New Industrial Park To Bring 150-200 Jobs To Smithfield
SMITHFIELD, N.C. – The Smithfield Town Council unanimously approved plans for a new light industrial subdivision during its March 17 meeting, clearing the way for the development just outside town limits.
The project, known as Clarius Park, will transform approximately 75.61 acres along US Highway 70 Business, near the northern edge of Smithfield’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and across from St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
Proposed by Clarius Partners, LLC, of Illinois, the subdivision will include four developable light industrial lots, a shared private cul-de-sac, and common open space with stormwater management facilities.
Project Details
The development is designed as a “Class A” industrial park and will feature:
- Four light industrial lots
- A private cul-de-sac built to town standards
- Shared stormwater systems and open space
- A 100-foot undisturbed wooded buffer along the northern boundary
Access to the site will come from two locations along US 70 Business: a primary signalized entrance connected to a private cul-de-sac and a secondary right-in/right-out access point that will also serve as emergency access.
A traffic impact analysis has been completed, with additional roadway improvements still under discussion between town staff, engineers, and NCDOT officials.
Economic Impact
Developers estimate the project could bring between 150 and 200 jobs once fully built out. Construction is expected to begin in late summer 2026, with full completion projected within five years.
Environmental and Infrastructure Considerations
The site currently includes agricultural land, wooded areas, and a stream along its northern section. Plans call for minimal environmental disruption, with the development avoiding wetlands and protected buffers except for limited access needs.
Because the property falls within a protected watershed area, enhanced stormwater controls will be required. The project proposes four stormwater facilities designed to manage runoff and protect water quality.
Water and sewer services will be provided through Johnston County, and a 5-foot public sidewalk will be installed along the US 70 frontage. Duke Energy will provide electrical service.
Planning and Approval
No residents spoke in opposition during the public hearing.
The council unanimously approved the commercial project with five conditions, including the creation of a property owners association to maintain shared infrastructure, protection of the northern buffer, and formal agreements for stormwater management and shared access.
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Oh good, another traffic light to waste my life just past the Leadership Academy one. Soon it will be 30 minutes from the Clayton Bypass to downtown. I guess if you want to reduce traffic downtown, that’s one way.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
It’s all about the money. People talking about losing farmland will sell their inheritance if the money is right.
“No residents spoke in opposition during the public hearing.”
All you outraged, complaining keyboard warriors need to get out of your basements and GET INVOLVED. A democracy depends on YOUR participation. YOU voted for this!
Until you stop electing (and re-electing) the same people, parties, and politicians, why will anything change? #reapWhatYouVote #VoteOutIncumbents
Tell us where these meetings are announced so we know about them in advance.
@Al: The entire 2026 town council meeting scheduled has been publicly available since Nov 2025 on the website. Agendas are usually posted a week in advance.
In a democracy, YOU need to make an effort to be informed. Unless you’re a SOCIALIST left-wing snowflake, who expects the government to do everything for you!
Another big vacant industrial building on 70 west. At the expense of tax payers. Remember how Amazon was going to contribute so much to our economy? Ha Ha the only thing they have contributed is big trucks clogging up and tearing up downtown, criminals employees from out of town and sucking up all the water sewer and electricity. This new project doesn’t even have tenants yet, just like the other vacant buildings on the exact same area..
“…. minimal environmental disruption…”
That is a lie.
They will bulldoze the woods and flatten every living thing on it just like every other ugly big box site, till it looks like a clay colored pool table
Stop lying to us
I agree they need to remember that the wildlife has a purpose here or God 🙏 wouldn’t have created them and they don’t have many places to keep trying to live in
Have you gotten approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers and US Fish and Wildlife? Looked into endangered species?
Love how these da*n developers from other states(Yankees) come down here and destroy the land .. hope that money pays their way to h*ll..
This is amazing to hear, the Town of Smithfield need to keep growing and developing, 👏
Didn’t even there was a meeting
No, meetings like this are not publicized because they don’t want to hear it, you have to follow the legal announcements. Nor did I know the Town controls property use 4 miles out from the town limit. A scary thought.
Council meetings are held on a regular schedule posted publicly at the beginning of each year. Agendas are posted publicly several days before each meeting. If you choose not to be involved, that’s on you. #sheepSayBaa
I think years ago there was a study on fresh water muscles on how 70 bypass would change habitat, correct me if im wrong
@Roland: You’re wrong. It was the southern half of the 540 loop. All the snowflake and SOCIALIST were putting the rights of the freshwater mussels ahead of the rights of the actual citizens. Thankfully, the USFWS came to their senses and gave the necessary permits!
If you snowflakes were so concerned about the mussels, you should have purchased the land yourself!
Jobs for people willing to work.
Ridiculous
I was told there would be cake