Local News - October 2002

Higher fines considered for zoning rules

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

October 7, 2002 - A proposed amendment to a county ordinance will raise fines for violating zoning rules.

Another amendment will lessen the amount of time residents have to fix the problem before each day is considered a separate offense.

A public hearing on these amendments will be held tonight. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Room in the Citizens Center.

The first amendment will state that each day of a zoning violation will be considered a separate offense if the violation is not corrected within 20 days after notice is given.

The current ordinance gives violators 30 days to correct the problem.

The second amendment will change the fine for a first citation from $10 to $25. The first citation is handed out after a warning citation, which gives violators 10 days to fix the problem.

After the first citation is issued, property owners will be given another 10 days for correction.

After that, second and subsequent citations will be given. Violators will be penalized a  $50 fine per day until the violation is corrected.

The zoning administrator may extend these time limits as reasonably necessary.

“This proposal is designed to make the penalties section of the ordinance more consistent and simpler to administer,” said Randy Hawkins, zoning administrator, in a memo outlining the changes.

 A public hearing on applying these changes to the Lincoln County Junkyard Ordinance will also be held tonight.

Also, only two weeks after the county adopted ordinance amendments that will make it difficult to open a nightclub or adult business in Lincoln County, officials are looking to strengthen them.

The amendment adopted Sept. 23 mandated that nightclubs be located at least 200 feet away from a church, elementary or secondary school, day care center or public park.

The proposed amendment changes the 200 feet distance to 500 feet and adds libraries to the list .

Adult establishments must currently be located at least 500 feet away from those locations.

The proposed amendment states these establishments cannot be within 1,000 feet of churches, schools, day care centers or public parks. Libraries are added to this list as well.

Also up for public hearing tonight:

• Proposed changes to part of the county zoning ordinance which will add special regulations to businesses on old N.C. 16. The regulations will apply to new development on any lot in a business or industrial district or commercial section of a planned mixed-use district which abuts old N.C. 16. The regulations will also apply to any lot which abuts old N.C. 16 and which is rezoned from residential to business or industrial. These regulations include requirements for providing landscaping along the road right-of-way, paving driveways and parking areas, and would prohibit chain link fences and metal siding on the front of buildings.
   
• Commissioners will consider a proposed ordinance to allow Lincoln County to regulate and enforce water restrictions.
   
• Kenneth and Carolyn Temple are requesting that 1.5 acres located on N.C. 16 in Denver be rezoned from Residential Single-Family to General Business. The Temples want to put the property on the market as commercial property.
   
• Helen and Timothy Sain are requesting that 7.8 acres of land be rezoned from Residential Suburban to Transitional Residential. The property is located on Hill Road in Ironton Township. The Sains want to put a riding stable on the land.

 AT&T Wireless is requesting a conditional use permit to erect a 200-foot telecommunication tower on a 69-acre parcel located on Vesuvius Furnace Road. The property is currently being used as a residence, pasture and chicken farm.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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