09-09-2019 Meeting Minutes BOC
September 9, 2019
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
David B. Newell, Sr. Heidi York, County Manager
Gordon Powell C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney
Jimmy B. Clayton Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear
B. Ray Jeffers
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
regular session on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 7:00pm in the Commissioners’ meeting
room in the Person County Office Building.
Chairman Newell called the meeting to order. Commissioner Clayton offered an
invocation and Vice Chairman Jeffers led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. County
Manager, Heidi York was absent until 7:15pm.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Chairman Newell announced that item #3 for a request for a text amendment to the
Planning Ordinance would be opened as a public hearing. In addition, on item #4, an
appointment to the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee would be
considered.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to accept the
adjustments as noted above by Chairman Newell and to approve the agenda as adjusted.
INFORMAL COMMENTS:
There were no comments from the public.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to approve the
Consent Agenda with the following items:
A. Approval of Minutes of August 19, 2019, and
B. Budget Amendment #5
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NEW BUSINESS:
REPORT ON ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE OLD HELENA SCHOOL:
Interim Assistant County Manager, Laura Jensen told the group that Person County
applied to have a graduate student team undertake analysis of the possible revitalization of
the historic Helena School in Timberlake as part of the team’s course work in Community
Revitalization Applied (PLAN 735/PUBA 735) at no charge to the county. The course
instructor is UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government faculty member Tyler Mulligan. The
team, consisting of Andrew Cutler, Maria Dewees, Paul Liu and Natalie Swanson produced
a comprehensive report at the conclusion of the project, with four recommended actions
the county can take for encouraging redevelopment of the school by a private developer.
Ms. Jensen introduced to the Board Ms. Maria Dewees, Mr. Paul Liu and Ms.
Natalie Swanson to present the community profile of Timberlake including a site analysis,
market analysis, financial feasibility analysis and to summarize the recommendations for
potential redevelopment of the old Helena School by a private developer.
Ms. Dewees led the group the in the following presentation titled Adaptive Reuse
of the Helena School. She presented the Report’s Community Profile outlining
Timberlake’s Assets and Liability noting the Community Stakeholders, the Study Area and
Land Ownership by the Top 5 Land Owners through its Site Analysis. Ms. Dewees
provided an executive summary noting the proposed private use was recommended as
multifamily housing development in the historic school with commercial space in the
auditorium. Additionally, she further noted that the potential redevelopment by an outside
developer would be challenging.
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Mr. Liu presented to the Board information related to the report’s Market Analysis,
Residential Market Area Overview including Income, Age demographics and supported
Housing as follows:
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Ms. Swanson concluded the presentation focusing on the Report’s Financial
Feasibility and Recommended Uses based on key assumptions and analysis of the Internal
Rate of Return and Equity Multiple for the case results. She also presented Feasibility
Strategies as well as Proposed Actions to the Board.
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Mr. Liu confirmed the Report yielded better financing results without the outlying
buildings, thus the recommendation to demolish or determine an alternative use plan.
Mr. Liu noted the attractive location in proximity to Roxboro and Northern Durham
noting the rent would be higher than desired for marketability.
When asked about the renovation costs noting the requirement to abate the asbestos
issues, Mr. Liu stated the County’s 2012 site analysis illustrated costs at $2.5M to rehab.
Vice Chairman Jeffers described an idea where neighboring counties started a
regional partnership for a County Food Council with commercial kitchens. Vice Chairman
Jeffers said this could address needs of local food banks and might serve well as a use in
one of the buildings on the old Helena site.
Commissioner Puryear asked if any stakeholders were contacted as part of their
study to which Ms. Swanson stated that was not part of their scope and due to the fact,
stakeholders were contacted as part of the 2012 Report and could not agree on a proposed
use, it would be exhaustive to revisit.
The Board thanked the three UNC-CH graduate students for their feedback and
work on the Person County site.
