City OKs Golda Avenue development

ASHEBORO — A residential development with 44 units on 8.5 acres on Golda Avenue was approved Feb. 9 by the Asheboro City Council. It was a continuation of a rezoning request from Jan. 5.

The request had been postponed due to problems with the condition of Golda Avenue, which runs east from North Fayetteville Street just south of Matthew Grande Apartments. According to staff reports, “Golda Avenue is a local, city-maintained street, with an apparent pavement width of less than 20 feet in various locations between the subject property and North Fayetteville Street.” For that reason, the council voted to postpone the request until city staff could address the road improvements needed.

According to Travis Nuttall, director of Community Development, it was determined that street widening and improvements would be done after the development is near completion, so that heavy equipment used in construction would not damage the new roadway.

Ruta Spivey, who lives in the neighborhood, wanted to know if there could be a back entrance to the site rather than all traffic going to Fayetteville Street along Golda Avenue. She was told that the city has no access from Yancey Street to the rear. Nuttall assured her that the plan had gone through the Asheboro Fire Department and it meets their requirements for safety. 

The developer, Darren Lucas, had reduced the number of units from 46 to 44, or from 23 duplexes to 22. Average floor space is 825 square feet.

The council also dealt with other business items.

More plumbing work at Sportsplex

The council approved two change orders from Terry’s Plumbing & Utilities for additional work at the Zoo City Sportsplex:

- One was for $698,496.73 to cover rock removal, a retaining wall, grading for an inclusive playground, and fencing and final regrading around fields 5-8 turf installation. 

- The second change order, amounting to $402,260 was for construction of seven picnic shelters.

The change orders required ordinances to amend the general fund and the Zoo City Sportsplex fund.

Running a water line to Chatham

The Council granted approval of a memorandum of understanding with the NC Department of Commerce pertaining to the extension of water infrastructure to the Chatham Advanced Manufacturing Site, just over the Chatham County line.

Michael Rhoney, Water Resources director, said the state has allocated $55 million to run a water line from Asheboro to the Chatham site, of which a portion will be developed by Wolfspeed to produce semiconductor chips. Rhoney said the memorandum of understanding is necessary for the release of funds from the state.

Beatles, Eagles coming to Asheboro

The council agreed to a request by Finance Director Debbie Reaves for a resolution to amend the general fund in support of Downtown Asheboro Inc. (DAI) in hosting four Friday night concerts featuring tribute bands. The funding of $75,000 will host 1964, a Beatles tribute band, on May 26; Petty Breakers, a Tom Petty tribute band on July 14; On the Border, an Eagles tribute band on Aug. 11; and a Stevie Wonder tribute band on Sept. 29. 

Hurley receives key to the city

The council presented the key to the city to retired NC Rep. Pat Hurley, who served in the 70th District from 2007-2023.

Public comments

- Kevin Price told the council that painted lines at the intersection of Vision Drive and Fayetteville Street had faded until they are almost invisible, creating a hazard to traffic. City Manager John Ogburn, while saying the intersection was the responsibility of the NC Department of Transportation, promised Price that he would “try to get the lines down.”

- Gene Woodle and Quinton Louris, representing the Asheboro Raiders youth football program, said local teams had traveled to various states to compete in tournaments. Woodle said, “This was not possible without the city and the City Council.” He and Louris presented Ogburn and Mayor David Smith with championship rings and personalized jerseys.

Smith said, “The work you’re doing now” would translate into success for Asheboro High School football.

- Carey Durham asked if there was “any movement on Lexington Road.” He was referring to efforts to improve the intersection with Salisbury Street. Ogburn said the city had “briefed the NCDOT on your road.” Those NCDOT officials included members of the NC Board of Transportation. Ogburn said the officials told him they would “get on it.”

- Maxine McIver addressed the council on her concerns with Eastside, which is predominantly black. She said the drug problem is getting worse and young people have nothing to do in the community. 

“The city doesn’t use grant money to help us,” McIver claimed. “Kids are running loose. Something has to be done. We need more input from the city. We want to make it a better place.”

Mayor Smith said, “You’re absolutely right. But what do you do?”

Ogburn added, “There’s nothing the city staff wants more than to fix the (Central School) gym for youth.” Smith told McIver that he had tried over and over to get something done with the gym so that the Boys and Girls Club could meet there once again. But he has had no success with the current leadership.

The mayor and McIver agreed to continue to work together on the problems of Eastside.

“I’ll be coming back,” she said.