Rocky Mount council approves rezoning, land‑code updates and two economic development deals

The Rocky Mount City Council on Jan. 13 approved a series of land‑use and economic development actions, including a rezoning of roughly 75 acres off Hunter Hill Road, an option to sell 19.13 acres at Old Carriage Road and Sunset Avenue, and an economic development agreement conveying 55 acres near Thomas A. Betts Parkway and Peel Road for an industrial park.

Those measures — together with two text amendments to the city's land development code and a resolution adopting housing rehabilitation policies — were approved by voice vote during the meeting. Council members also heard public comment and received a report on a settlement with a local data center operator.

The rezoning approved would change a roughly 75‑acre parcel (bordering Hunter Hill Road) from A‑1 (agricultural) to R6 MFA (medium‑density multifamily residential). Joseph Beau Cook, deputy director in the Department of Development Services, told the council the planning board recommended approval because the request is consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan and the city's land‑use policy for outward growth in that area. Kevin Varnell of Stocks Engineering, representing the contract purchasers, said the rezoning would restrict the site to residential uses, and that apartments are not a proposed use; he said single‑family detached lots would be similar in size to adjacent subdivisions.

Council approval included the requirement that a 50‑foot buffer be maintained from the on‑site stream (Goose Branch), and that future development would be subject to the city's stormwater and DOT review requirements. The ordinance was adopted by voice vote.

In economic development actions, Kenneth Hunter, the assistant to the city manager for budget and evaluation, described an option to purchase agreement with Halverson Suburban Centers LLC for a 19.13‑acre parcel the city acquired as part of a larger 336‑acre purchase. Under the option described to council, Halverson would pay a total of $4,950,000 (15 acres at $250,000 per acre and 4 acres at $300,000 per acre). The developer must provide a $50,000 deposit within five days of executing the agreement and an additional $200,000 deposit after a 120‑day inspection period; the option period would extend for two years to allow the developer to complete purchase conditions, including rezoning and permitting. The council approved the agreement and authorized the mayor and city clerk to execute the option.

The council also approved an economic development agreement with GVW Bridal Management LLC, negotiated with Carolina's Gateway Partnership, to convey roughly 55 acres at Thomas A. Betts Parkway and Peel Road for construction of an industrial park. Hunter told the council the developer must meet build‑out milestones to retain conveyance: roughly 100,000 square feet of rentable building space by Jan. 2030 and 289,000 square feet by Jan. 2035. The developer is required to construct utilities, parking and common areas; if milestones are not met, undeveloped land may revert to the city. The developer agreed to restrictive covenants governing aesthetics and permitted tenant types; city staff said water and sewer extension work is under contract and primarily funded by a Golden Leaf Foundation grant.

A representative of Carolina's Gateway Partnership, Bob Pike, described the developer as a quality operator and offered to meet with neighbors to address concerns. Residents raised questions about allowed industrial uses, traffic patterns and potential impacts on adjacent farmland; planning staff and the developer said the I‑1 (light industrial) zoning and the written covenants explicitly prohibit a long list of heavy or nuisance uses, including quarries, sanitary landfills, smelting, rendering, stockyards, hazardous‑waste processing, junkyards and adult entertainment, among others. Staff also noted landscaping buffers, stormwater controls and DOT review are intended to mitigate impacts.

The council approved two separate text amendments to the city's land development code recommended by the planning board. One amendment revised subdivision plat certificates (Chapter 14) to clarify certificate language, correct flood‑area terminology and adjust notary and ownership certificate placement; a corrected reference to North Carolina general statutes was added. Another amendment aligned development standards and public‑notice requirements with North Carolina law, updated review tables to direct certain appeals to the board of adjustment, and clarified the separate hearing requirement for initial zoning after annexation. Both ordinances were adopted by voice vote.

The council adopted a resolution to implement the housing rehabilitation policies discussed earlier in a committee meeting. The council also received a brief report from the city attorney on a settlement with Title Data Solutions arising from an electric service dispute; the attorney said Title will pay the city $157,000, purchase additional interruptible service of 38,100 kilowatts and purchase a specified transformer. The council had earlier approved a resolution of intent and consent‑agenda items tied to the settlement (including authorization of an upset‑bid process for the transformer lease).

Votes at a glance: the council approved (voice votes) the Hunter Hill Road rezoning ordinance; two land development code text amendments; an option to purchase agreement with Halverson Suburban Centers LLC for $4,950,000; an economic development agreement conveying 55 acres with GVW Bridal Management LLC (with build‑out milestones and covenants); a resolution adopting housing rehabilitation policies; and received a public report of the settlement with Title Data Solutions. Specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the minutes beyond the council's voice votes.

Council members also added three items to the agenda at the start of the meeting (the housing rehab resolution, a settlement report requested by the city attorney, and a post‑meeting closed session for personnel matters) and approved the consent agenda, which included routine bid awards, tax releases/refunds and contract authorizations.

The meeting included public comment: resident Nathan Nathalene Onry commended city crews and a retiring corporal for service; Tom White asked that his rezoning application for South Halifax Road be placed on the Jan. 27 agenda (the council moved to add that request). Resident Chuck Taylor asked for more information about allowed uses and potential traffic impacts related to the proposed industrial park; staff and the developer offered to follow up.

Looking ahead, staff said the Rocky Mount Event Center has multiple bookings through June, the 37th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast is scheduled for Jan. 20 at the Event Center, and the city plans a dedication for a donated 60‑foot flagpole at City Lake when weather permits.