, urging council members to weigh the ecological value of the property before approving the request.

Another speaker warned that once mature trees are removed, the environmental loss cannot be replaced.

“The mature forest cannot be brought back in our lifetime,” the resident told the council.

Opponents also cited concerns about the loss of wildlife habitat, the removal of a natural wooded buffer separating Community Park from nearby neighborhoods, and the cumulative environmental impact of future development.

Council Splits Again

Mayor Pro Tem Sloan Stevens made the motion to approve the rezoning, seconded by Councilman John Dunn.

Voting in favor were Sloan Stevens, John Dunn and Dr. Gettys Cohen.

Voting against were Travis Scott, Doris Wallace and Steve Rabil.

Mayor Andy Moore then cast the tie-breaking vote to approve the rezoning.

The divided vote continues a pattern that has emerged during the baseball stadium debate. While the council unanimously voted in April 2026 to return the project to Community Park after a new 58-acre land donation became available, members have remained divided over issues involving cost, transparency and the project’s long-term impact.

The newly rezoned property includes the 58-acre tract donated earlier this year by the Lampe family, which prompted the town to abandon plans for an 81-year lease at the American Legion ballfield and instead return the baseball stadium to Community Park. Town officials have said the additional acreage provides enough room for the stadium, parking and future recreational amenities while minimizing impacts on existing park facilities.