[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6664413,"mediaKeyId","2381720-edea02322013a1db6928b76284169fda","parentId",2381720,"title","Rocky Mount council overturns planning board, approves Maple Grove floodplain permit","audioSeconds",3468,"startMs",1186000,"endMs",4654000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381720-edea02322013a1db6928b76284169fda&start=1186&end=4654","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381720-edea02322013a1db6928b76284169fda/thumbnail_1186000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6664413/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Rocky-Mount-council-overturns-planning-board-approves-Maple-Grove-floodplain-permit","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664413-e7de39461cb4cf5120fd10f68f0b7f27/orig.mp4?Expires=1777143526&Signature=n06j0NL6NQdUej8oocIJhGbiEf06RPIYtmVpOPIXeG0wNyat7ybHGJw~LcJWDFTwTL7dmw80cCRUGKFd2M0KLNCmarkbLhaeDtklaO7~I6ti-C59C6cwYF7aATgoHAxHBWoFiT5d6X~pSxJPPjibXs6s2URcZ0p2B8HSQxcmiNc8gGWsEW5VcYQtK515czTFjwRBlncfAFdi~yexDxKpgogwJvR2MgTn8WlwQd4oL0af0hdGpxsbCrXU1KMCJxp565jTD7yfT09RL4uS7RYyyg5a-qkeMZ8B9o1riVYzIKgukxe2q1FyQEdDDL-~4WMKBiOIF14Sy1oMya9pH6Sl2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rocky Mount","date","2025-02-24T22:23:35.423Z","article","City Council approved a Class 2 floodplain development permit for the proposed Maple Grove subdivision on Bethlehem Road after a quasi‑judicial hearing that included technical testimony and public comment.

The decision, made on a motion by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman TJ Walker, overturned the planning board’s December denial of the permit and allows the developer, PGB Land Company LLC (owner listed as Grama Berry), to proceed with the 120‑lot single‑family subdivision on a 45.5‑acre site subject to the permit conditions and the city’s floodplain and stormwater requirements.

The vote followed testimony from city staff, the project engineer and a nearby resident. Joseph Bowcook, Director of Development Services and a certified floodplain manager, told council the site includes about eight acres mapped in the regulatory floodway and roughly 7.5 acres in the 100‑year floodplain. He said all proposed buildable lots are outside the 100‑year floodplain, no fill is proposed within the floodway, and the applicant’s net effect in the 100‑year floodplain is a reduction of 288 cubic yards (2,166 cubic yards of fill proposed and 2,454 cubic yards excavated).

“Following a thorough review of technical evaluations, zoning standards, and floodplain protection regulations, the development review committee recommends approval of the class 2 floodplain development permit,” Bowcook said, and submitted the application packet, plat, flood hazard map, and the planning board minutes for the record.

Scott Miles, assistant city engineer for water resources, described the city’s stormwater requirements and the review process. He said the city requires post‑development peak flows not to exceed pre‑development rates for the regulated storms and that the project team agreed to design the stormwater infrastructure above the city’s minimum standards. Miles said the designer increased the pond size, overestimated impervious area conservatively, removed buildable lots from wetlands, and agreed to educational signage around sensitive areas.

“As a result of that, the engineer for the Maple Grove developer agreed to design the stormwater infrastructure above our regulations,” Miles said.

Ashton Smith, the engineer of record with Kimley‑Horn, testified that the designs meet and exceed Rocky Mount’s stormwater quantity and quality standards. He said the plan reduces post‑development runoff for the city’s 1‑, 10‑ and 25‑year, 24‑hour design storms: a 54% reduction for the 1‑year event, 5.4% for the 10‑year and 3.7% for the 25‑year. Smith said no impervious surfaces are proposed within the floodplain and no work is proposed in the floodway.

Nearby resident Bill Morgan, who said his property is upstream and in proximity to the proposed subdivision, urged caution and asked the council to consider cumulative watershed impacts. Morgan described repeated local flooding points along Halifax and Bethlehem roads and referenced prior studies and a costly project to address a nearby washout.

“The developer who is looking at the piece of property … is on a hill. Well, it goes if there was a way that you could see the elevation change from that development, it’s going down to the creeks,” Morgan said. He asked the council to consider additional, independent review before permitting more development in that drainage area.

Council members questioned staff about cumulative impacts, the age of flood maps and whether larger watershed studies had been done. Joseph Bowcook said the flood maps in the area are based on FEMA products last updated for Rocky Mount in 2013 (with some maps dating to 2004 in other areas). Miles confirmed the city last performed a Maple Creek tributary study around 2012 and said resource constraints influence when watershed‑scale studies are done; he said it may be prudent to update studies for Maple Creek.

Before the vote, council held a counted show‑of‑hands and then a formal motion. Councilman Harris moved to approve the permit; Councilman TJ Walker seconded. The motion carried and the council approved the permit, reversing the planning board’s decision.

The approval authorizes the developer to proceed subject to the city’s permit conditions and the submitted plans. The council record includes the planning board minutes, the application materials, flood hazard maps, and the technical exhibits the applicant and staff entered into the record.

