[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-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",6535378,"mediaKeyId","3407178-219edd02605423cd3f339cb60f30d650","parentId",3407178,"title","Neighbors oppose Worthington Road storage rezoning; Pitt County commissioners deny Happy Trails request","audioSeconds",2244,"startMs",1866000,"endMs",4110000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407178-219edd02605423cd3f339cb60f30d650&start=1866&end=4110","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3407178-219edd02605423cd3f339cb60f30d650/thumbnail_1866000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6535378/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Neighbors-oppose-Worthington-Road-storage-rezoning-Pitt-County-commissioners-deny-Happy-Trails-request","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535378-e01e7f6bf93975a3e91f61a5a76439de/orig.mp4?Expires=1773580643&Signature=V4hVPTZ2i-EgHOnpLe6WiZzUDA2SvRi59aRTKrtMC2QnY8pyGS31Gl8igqjmMjWc2IE6lRNGhfr4PQm2b9mI4gEEaTPj~Nh2XPyhlB1kfzead3np8b6-JO11sOZarRiIVwjqEg2ZCwZ1-tueVyFxeVnAyy15L87uKeF7uKuEm69pg3vsmTKRCRSs5ZGjvci2MKslxwDQiIkFFUqvaiJT5gayJcSP5x67aq0J5iNyvKErGOe6PDXwP0uuwxEmuIxNaE8cY7YxP7fvoeAJfnTasrTx7IcS29qDPTpWwlVLcQmpbutRBVsEhk~qHeZxU549dL~mfGJFX1EVDSo-D7Oi6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pitt County, NC","date","2025-05-20T15:35:34Z","article","Pitt County commissioners on May 20 denied a request from Happy Trails LLC to rezone 3.32 acres on Worthington Road from rural residential to a General Commercial Conditional District for a self‑storage warehouse facility.

The request drew heavy public opposition: six residents who live immediately adjacent to or near the proposed site spoke against the rezoning during the public hearing, citing concerns about increased traffic near D.H. Conley High School, noise from large industrial roll‑up doors, lighting shining into backyards, stormwater and flooding impacts, and a decline in property character and value. Several speakers said the area had been rural residential long before nearby commercial uses developed.

Jonas Hill (staff member) described the site, proposed conditions and required compliance items, including a paved driveway and parking areas, a stormwater pond, a 6‑foot chain‑link fence with three strands of barbed wire at the top, a five‑foot berm with landscaping where vegetation is absent, and limits on hours of operation (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.). He said the planning board had voted 9–0 to recommend denial on the earlier February 2024 application, and that the petitioner resubmitted with revisions.

Residents who spoke against the rezoning included Kathy Sikalski (20 52 Toll Road), Steve Craig (1643 Toll Road), Chris Carter (2030 Toll Road), Jacqueline Cartwright (2030 Toll Road), Maggie Craig (1643 Toll Road), and Frances Mills (neighbor adjacent to the school). Their testimony focused on cumulative impacts of multiple storage facilities in the area—existing mini‑storage next to Woodland Point was repeatedly cited as an example—and on perceived enforcement and nuisance problems with nearby storage operations.

Mike Baldwin, representing the petitioner and landowner Woody Richard, described changes the applicant had made after the planning board meeting: reducing building footprint and number of units (from 43 to 37), moving buildings farther from rear property lines and adding berms and landscaping, installing façade lighting rather than area fixtures, and providing a stormwater plan. Baldwin emphasized that the proposed units are larger (25 by 50 feet) and that the proposed density (12 doors per acre) is far lower than the adjacent facility’s density.

Commissioners debated the proposal after the hearing. Several commissioners expressed concern for protecting residential property values and safety for school traffic; one commissioner noted law‑enforcement and narcotics risks he associated with storage units from professional experience. Commissioner discussion also raised procedural questions about the alignment of the future land‑use plan and the commercial node along NC 43 South.

A motion to deny the rezoning (finding it inconsistent with the land‑use plan and not reasonable or in the public interest) carried. Commissioners instructed staff to prepare the formal consistency and reasonableness statements documenting the board’s findings.

