Commissioners approve rezoning of 430 acres on Lower Moncure Road to light industrial over planning board recommendation

The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 15 to rezone 430 acres with frontage on Lower Moncure Road from residential‑agricultural (RA) to light industrial (LI), clearing the way for a proposed light‑industrial business park.

The planning board had recommended denial by a 4‑3 vote after concerns about traffic, environmental impacts and enforceability of voluntary commitments. Amy McNeil of the county planning department summarized the planning board’s August 18 recommendation and noted that the applicant, John Keener, submitted a letter that was placed on the commissioners’ desk.

At public comment, supporters and nearby property owners differed. Steven Baber, representing at least eight adjacent property owners, urged commissioners to approve the rezoning and warned that denial could produce city annexation and larger residential subdivisions. "Looking at the worst case scenario, which would be 1 shift, everyone coming in at…