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PUBLIC HEARING:
TEXT AMENDMENT (TA-01-19) REQUEST BY MARTIN & SHEILA PERSSON
TO ADD EVENT CENTER TO THE PLANNING ORDINANCE AND ADD A
DEFINITION TO EVENT CENTER:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to open the duly
advertised public hearing for a Text Amendment Request by Martin & Sheila Persson to
Add Event Center to the Planning Ordinance and Add a Definition to Event Center.
Planning Director, Lori Oakley introduced County Planner, Kayla DiCristina who
would be presenting this case, TA-01-19.
Ms. DiCristina stated all planning and zoning ordinances as well as state statutes
have been met for this public hearing.
Ms. DiCristina noted TA-01-19 was a request by Martin and Sheila Persson to add
Event Center to the Person County Planning Ordinance Appendix C - Table of Uses and
add a definition of Event Center to Appendix B – Definitions noting the applicant purchased
a portion of the former Roxboro Country Club property containing the former clubhouse.
The clubhouse had many uses including an event center. The principal use of the clubhouse
was considered a private recreation facility for profit and the event center was an accessory
use to the principal use.
Ms. DiCristina explained the text amendment request proposed to add a use that is
not currently listed in the Person County Planning Ordinance Table of Uses and by adding
this use, the applicant can operate an event center as a primary use and it will provide an
option for other property owners in the county who are interested in a similar business.
Event venues currently exist in Person County in an unregulated state. Properties
that qualify for bona fide farm exemption are able to circumnavigate Planning and Zoning
and Building Inspections regulations for erecting buildings on their land. There are multiple
cases where these buildings are used as event venues, most notably the wedding venue
present on the Northside of Tunnel Creek. In addition to providing an avenue for the
Perssons and other residents to conduct a business of this nature, adding the proposed
changes to the Person County Planning Ordinance allows staff and board members to better
regulate event venues and ensure the protection of persons and property
While the applicant proposed the definition for an event center and allowing the
use-by-right in the zoning district RC (Rural Conservation), Planning staff desired to
ensure consistency within the Table of Permitted Uses, and recommended adding the
proposed use as a by-right use in the following zoning districts: B-1 (Highway
Commercial), B-2 (Neighborhood Shopping) and GI (General Industrial) and via special
use permit in the R (Residential) district because of the restrictive nature of the district.
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Ms. DiCristina provided the following Appendix B proposed definition for Event
Venue and Appendix C to add Event Venue to be added to the Table or Permitted Uses:
Appendix B: Definitions
Event Venue: A commercial establishment and associated grounds engaged in the
hosting and production of pre-planned events like weddings, corporate parties, or reunions.
Typical accessory uses include kitchens or meal preparation space, limited overnight
accommodations, photography studios, facilities to accommodate live or recorded music,
on- and off-site parking and outdoor recreation facilities.
Appendix C: Table of Permitted Uses
Add: Event Venue (to the table)
Add: X (permitted use) in the RC Zoning District
Planning staff recommendations include adding the Event Venue as listed below to
the Table or Permitted Uses:
S (Special Use) in R district
X (Permitted) in B-1 district
X (Permitted) in B-2 district
X (Permitted) in GI district
Ms. DiCristina stated the Planning Board, at its meeting on August 8, 2019, voted
4-0 to approve the requested text amendment TA-01-19 including staff’s recommended
text.
Ms. DiCristina stated Planning Staff recommended approval of TA-01-19. The
proposed text amendment allows a use that previously existed as an accessory use to be
added to the Table of Permitted Uses and clearly defined so that it may function as the
primary use on the property. Additional text recommended by staff ensures that this text
amendment is consistent with the Person County Planning Ordinance and Table of
Permitted Uses as well as consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and future
planning goals of Person County. It is reasonable and in the public interest as it will provide
clear regulations for event centers in Person County.