Provenance: Public hearing and resident comments begin at the staff presentation introducing the Happy Trails rezoning (Jonas Hill) and continue through residents’ testimony and the commissioners’ motion to deny (transcript segments).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 05 19 Pitt County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After more than an hour of public comment, Pitt County commissioners voted to deny a conditional rezoning request from Happy Trails LLC to build a 37‑unit self‑storage facility adjacent to Woodland Point and near D.H. Conley High School.","taxTitle","Pitt County, North Carolina","taxId",14194,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":44,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535383,"Pitt County commissioners approve rezoning, hire fire‑service consultant and fund local programs; several late nonprofit requests tabled",2027,3893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3407178-219edd02605423cd3f339cb60f30d650&start=1866&end=3893","/articles/6535383/Pitt-County/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-commissioners-approve-rezoning-hire-fireservice-consultant-and-fund-local-programs-several-late-nonprofit-requests-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535383-8245799c40efc84785e6c68547bc2b67/orig.mp4?Expires=1773580643&Signature=KRfOxFPMLuPZQTHjTGN93uUWzgk6rc-0h~~VKWsjHE4tbLV1TIoDSPu8W~ej1JbYFuL9BPx1nE4vmf34C42dzV-5QFP22y~v1Dc8LJZWnXkR92wk13CBPj9Gwmd-gZ1pT4sFnjZPo-gvY6kSP0zJNU5phjdiBZWZlwdfvPObGv3n6hPgye83t2wGjwMhZpLiQauP6LiL7hvt6oOD7D5enb7Qjl8meFdmaO9oiFSNJZIZXcffgHOZiu40d2rzYeupfXlegWEtad8qJqCzh8Rqga~EbZUseOhhGe~VHzEkeVEf9FDH3tCaSfmuhLObhCeXZHWwQRQczOu5liZ0g3J0zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pitt County commissioners on May 20 approved a package of routine and contested items including a rezoning request, a contract for a fire‑service feasibility study and targeted budget additions while tabling two late funding requests.

The board authorized staff to enter a contract with the North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting Group to perform a countywide fire‑service feasibility study (price not to exceed $125,000) and approved a rezoning to convert 122.71 acres to light industrial for CND Landfill. The board denied one conditional rezoning request for 3.32 acres proposed by Happy Trails LLC to build a self‑storage facility after extensive public comment. Commissioners also approved several budget adjustments and one‑time items including: a $1,854 increase for the Council on Aging’s home‑delivered meals program, a $25,000 increase in support for the Leroy James Farmers Market, and a manager‑requested letter of support for ECU Health’s proposed primary care learning clinic (application to the Duke Endowment). Two late funding requests — a $15,000 request from Victorious Living and a $90,167.75 request from the District Attorney’s Office for cubicle furniture — were tabled for consideration in a later budget cycle.

Why it matters: The actions move forward a countywide review of emergency services funding and capacity while also resolving multiple land‑use and budget issues that affect municipal partners, volunteer departments and social service providers.

Key votes and formal actions (selected):
- Contract: Authorize county manager to execute contract with North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting Group for a comprehensive fire‑service study, not to exceed $125,000. Outcome: approved.
- Rezoning (CND Landfill): Rezone 122.71 acres to Light Industrial (consistency/reasonableness statements adopted). Outcome: approved by the board.
- Rezoning (Happy Trails LLC): Rezone 3.32 acres to General Commercial Conditional for a self‑storage facility (conditions proposed). Outcome: denied; board adopted statement that the request was inconsistent with the land‑use plan and not reasonable/in the public interest.
- Budget/Manager items: Letter of support to ECU Health for a primary care learning clinic: board directed manager to send the letter. Meals on Wheels supplemental funding: $1,854 approved. Leroy James Farmers Market supplemental funding: $25,000 approved. Two late nonprofit requests (Victorious Living $15,000; DA cubicles $90,167.75) tabled. Outcome: motions carried as recorded.
- Ordinance: Adopt Cultural Arts and Recreation indoor facility ordinance and associated fee schedule. Outcome: approved.
- Tax relief: Deny request for tax relief related to Hilton Garden Inn parcel; outcome: denied per staff recommendation based on North Carolina General Statutes.

What remained on the agenda: the board continued discussion about a proposed standing first‑responder support fund and framework put forward by Commissioner Rochelle Brown; commissioners generally supported the concept but many asked staff to await the feasibility study results to refine details on committee makeup, funding sources and eligibility criteria.

Provenance: Each action above is recorded in the public transcript of the May 20 meeting (see transcript segments for first and last mentions of each item).","At their May 20 meeting the Pitt County Board of Commissioners approved two land‑use items and a contract for a countywide fire‑service feasibility study, adopted several budget directions and one‑time allocations, and tabled two late nonprofit funding requests pending the normal budget cycle.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Neighbors oppose Worthington Road storage rezoning; Pitt County commissioners deny Happy Trails request

Pitt County commissioners approve rezoning, hire fire‑service consultant and fund local programs; several late nonprofit requests tabled