Commissioners OK spending increases, hear rezoning request
Jul. 14—The Lee County commissioners approved an increase in spending for the cleanup and removal of hazardous waste at the former Magneti Marelli building at Monday's meeting.
The county purchased the building in 2021 for $7.5 million on behalf of Central Carolina Community College, which is covering the Nash Street site into the E. Eugene Moore Biotech and Solutions Center.
It is to be a hub for students to learn up-to-date skills and a tool for use by private industries, helping to boost the economy, officials said.
The commissioners earlier this year gave County Manager John Crumpton the authority to spend up to $500,00 for the cleanup of hazardous waste in and around the facility.
Terraquest, the Mebane-based company that is removing hazardous waste from the facility and its grounds, has submitted a proposal of $542,687.38 for implementation of the work plan. Coupled with contingency money to cover unexpected costs, the price of the cleanup is expected to be $600,000.
The commissioners agreed to allow Crumpton to authorize spending for the project up to $600,000.
The commissioners also approved an agreement with Central Carolina with the college agreeing to a lease agreement for 40 years or until the debt is paid off.
A public hearing was held before either vote was taken, but no one spoke for or against the agreement.
The commissioners also held a public hearing on a request to rezone a land parcel in the Lemon Springs and Greenwood area. The 1.96-acre tract is on the north side of Greenwood Road between a residence and the Lemon Springs Fire Department and across from Greenwood Elementary School.
Rhetson Companies Inc. in West End is seeking have the land, owned by Georgia K. Garner, rezoned from residential and agricultural uses to highway commercial use, according to agenda documents.
The application says the property owner is asking for the rezoning for the "development of a general retail store," according to a rezoning application.
One person spoke against the request, citing a long family history of land near the site.
A highway commercial-zoned district would allow the land to be used for development of businesses that need a large flow of traffic along with easy access, according to agenda documents.
Plan SanLee, the long-range land use plan, "identifies this property as Village Center," which allows commercial and civic center in the heart of the district on a scale that is smaller and of lower intensity that those used in downtown areas.
Planning Department staff recommended rezoning the tract to neighborhood commercial rather than highway commercial in keeping with the land-use plan.
The commissioners took no action and will consider approval of the request at the next meeting.
The board also voted to appoint Julian Philpott to Central Carolina's board of trustees to serve out the remainder of Commissioner Bill Carver's term which expires in June 2025. The commissioners cast ballots for the candidates with commissioners Mark Lovick, Robert Reives and Cameron Sharpe voting for Philpott.
