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