Moore County planning board backs conditional rezoning for 116‑unit self‑storage on Lehman Road

The Moore County Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend that the Moore County Board of Commissioners approve a conditional rezoning for one parcel on Lehman Road to allow a 116‑unit self‑storage facility owned by Linda Dunlap. The board also adopted a land‑use plan consistency statement that cites Recommendation 1.7 — to support and promote local businesses — and authorized the chairman to execute the document as required by North Carolina General Statute 160D‑604.

The applicant, Linda Dunlap, told the board she had considered residential development but said the property “would not perk,” describing repeated failed percolation tests and concluding the land would better serve the owner as a commercial storage site. Ruth Peterson, county planning staff, said the property is wooded, has no existing driveway and is accessed by an easement; she noted adjacent land uses include a Davis community center, a funeral home and a Moore County Solid Waste Collection Center nearby.

“This rezoning would allow for a local business owner in the area and could also support other local businesses as renters travel to that area of Moore County,” Peterson told the board, specifically recommending that the consistency statement reference Recommendation 1.7 of the county’s future land use plan.

Local business manager Jacob Stevens, who identified himself as manager at Keith Hardware, told the board that “the mini storages are consistently full, and we get calls daily,” and said the proposed facility would serve demand from nearby Robbins and Carthage residents. Neighbor Walter Bridal, who lives about 100 yards from the proposed site, said he had “no objection whatsoever” to the storage facility but asked whether required sprinklers or water‑line upgrades would make water service available to Lehman Road residents.

The board’s motion to recommend approval described the parcel as approximately 2.382 acres and included deed references provided in the application (Deed Book 4349, page 119; Deed Book 6248, page 408). The motion was seconded, and the board approved the recommendation by voice vote; the record shows the board adopted the accompanying consistency statement and will forward the rezoning to the Board of Commissioners for a legislative public hearing. Staff said the call to public hearing will be Jan. 7 and the Board of Commissioners’ hearing will take place on Jan. 21.

County staff and the board also clarified who may speak at legislative public hearings: Tron, addressing ordinance language, noted Moore County’s ordinance (section 10.9) and the rules of procedure adopted by the Board of Commissioners allow anyone who signs up to speak at legislative hearings, though there is no independent statutory right that compels the county to permit all speakers. The board may adopt different procedures by policy.

The planning board’s recommendation is advisory; final approval rests with the Moore County Board of Commissioners. The planning department will forward the file and notify the applicant and interested parties of the upcoming commission hearing.