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Southern Pines staff to map possible golf-cart routes after council raises safety questions; East Vermont traffic study reviewed
Summary
Council asked police and planning staff to prepare GIS maps showing where golf carts might be allowed and excluded, and asked for follow-up on East Vermont traffic data; staff recommended a piecemeal, map-based ordinance and will return with a draft.
Southern Pines — Police and planning staff told the Town Council on Oct. 28 that North Carolina law permits municipalities to adopt local ordinances allowing golf carts on town roads but that careful mapping of permitted streets will be required to protect safety and manage enforcement.
Police described a proposed approach based on other municipalities’ models (excluding roads with posted speeds above 35 mph or narrow shoulders) and provided a preliminary list of candidate 'no-go' corridors including parts of Midland Road, Central Drive, Morganton Road and Carolina Green Parkway. Staff recommended registering golf carts with the town, requiring basic safety equipment (headlights, taillights, mirrors) and proof of insurance as part of any ordinance. Council asked for GIS maps that color-code feasible corridors and clearly show where cart operation would be allowed, prohibited, or allowed only for short neighborhood connectivity; staff agreed to produce a working map to guide council discussion and public input.
Separately, staff presented an East Vermont Avenue speed and congestion review. Police reported 85th/80th-percentile speeds under posted limits on the studied segments and said congestion and truck routing — not blanket speeding — appear to drive residents' complaints; staff recommended targeted interventions (sign placement, signal timing, or intersection changes) rather than lowering the posted speed limit. Council asked staff to email the full traffic report to council and follow up with affected residents.
What happens next: Police and planning staff will work with GIS to produce a color-coded map of recommended golf-cart corridors and prohibited streets, and will send the East Vermont traffic report to council members and the resident who raised concerns.
