Serving Fremont, Eureka, Stantonsburg, Pikeville, N. Wayne Co., S. Wilson Co., NC
Photos
Issue Photo Gallery
Obituaries
Calendars-Events
Movies
Bee Movie
American Gangster
Martian Child
30 Days of Night
Saw IV
Dan in Real Life
Become a News Leader movie reviewer
|
|
Send us your news Public Service Announcement Submit Advertising Classified Advertising Issue Archives 1 November 2007 |
Pikeville board rezones for horses
By Sarah A. Wise
NL Staff Writer
8 November 2007 — A citizen of Pikeville will be allowed to keep horses on his property after the town board approved a variance to the zoning ordinance Tuesday night.
At the beginning of Tuesday night’s meeting, a public hearing was held to gather public opinion on allowing a variance in town ordinance for Brian Marcoux, who would like to have horses on his property for his children.
Mr. Marcoux addressed the board during the hearing. He said that though the property is technically in a business district, it is isolated and no one would even know the horses were there. The property is bordered on two sides by large ditches, with a wooded area on another side and an easement on the other.
He said he would keep the place neat and clean, and there wouldn’t be any change in public appearance.
Mayor Herb Sieger then informed the board that the planning board did meet to discuss the variance. The board voted 3-0 to not allow the variance; two members were absent from the meeting.
Mr. Marcoux said both of the members who were absent had expressed to him that they supported the variance. He also said that he offered for the planning board members to come out and look at the property where the horses would be, and none of them took him up on the offer.
Mayor Sieger said that the planning board had voted no to avoid setting a precedent, since there is vacant property next to Mr. Marcoux’s land.
Commissioner Johnny Weaver said that he thought the whole purpose of a variance was to make an exception to the precedent.
“If you aren’t going to change, there’s no need to have such clauses as variances,” he said. “The whole purpose is to take a look and see where the ordinance would cause a hardship to the person currently occupying the property.”
Mayor Sieger reminded the board that the final decision is up to them.
“The planning board makes a recommendation, but you make the decision,” he said.
Mr. Weaver then asked Mr. Marcoux how he felt about a variance with a time limit, where he could request a renewal at the end of that limit.
Mr. Marcoux said he had no problem with a time limit, after which he could come back to the board to show if he lived up to his side of the bargain.
In a vote later in the meeting, Commissioner Edith McClenny said she was torn on the issue.
“I have mixed emotions, because some of the members on the planning board live close by the property,” she said. “I think it bears a little more though and a little more scrutiny.”
Commissioner Bruce Thomas added that, no matter how clean the area is kept, the animals will still change the area around it.
“The area and the odor will change,” he said.
Mr. Weaver introduced a motion that the board grant a variance, to expire January 1, 2010, that would have the option to request a renewal.
The motion passed in a 3-2 vote, with Mr. Thomas and Mrs. McClenny voting against it.
Issue of 8 November 2007 Headlines Michigan transplant enjoys Pikeville life New faces elected to area boards CBA grad made Marine squad leader Glover, Lane to marry next month Pikeville Board rezones for horses Football: CBA ends season in fourth place Soccer: Falcons head to third round of championships Norwayne: Cobras end fall sports at top of game Wayne Wilson News Leader Princeton News Leader Email us: |
|