Whiteville staff report development uptick, request funding for land-use update and fire inspector

Planning and public-safety staff updated Whiteville council on development activity and department budget needs during a recent meeting, saying permit revenue this fiscal year has already exceeded the prior year and outlining requests for a land-use plan update, zoning code work, asbestos abatement and a new full-time fire inspector.

Planning department staff said the department has collected about $17,700 so far this fiscal year, surpassing last year’s total of about $16,654. “We’ve already exceeded that in April and moving forward to June,” planning staff said.

The planning staff reported a rise in residential construction activity and several pending commercial and multifamily projects. Staff identified a proposed roughly 64-unit multifamily complex and said applications are under review for national retailers, mentioning Five Below and a Starbucks location. Columbus Motors was cited as the location for one retail proposal; details such as final approvals and construction schedules were not specified…