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Council approves rezoning of five-acre parcel on US 70 Business to light industrial
Summary
The council approved zoning map amendment RZ2504 to reclassify an approximately five‑acre parcel on U.S. 70 Business from split B3/R20A to light‑industrial, finding the change consistent with the comprehensive plan; the applicant said no specific project is proposed now.
The Town of Smithfield council voted to approve zoning map amendment RZ2504, a request to rezone nearly five acres along U.S. 70 Business from split B3/R20A to light industrial. Planning staff recommended approval, saying the request aligns with the Town's Comprehensive Growth Management Plan and surrounding land uses, which include an annexed Amazon site.
"This is a request for rezoning'. The comprehensive plan does guide this whole area for light industrial," Planning Director Stephen Wisman told the council during the public hearing. Wisman said water, sewer and utilities would be addressed at development review and that the request contained no proposed use at this time.
Applicant Chris Johnson, who said he had recombined family farmland and purchased the parcel about 18 months earlier, told the council the intent is to bring the lot into uniform zoning with nearby properties. "I'm not a developer," Johnson said, adding that the existing farmhouse on the parcel is not habitable and likely would be removed if development occurred.
After closing the hearing, the council moved to approve RZ2504, finding the amendment consistent and reasonable and in the public interest. The motion carried on a voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: the rezoning clears the property to be developed under light‑industrial standards when a specific project is proposed; utility and annexation details will be addressed during site plan and permitting reviews.
