Agenda Package - 3-5-2012 Reg. Meeting

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LAND USE INFORDIATION PRESENTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING C n 8 PETITION #2012 -0201 BY ABDALFATAH ABU'I'AHA Site and Area Description: The area requested for rezoning is located at 3132 Jefferson Davis Highway. The property consists of four tax parcels on approximately 5.2 -acres of land. The parcels have a total of 500 feet of frontage on Jefferson Davis Highway. Existing improvements include a house that has been used for an office, a parking lot and several out - buildings. Zoning surrounding the site is primarily commercial. The areas to the north, south and east are zoned Highway Commercial. The adjacent property to the west is zoned RA. The property lies between the Regal Inn and the Sanford Motel. Other land uses in the area consist of commercial uses and scattered residential single - family home sites. Staff Analysis: The subject property was the former site of Better Living Manufactured Home's sales lot. The property was rezoned in 1993 to Light- Industrial Conditional Use district for the sole purpose of selling manufactured and modular homes. The applicant recently purchased the property and wishes to rezone it to a "straight' Highway Commercial district that will allow for a variety of commercial uses. The HC district is established to accommodate uses that depend upon a large flow of traffic and convenient access, such as retailing of durable goods, the provision of commercial services to industrial areas, and the provision of services to tourists. The HC district is generally located adjacent to major thoroughfares. The minimum dimensional standards include a lot width of 50 ft. and a 10 ft. front yard setback. The area requested for rezoning is located adjacent to a major highway corridor where commercial uses and establishments are prevalent. The Sanford /Lee County Land Use Plan classifies this area as a Retail Commercial zone. Over the years, the majority of Lee County's commercial growth has been along the U. S. 1 corridor. Some of the existing commercial businesses along the U. S. I corridor includes Sanford Motel, Regal Inn, Homes by Vanderbuilt, Food Mart Shopping Center, 'tramway Shopping Center, convenience stores, auto sales and repair, plant cultivation and sales, mini- storage units and open markets. Utilities: Public water currently serves the site. The office is served by a private on -site septic system. Emergency Response: The subject property is located within the Tramway Fire District Transportation: The 1994 Sanford Thoroughfare Plan Technical Report notes that U. S. 1 is a principal arterial passing through central North Carolina and connecting Rockingham, Southern Pines, and Sanford to Raleigh. Major thoroughfares typically serve through travel and external travel into major industrial, commercial, recreational, and institutional attractions. These conditions make the land more suitable for commercial development. The NCDOT 2010 Traffic Study reports 22,000 vehicle trips per day on Jefferson Davis Highway just north of the subject tract. Environmental: The subject lot is not located in a water supply watershed or flood hazard area. Development Standards: If rezoned, all uses permitted in the HC district will be allowed. Also if rezoned, the future development /redevelopment of the site will be required to meet the building design standards for non - residential developments along a thoroughfare in addition to all other development standards of the UDO. Conformance with the Sanford/Lee County 2020 Land Use Plan and Greenwood Small Area Plan: The 2020 Land Use Plan and Greenwood Small Area Plan and Maps identify this property within the Retail - Commercial land use classification with a Highway Overlay. The intent of this classification is to provide areas that are conducive to commercial operations where goods and services are sold on -site. The Overlay zone adds additional development standards along the major highway corridor.