Southern Pines council approves Humane Society annexation, clears Trimble Plant Road development amid housing and tree concerns

The Southern Pines Town Council on Jan. 13 unanimously approved an annexation to allow the Moore County Humane Society to connect a new facility to municipal water and cleared a preliminary development plan for Trimble Plant Road, while residents pressed the council for clearer communication on housing decisions and updates about tree removals in Knollwood Heights.

Director Grieve of the Southern Pines Planning Department told the council the Humane Society petition would annex 12.472 acres and include portions of the NC 22 and Wayner Road rights-of-way as allowed under state statute, but would not include the Aviation Drive right-of-way because of an existing annexation agreement with Whispering Pines. "The petitioners are asking to annex 12.472 acres," Grieve said, explaining the annexation is needed so the facility can connect to municipal water. Councilmember (unnamed, Speaker 5) moved to adopt Ordinance AX-03-25, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Peterson, and the body voted to adopt the ordinance; the chair recorded the motion as carried.

On the Trimble Plant Road application, planner Mason Maddox presented staff's report and recommended approval of the Preliminary Development Plan (PD-06-25), saying the PDP aligns with the conceptual development plan approved last month and raises no traffic or agency-review issues. Maddox described the proposal as replacing an existing 4,240-square-foot building with a proposed 40,000-square-foot industrial shallow-bay flex space and noted the plan proposes 182 parking spaces and preserves a 75-foot buffer along US 1. "The PDP requests development in 2 phases," Maddox said, and staff concluded the PDP "fully aligns with the CDP." After a motion to adopt the staff findings and a motion to approve PD-06-25, the council voted to approve the PDP; the chair summarized the vote as unanimous.

Public comment preceding the hearings focused on housing policy and local tree-removal plans. Patricia Bentley, who identified herself as a resident who "moved to Southern Pines a few years ago," said she describes the town as "a little bit of heaven" and urged continued attention to housing affordability. She questioned why two council members who had participated in producing the 2023 comprehensive housing plan later cast no votes on related housing matters. Beth Ann Pratt thanked council members who supported the workforce "middle housing" ordinance and asked for clearer explanations of the terminology and the rationale for votes. Pratt also urged the council to meet with residents of Knollwood Heights to discuss alternatives to large-scale tree removal tied to sewer repairs.

Councilmember Peterson raised a procedural question during the Trimble Plant Road hearing about the applicant's listed owner, saying a search showed a lapsed record for JBO Holdings LLC; staff and Director Grieve reported they had checked the North Carolina Secretary of State site and found the entity currently listed as active with a registered agent on file, and described verification of applicant entity status as a routine completeness check. "We do verify that," Grieve said, describing the department's review steps.

The council closed the meeting after brief remarks about improving public communication—particularly around the definition of "missing middle" housing—and reminders about a work session next week and an upcoming audit report meeting in the Haney Room.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance AX-03-25 (annexation of 12.472 acres for Moore County Humane Society) — motion adopted and recorded as carried; PD-06-25 (Trimble Plant Road Preliminary Development Plan) — motion adopted and recorded as carried.

Next steps: Annexation ordinance took effect immediately per the motion; the Trimble Plant Road PDP will move to any subsequent administrative steps required (architectural review permit and implementation steps noted by staff).