ROCKINGHAM — A public hearing has been set for next month’s meeting regarding rezoning property in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Assistant City Manager John Massey told the City Council at the June 9 meeting that a request has been submitted by Neal Smith Engineering to rezone the parcels on the northeast and northwest corners of the intersection of U.S. 74 Bypass and Mizpah Road from light industrial to heavy industrial.
The two properties total approximately 16.87 acres, according to Massey.
The eastern position, he continued, contains Duke Energy transmission lines, making the only useful portion on the west side.
Massey said the applicants are interested in building a concrete plant on the property, which is only allowed in a heavy industrial zone.
The area was zoned for light industrial to encourage development nearly 25 years ago after the bypass was completed, according to Massey.
“This is really the first interest we’ve had,” he continued, saying that the request is consistent with the land use plan and was recommended for approval unanimously by the Planning Board.
Massey pointed out that there isn’t a lot of development in the vicinity, however New Diggs AME Zion Church is right next to the property in question.
The public hearing will be at the next city council meeting on Tuesday, July 14.
A burned property on 3rd Avenue Pee Dee has been slated for demolition.
Courtesy City of Rockingham
Following that action, Massey presented the council with a demolition ordinance for the home at 48 3rd Avenue Pee Dee.
The dilapidated dwelling process began in January, according to a memo included in the agenda packet.
“We’ve actually talked to the property owner on several occasions,” Massey said. “The property’s burned, obviously it’s not habitable, can’t be repaired.”
Massey added that the property owner doesn’t have the means to pay for a demolition.
The ordinance was approved unanimously.
The council also approved the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget, a budget amendment to close out the current fiscal year, an ordinance closing out the grant project fund, and made the following board reappointments:
Councilwoman Debbie Wrenn was not in attendance at the meeting.
