City Council approves another townhome community


ASHEBORO — With the city’s growth moving south, the Asheboro City Council approved a 44-unit residential development on Crestview Church Road at Zoo Parkway.

The action came at the council’s Oct. 6 meeting.

Darren Lucas requested the approval to develop 44 townhomes on 9.921 acres at 1223 Crestview Church Road, adjacent to Zoo Parkway. The initial request was for 58 units but, upon advice of city staff, reduced by 14. 

The design for the site shows 44 attached single-family dwellings, or 22 duplexes. Access to the site will be from Crestview Church Road.

Each unit of the Zoocrest Townhomes will have approximately 1,000 square feet of living space, a one-car garage and space for three vehicles. The streets will be private, as well as garbage collection, and there will be sidewalks and a recreation area. A pond is in the center of the acreage.

Plans concerning water, including provisions for fire hydrants, and sanitary sewage that complies with city policies, shall be submitted. 

During a public hearing on the request, six persons voiced opposition to the plan, primarily for the increased traffic and the amount of new homes in the area.

Nicky Fields said, “Zoo Parkway is still a busy road. Traffic (from the development) will go to Zoo Parkway.”

Kenny Bradford said he was opposed because the development would “dump all those units on us.”

Charles Lewis, J.J. Jackson, Dan Milano and Donnie Wright also expressed concerns about traffic as well as the change to their neighborhood.

But the council voted unanimously in favor of the request, noting that Asheboro’s future growth will be to the south. They also voiced concerns about the shortage of homes in the county.

In other business, the council:

•Received an update by city staff on Frazier Park. The report was initiated by complaints from Frazier Park neighbors last month concerning the use of the facilities by homeless persons and drug dealers. It was said that people use the restrooms to bathe and do other activities, primarily at night.

City Manager John Ogburn said city crews have replaced the roof of the picnic shelter and will also repair the roof of the restroom building. The drink machine was moved to prevent persons from climbing on it to access the restrooms. Also, locks to the restroom doors have been replaced and police patrols have increased. 

Plans are coming to reduce park hours to dawn-to-dusk.

•Approved an agreement with JDavis Architects for the first of four proposed animal sculptures at I-73/74 exchanges as part of a branding project to connect Asheboro with the NC Zoo.

The first sculptures will be of zebras at the Pinewood Street interchange with I-73-74. Estimated cost is $145,000, which will come from the city’s budgeted fund balance.

The other three proposed sculptures are bison at the Presnell Street interchange, elephants at Spero Road and various animals at Dixie Drive. The overall project will be ongoing.

•Voted for a contract with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council for strategic management assistance for water line extension and wastewater services. The contract with PTRC is for $18,750.

The agreement will result in water lines being run from Asheboro to the Wolfspeed megasite just inside Chatham County. It’s likely that Franklinville will buy some of that water. It could be the beginning of public water and sewer systems in the eastern part of Randolph County.

•Agreed to a professional design study for Bicentennial Park by Freeman Kennett Architects at a cost of $12,960. The firm will be looking at redesigning the park for large concerts.

•Heard a presentation on the recent listing of the Asheboro Downtown Historic District on the National Registry of Historic Places. Brett C. Sturm, restoration specialist with the State Historic Preservation Office, made the presentation and told the council what it means to be on the list.

•Approved a building reuse grant application on behalf of UpStyled Goods and Salon.

The startup business will invest at least $55,000 to renovate the building at 122 S. Church St., using a portion to take scrap fabrics to make unique handcrafted products. Another portion of the building will house a salon.

A Building Reuse Grant, provided by the NC Department of Commerce, must be applied for by a local government, in this case the City of Asheboro. The grant application is for $25,000 and there is no local match.