There were no individuals appearing before the Board to speak in favor of or in
opposition to the Text Amendment Request by Martin & Sheila Persson to Add Event
Center to the Planning Ordinance and Add a Definition to Event Center.
Commissioner Puryear asked how much of the former Roxboro Country Club did
the new owners plan to operate as an Event Venue to which Mr. Persson stated they own
the clubhouse and parking area, approximately 20 acres that included the pond, but did not
include the swimming pool.
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Commissioner Powell asked if the applicant would be accommodating limited
overnight stay to which they answered not at this time, but possibly a potential future use.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to close the public
hearing for a Text Amendment Request by Martin & Sheila Persson to Add Event Center
to the Planning Ordinance and Add a Definition to Event Center.
CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE A TEXT AMENDMENT (TA-01-19) REQUEST
BY MARTIN& SHEILA PERSSON TO ADD EVENT CENTER TO THE
PLANNING ORDINANCE AND ADD A DEFINITION TO EVENT CENTER:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to approve a Text
Amendment Request by Martin & Sheila Persson to Add Event Center to the Planning
Ordinance and Add a Definition to Event Center as well as to approve Planning staff
recommendations for the use to be by right in the zoning district RC (Rural Conservation),
B-1 (Highway Commercial), B-2 (Neighborhood Shopping) and GI (General Industrial),
and by special use permit in the R (Residential) district noting the text amendment request
was consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and future planning goals of Person
County and reasonable in the public interest as it will provide clear regulations for event
centers in Person County.
APPOINTMENTS TO JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL, PERSON
AREA TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BOARD, AND ADULT CARE HOME
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Clerk to the Board Brenda Reaves presented interested citizen applications for the
Board’s consideration to nominate and appoint as deemed appropriate.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
Unexpired term of a 2-Year Term:
1 position for the Local School Superintendent or designee
Dr. Rodney Peterson requested the Board of Commissioners to appoint Mr. Ron
Anthony to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council to serve out the remainder of the term
for Ms. Joan Kister (current Superintendent’s designee). Ms. Kister’s term is due to expire
December 31, 2019.
The Board of Commissioners, if so desired, may appoint Mr. Anthony to fulfill the
unexpired term, or, appoint for the remainder of the term to December 31st as well as a
new term (2-years) thus giving him a term to 12/31/2021.
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A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to appoint Ron
Anthony to serve as the Superintendent’s designee on the Juvenile Crime Prevention
County for a term that will expire 12/31/2021.
Person Area Transportation System Board
3-Year Term: 1 position for a citizen-at-large to fulfill an unexpired term to 12/31/2021
Ms. Tammie Kirkland requested appointment.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to appoint Tammie
Kirkland to the Person Area Transportation System Board to fulfill an unexpired citizen
term to 12/31/2021.
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
1-Year Initial Term; 3-Year Reappointment: 1 position available
Ms. Jessica Aguilar requested appointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to appoint Jessica
Aguilar to the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee for an initial one-year
term.
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Newell had no report.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York reported on the following:
1) Health Dept. Director sought the commissioners’ interest in establishing a
workgroup for one or two commissioners with the Health Board’s chair and vice
chair as a follow-up to recent events,
2) Confirmed a letter notifying the Woodsdale Volunteer Fire Department of breach
of contract was delivered on Friday, September 6, 2019, giving them 30-days notice
and aligning such with the October 8, 2019 state deadline as directed in Vice
Chairman Jeffers’ recent motion,
3) Informed the commissioners that she still has three county cell phones designated
for commissioners that have not been picked up that would be returned.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Puryear stated interest in serving on the Health Department
workgroup as a commissioner representative.
Vice Chairman Jeffers asked the County Manager to look into complaints related
to unkempt property located at 1195 Concord Ceffo Road.
Commissioner Powell asked staff if the old body shop demolition was complete
located on the Oxford Road. Ms. York stated she would get an update.
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ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Powell and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 7:44pm.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves David B. Newell, Sr.
Clerk to the Board Chairman