Public concerns prompt continuation of rezoning hearing for 75-acre site at north edge of Smithfield ETJ

The Town of Smithfield continued a public hearing on a rezoning request for a 75.61-acre parcel at the northern edge of the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) after residents raised concerns about noise, traffic, wetlands and buffers.

Clarus Partners LLC requested rezoning of the parcel on U.S. Highway 70 Business West to a light-industrial district. Planning staff said the site contains wooded areas, a blue-line stream and wetlands and sits near existing light industrial properties farther down the corridor; the request would require an amendment to the town’s comprehensive plan because the site is shown as low-density residential in the adopted plan.

Neighbors from the Barber Farms subdivision said the parcel is a wooded buffer that provides quiet and wildlife habitat for their neighborhood, said they saw a rezoning sign with little prior notice and asked the council to preserve the tree buffer and wetlands. Resident comments cited concerns about potential truck traffic and petroleum or oil spills associated with intensive industrial uses.

Applicant representative Craig Dandiger (Clarus Partners) described the developer as a class-A industrial operator and said the conceptual plan (shared for context) would avoid wetlands and preserve natural buffers where possible. He offered to meet with residents for a community briefing and to coordinate on landscaping and setbacks; council and staff encouraged a neighborhood meeting before the council takes final action.

Council voted to continue the public hearing to the Aug. 19 meeting and instructed the applicant to coordinate a neighborhood meeting and provide further detail, including wetland delineation and a more precise site plan, for staff and council review.