O’NEALS TOWNSHIP – The owner of a small portable wooden utility shed business can continue to operate, following a 6-to-1 vote by Johnston County Commissioners.
Nathan Landis owns a home in the 15200 block of NC Highway 39, in the O’Neals Township, not far from the Wake County line. In 2020, he was able to purchase a 0.43 acre lot in front of home and intended to operate a used car lot, claiming he received an approval letter from a County of Johnston employee that a car lot was permitted.
Later, Mr. Landis said he decided not to operate car lot, rather sale portable wooden utility sheds, thinking it was correctly zoned. The business, he said, allows him to stay at home and care for his sick wife. And, he stated, 87 percent of all sales take place over the internet, not on site.
In July 2022, someone complained to Johnston County Planning about the business. That’s when Landis found out it was not properly zoned.
“I will do whatever I have to do to take care of my wife and family,” Mr. Landis told commissioners. “We have a A-plus better business rating. A five star Google rating. Churches, farmers, schools all buy from us.” He said his small business was voted the dealer of the year by their supplier. All sheds ordered are built at the factory and delivered directly to customers.
Landis was represented at the February 6 rezoning hearing by Smithfield attorney Bob Spence.
Commissioner Chairman Butch Lawter told Spence the site plans submitted did not show a buffer on the highway side and no landscaping plans.
“When information comes to this board it needs to be complete for us to make a decision rather than making assumptions that things are going to be changed in the way that you describe ’em. They may not wind up the way it is on the drawing… I would like to see a complete drawing. I don’t see how to say it any different than that. This is an incomplete drawing that I’m looking at tonight. Again, I’m only 1 of 7 (commissioners),” Lawter told Mr. Spence.
In a motion by Commissioner Tony Braswell, the board voted 6-to-1 to rezone the land to Community Business-Conditional Zoning (CB-CZ) allowing the storage shed business to legally operate. The board placed several conditions on the rezoning, including limiting the number of display sheds to 16, paving the driveway, submitting a detailed site plan, planting a landscape buffer, and obtain a NCDOT driveway permit, among 13 total stipulations. Commissioner Ted Godwin cast the only no vote.
For f***’s sake, can’t we just let people decide what to do with their own property without government intervention? I can’t believe someone actually complained because he didn’t have the right zoning. What a bored, pathetic human you must be to do that.
@Bob: Counterpoint — why can’t property owners take responsibility for ensuring that they are in compliance with ordinances? He was going to sell cars (and verified that the zoning was correct), but then changed his mind and couldn’t be bothered to confirm that his new venture was legal?!?! Then he submitted site plans that weren’t even complete!?!? Then he wants to complain!?!? How about *TAKING RESPONSIBLITY* for your (mis)actions!!!!!!
Sounds UNAMERICAN to dictate what one does with land he pays taxes on.
@GOBs: If you don’t like the rules and laws, go live somewhere else! Or work to change them. *THAT* is the American way.
agreed! Take note of the only commissioner who voted NO and the rest of these sorry humans who gave this man any trouble. It’s so wrong!
tarameadows32 … 🙌 Completely AGREE!!
As a progressive democrat that supports our closet progressives on both the commissioners and school boards I am baffled to why they have not gave up the sherades and voted our social justice financial support in the form of $1725.00 monthly payments to parents of needy students that transport their children to school as our neighbor Wake County has? We progressive democrats are tired of the elected we voted into office saying look be patient we got the revaluation moved up to every fours years to finance our social justice programs and we used the local justice system to try unseat a board member. Why have you not used the power of taxing to stop this business from poping up in our neighborhoods and to punish our political enemies as the national progressives have done a excellent job using our play book? We want ours too JOCO!!
We have the 5 progressive votes to get this voted in and can use the Tax Office as we did the IRS? We want ours too JOCO!!!
https://www.wral.com/do-the-right-thing-wake-county-grandparents-demand-at-least-1-725-for-school-transportation-reimbursement/20735243/
Bob, I completely agree with your comment!!! You work, save money and buy property only to pay exorbitant property taxes every year and the dam*ed government tells you what you can do with it!!! Local,county, state and federal pols be dam*ed!!!!
Biden Won, your post has got to be satire right?