Proposed Truck Storage Yard Rejected By Selma Town Board
SELMA, N.C. — The Selma Town Council unanimously denied a request to allow a commercial equipment storage lot following a public hearing.
The decision came after an April 14 hearing on a special use permit sought by Lenin Soto of Smithfield for property located at 966 N. Pollock Street (U.S. 301 North).
Soto proposed installing a 130-by-290-foot lot enclosed by a 6-foot-tall screened chain-link fence to store freight hauling equipment, including approximately seven 53-foot semi-trailers and up to five semi-trucks and dump trucks. He also said employees would park their personal vehicles on-site while operating the trucks.
During questioning by the board, Soto told council members that some trucks were already being kept on the lot.
At the hearing, Sonny Howard told council members the proposal was not compatible with the surrounding area.
Council members ultimately agreed, citing concerns the use could negatively impact nearby property values, was not in harmony with existing development, and did not align with the town’s future land use plan.
Following discussion, the board voted unanimously to deny the request.
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12 Comments
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But they did approve electric rate price increase. Question, which do you care more about?
So……the Selma Town Council is perfectly okay raising everybody’s electric bills, but God forbid someone wants to utilize a property for business purposes? Seems like the whole council is bi-polar, kind of like Mother Nature has been lately.
Thank you Sonny Howard! Lots of memories from that area, from Brown’s BBQ to
baseball games and carnivals at the ballpark.
It’s 301 out of town, who cares
💰💰💰money talks
The Howard’s have a lot of it. Made so much in Section 8 housing going back to at least the 1980s if not before.
So Selma wants to improve the future and the look of Selma…apparently they don’t ride around their own town and see the trash and the ghetto appearance it already has.
Okay, don’t live in Selma, but…. This person- Mr. Soto, already has all that equipment parked there on his property. Google maps drive by reveals that! I mean Google reviews got the dude being upright with his auto work, seemingly great reviews…He probably just wants to put up fence to protect the Independent Drivers that probably rent parking space from him… NOT TO MENTION PROBLEMS WITH THE FREAKING RIFF RAFF THAT CAN HAVE ACCESS TO HIS BUSINESS TO BEGIN WITH!!!
Yea, SCREW THE SMALL BUSINESS that PAY TAXES–BUSINESS TAXES, FEES, ETC.
BUT IF YOU YANKEE CARPETBAGGERS COME WITH YOUR UGLY SLACK-A$$ apartment plans, have at it!! REALLY-A FREAKING PRIVACY FENCE! SMH!
Selma is being very picky lately on who can come in and set up in Selma. Money talks, but good folks walk. Shameful. Electric bills up, homeless put out, trash all over the place, roads are horrible, crime is still up (don’t say it’s not) so yes, Selma has fallen to the Greedy, and I want Power town. Folks need to open your eyes. Time for a new mayor and new council. A group Jesus would want, not greedy, lets make money and forget about the people in the area. Let’s bring in bars and things most of us can’t afford anymore because of health care has gone over the rooftops, prescriptions can’t be filled because we can’t afford them, because we have to decide what can we do without, rent? food? gas? clothes? Heat or A/C? Bet no one on that council or the mayor are having financial issues at all. Paid very well with our tax money that we don’t see being used to the best of Selma’s TOWN PEOPLE. To the mayor and council, you have to do better. The people of Selma needs help with other life issues. Will be praying for guidance for all of them.
I get the frustration, but blaming everything on “greedy leaders” oversimplifies what’s actually going on. Town budgets, rising utility costs, healthcare prices, and housing pressures are bigger than any one mayor or council—they’re happening everywhere, not just Selma.
If you want real change, focus it. Call out specific decisions, push for transparency on spending, and show up where it counts—public meetings, votes, and community organizing. Saying “replace them all” feels good, but it doesn’t fix roads, lower bills, or house people by itself.
Hold leaders accountable, sure—but also demand clear plans, not just outrage. That’s how you actually move things forward.
Not many can afford their apartments anymore. Way to much rent money for folks who live off the land, and don’t have much anyways due to healthcare, inflation (they say we are not having inflation, but what lie do you believe from liars), it’s horrible to see what Selma has become. I am against not taking care of your own, that would be families who are in need, homeless, local business owners. For the major to say I want to make Selma noticed and make money or whatever he said (it still says I want money and power). That is fine, it it truly is helping the people. I haven’t seen that.
You’re right about one thing—people are getting squeezed. Rent, healthcare, groceries…that pressure is real. But saying “they’re lying about inflation” or that it’s all about one mayor chasing money doesn’t hold up. Prices are up everywhere because of bigger forces—insurance costs, supply chains, taxes, interest rates—not just local decisions.
If rents are out of reach, the real question is: what has the town actually done or not done? Zoning rules, permits, incentives for affordable housing, support for local businesses—those are concrete levers. If leadership is blocking housing or misusing funds, call that out with specifics. If they’re trying to grow the tax base so the town doesn’t fall apart financially, that’s not greed by default—that’s part of keeping services running.
“Take care of your own” sounds good, but it has to translate into policy:
– Are there programs for rent relief or partnerships with nonprofits?
– Is the town encouraging more housing supply or restricting it?
– Are local businesses being supported or priced out?
If you haven’t seen results, push for answers—budgets, timelines, measurable outcomes. Show up, ask hard questions, organize others. That’s how you pressure change.
Right now, your argument is strong emotionally but weak strategically. Tighten it up with facts and demands, and it’ll hit a lot harder than just assuming bad intent.