Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Sweepstakes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rocky Mount council sends sweepstakes/Internet-café zoning amendment back to planning board after concerns
Summary
City staff presented a text amendment to permit “Internet café”/sweepstakes establishments in medium-density residential zones; council members raised concerns about proximity to places of worship, lighting, grandfathering and enforcement and voted to send the item back to the planning board for revision.
The Rocky Mount City Council on May 20 voted to send a proposed text amendment that would add “Internet café” or sweepstakes establishments as a permitted use in an R-6/MFA residential zone back to the planning board for further study.
Joseph Bocoup, director of development services, told the council the planning board recommended approval and that the amendment would also align off-street parking rules in the R-6/MFA zone with other residential districts. “I appreciate your consideration of the amendment and [am] happy to answer any questions you may have,” Bocoup said during his presentation.
Council members raised several issues. Concerns included flashing or window lighting at sweepstakes locations, whether to require a 500-foot buffer from churches or places of worship (a buffer that had appeared in earlier regulations), and how existing businesses would be treated. Bocoup estimated, “We estimate there are about 27 of them within the city's jurisdiction,” and said most of those operating without the proper certificate of occupancy would not meet the proposed regulations and likely would be required to close or reapply for appropriate approvals.
Council members also discussed legal and enforcement complexities. Bocoup said the city previously regulated the uses and then removed them from the development code, creating a gap that has complicated enforcement; he recommended returning the text amendment to planning for revisions rather than adopting the council’s proposed buffer change at the hearing.
After discussion, councilman Blackwell moved to send the amendment back to the planning board with instructions to consider adding a 500-foot buffer for places of worship and to address grandfathering and enforcement questions; councilmen Daughtridge and Knight seconded the motion. The council approved the referral by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The council also agreed to hold further discussion at a future committee-of-the-whole meeting and to allow public comment when the item returns to the planning board.
