Revised plan cuts number of lots, increases their size
Last month the Smithfield Town Council rejected a plan for a large residential subdivision on cleared land on the west side of Buffalo Road south of Holland Drive. The vote was 4-3. Last week the council approved a revised plan for a large subdivision in woods on the east side of Buffalo Road adjacent to the Bradford Park subdivision. That vote was also 4-3.
Winning approval at the council’s July 9 meeting was a new plan that cut the original 220-lot proposal to 170 lots for stand-alone single-family residences, with minimum lot sizes increased from 4,200 to 5,500 square feet.
The 138-acre site is owned by the Lampe family, which has agreed to donate to the town 58 acres adjoining Smithfield Community Park on the east side of the Buffalo Creek Greenway trail.
“Your hope is for elbow room; my hope is for affordability,” Sagan Lampe told the council as she introduced the revised subdivision plan with less housing density. She noted that her family has owned the property for three generations.
Besides fewer and larger lots, the new plan calls for two storm-water holding ponds to address flooding concerns brought up repeatedly by residents of Bradford Park.
Another condition attached to the rezoning that won council approval is tree preservation, except where storm-water issues must be addressed (and lots cleared for construction of the houses).
Furthermore, fencing in addition to landscaping buffers will be required between the new subdivision’s lots and Bradford Park residences.
Planning Director Stephen Wensman pointed out that specific grading and drainage plans yet to be devised must be approved by the town’s staff and the council before construction may proceed.
“I’m now comfortable that have another review coming with details,” said Councilman Barbour before casting his vote in favor of the project.
County raises landfill charge; town raises collection fees
The Town Council at its second meeting of the month on Tuesday approved Town Manager Mike Scott’s recommendation to raise monthly garbage-collection fees by 34 cents to cover a $3-per-ton increase in what the county charges for disposal of bulk refuse at its landfill.
The standard fee for a single roll-out residential container will rise from $18.21 to $18.54 per month. The optional backyard collection fee for residents who are under age 70 or not disabled or will rise from $23.21 to $23.55.
The new fees, which take effect with the town’s August utility billings, are being added now because official notice of the new landfill charge had not been received from the county when the council adopted the town’s 2024-25 budget last month.
Town buys six vehicles for new school resource officers
The $257,760 cost is covered by part of a $450,000 public-safety grant to the town from the state that was approved by last year’s N.C. General Assembly. The town has agreed to fund a portion of the Police Department’s expense of hiring SROs for all public schools within Smithfield’s jurisdiction. Johnston’s Board of Education is covering most of that cost. The vehicles being purchased under a state pricing contract from High Point’s Ilderton dealership are Dodge Durango “pursuit” models.
– Courtesy The Smithfield Monthly Sun