The council discussion also included broader remarks about stormwater management across the city and calls from multiple council members to prioritize watershed‑level studies and to review aging stormwater infrastructure as growth continues.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the Maple Grove floodplain development permit (motion by Councilman Harris; second by Councilman TJ Walker; outcome: approved).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Meeting, February 24","oneSentenceSummary","City Council approved a Class 2 floodplain development permit for the Maple Grove subdivision on Bethlehem Road, overturning a prior planning‑board denial after technical testimony from city engineers and the project team and public comment from nearby residents.","taxTitle","Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina","taxId",5685,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6664409,"Rocky Mount council approves consent agenda, extends custodial contract; manager updates storm response, parks and power maintenance",0,302000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2381720-edea02322013a1db6928b76284169fda&start=302&end=302","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2381720-edea02322013a1db6928b76284169fda/thumbnail_302000.jpg","/articles/6664409/Rocky-Mount/Nash-County/North-Carolina/Rocky-Mount-council-approves-consent-agenda-extends-custodial-contract-manager-updates-storm-response-parks-and-power-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664409-c520e43440a91008526707900f04ee59/orig.mp4?Expires=1777143526&Signature=MwL8fUu0O2dbA9csF4usPgZjYyb09ukkxh0DiKLAeBoSQwiJL6Z60SMO0JvmGC6qTrOVKgxG7f9Ux~2zZJaY9MchSdXuE312tBeVhKCc-Mg23cxjkXdPKJFMuQkNElDAdd-9bCiX-Mb82fHSK3jg-W~oyCVD6sv4CJT1y5WDjwOqiTjtKx9Th94RMm1IsQ7iRJDVj0REau7N5LbyEA7KWxbX937RXqo90ob-UCYCE6ne7Aa3uEWjCEHzpOFjCLYOqxIwBhhw3saDM9uHBJF3c8ygpBqe4N7XNuorh3LhuW1NT7ioJQ1XgRh4zDtmAUMFphECVZYwzj4H7cgFGvO1SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Rocky Mount City Council approved the consent agenda and a contract amendment extending custodial services through June 30, 2025, and heard a range of administrative updates from Interim City Manager Peter F. Varney.

On votes: the council adopted the consent agenda on a motion by Councilman Daltridge, seconded by Councilman Harris; and later approved an amendment extending the city’s custodial contract through June 30, 2025 with a 5% increase on a motion by Councilman Knight (seconded by Councilman Blackwell and Councilman Walker). The meeting also approved the minutes of prior meetings (motion by Councilman Harris; second by Councilman Blackwell) and later recessed into closed session (motion by Councilman Blackwell; second by Councilman Knight).

Interim City Manager Peter F. Varney provided operational updates. He said a late‑afternoon winter storm earlier in the week caused messy driving conditions and about 24 vehicle crashes; police, fire, street maintenance and energy crews remained on duty overnight and no one was injured. Varney said the police department received several calls to check on homeless individuals; Chief Hassle visited the McDonald Street shelter (United Community Ministries) and found it could meet demand. The city purchased blankets to keep in patrol vehicles for people who remain outdoors. Varney said the council retreat next month will include a discussion of homelessness and possible partnerships to address short‑ and long‑term needs.

Varney reported two city‑owned single‑family homes at 811 and 815 Hammond Street (donated to the city in 2017 and previously sold in 2021 to a restoration firm that defaulted) will be offered by sealed bid. The city removed large trees, cleaned yards, and will post a for‑sale sign; the minimum bid for the pair will be $10,000. The successful bidder would be required to show financial capacity, carry insurance, provide quarterly progress reports during the 18‑month restoration period and, upon issuance of certificates of occupancy, the city would convey titles to the properties. Derek Winston in the Community Development Department is the contact for the sale.

Parks and Recreation will hold public meetings seeking input on the Stith Talbot Park renovation. Varney said meetings are scheduled Tuesday (10:00–11:30 a.m. and 6:00–7:30 p.m.) and Thursday, Feb. 27, 6:00–7:30 p.m., at Booker T. Washington Community Center, 727 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Energy Resources Department plans scheduled maintenance at the substation that supplies the city from 8:00 a.m. Monday, March 3 through 5:00 a.m. Friday, March 7; Varney said a transformer will be switched and outages are unlikely but possible. Residents were given the non‑emergency outage number: (252) 467‑4800.

Varney also flagged a 2024 rise in property crime, particularly retail theft, and said the Rocky Mount Police Department will host an organized retail crime roundtable on Monday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rocky Mount Events Center with representatives from Homeland Security, the State Bureau of Investigation and retail loss prevention professionals; lunch will be provided. He closed by reminding residents the International Festival of Cultures is scheduled Saturday, March 15, noon–4 p.m., at Nash Community College Brown Auditorium; the free event will feature food and cultural programming.

During public comment, Mike Klein spoke about the McDonald Street shelter capacity (he said United Community Ministries has room for 25 men and 18 women and there is an estimated two‑week wait) and urged volunteer participation. Klein also commented on immigration statistics and fiscal impacts, noting his cited figures were from February 2023; those claims were made as public comment and were not presented as official city data.

On a question from Councilman Walker about park cameras listed in the consent agenda, staff (Mr. Daniels) said there is no specific installation schedule in the memo but that cameras are planned as a capital improvement program project; staff will provide a schedule to council and additional facilities will be added over time.

The council approved the listed motions and then moved into closed session for personnel matters.","Council approved routine consent items and extended a custodial contract through June 30, 2025 with a 5% increase. Interim city manager reported on a winter storm response, two city‑owned houses being offered for sealed bids, public meetings for Stith Talbot Park renovations, scheduled substation maintenance March 3–7 and community events.","actionData","errors"]

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Rocky Mount council overturns planning board, approves Maple Grove floodplain permit

Rocky Mount council approves consent agenda, extends custodial contract; manager updates storm response, parks and power maintenance