ROCKINGHAM — The city council will hold public hearings in October regarding the annexation and rezoning of another property on Old Cheraw Highway.
Ben and Amber Moss submitted a petition to the city of Rockingham on Aug. 15, requesting that their 93.305-acre parcel be annexed and rezoned from rural residential to high-density residential.
The property, which currently has one single-family home, sits between Farmstead Court and nearly 70 acres the council approved for annexation in May.
According to city documents, Moss “has an entity interested in acquiring the property for a residential subdivision.”
Moss represents Richmond County in the N.C. House of Representatives.
There will also be a public hearing regarding the annexation of 17.74 acres of city-owned property on Byrd Drive.
Documents state that the city acquired the property in 2002 for conservation and buffering around the wastewater facility on that road, but was not annexed at the time.
If Moss’ request is approved, that property will be “nearly surrounded” by the city limits, so staff argues that it is “reasonable to annex the property to avoid creating a ‘donut hole’ in the city limit boundary.”
All three have been recommended for approval by both city staff and the Rockingham Planning Board.
After setting the hearings, the Rockingham City Council approved a demolition ordinance for a building at 225 S. Caroline Street, across from Richmond County Veterans Memorial Park.
Assistant City Manager John Massey said the building has been abandoned “for a number of years.”
“You can tell by the photos … it’s really begun to deteriorate,” Massey said. “It’s also being frequented by vagrants and homeless people.”
Massey said the city has made contact with the property owners, listed as William Oscar Kornegay II and Tasha Lanet Holland Kornegay of Sanford.
“They had indicated at one point that they intended to demolish the building,” Massey said, adding that the 90-day window has elapsed and they haven’t done anything to secure the building.
He wasn’t sure at the time, but Massey said the Rockingham Fire Department may be able to use the building for training.
Later in the meeting, the council approved an ordinance to extend the deadline to expend funds that were provided by the state for recreational improvements to the end of the current fiscal year.
Mayor John Hutchinson appointed John Kester to the Rockingham Housing Authority and the board adopted a resolution in recognition of Constitution Week.
The council also voted to move the November meeting to the 18th, since the regular date falls on Veterans Day and the week before is election day.
The next meeting, with the public hearings, is scheduled for Oct. 14.
