Cramerton denies conditional rezoning for 74 Auto Group after neighbors object

The Town of Cramerton Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on Feb. 20 to deny Rezoning Case RZ23-03, a conditional zoning amendment sought by 74 Auto Group for properties at 5030 and 5034 Wilkinson Boulevard.

Assistant Town Manager Josh Watkins told the board the properties previously hosted automobile sales and that the town’s 2022 Land Use Plan redesignated the corridor as Neighborhood Retail, making the proposed auto-sales use inconsistent with current plan guidance. Staff recommended denial.

During the public-comment period, nearby resident Danny Caldwell urged denial, saying the operation produces noise when vehicles are worked on and that a bright floodlight on the lot shines into his bedroom at night. Lynn Fergusion expressed environmental and noise concerns and worried about the potential accumulation of inoperable vehicles on the site.

Co-applicant Paula Overcash Harrison said repairs would take place inside enclosed garages, limiting noise, and that the applicants would install an 8-foot fence to reduce visibility and impacts. A salesman for 74 Auto Group said routine checks — "tire pressure, batteries, jump off vehicles and change tires" — are performed and questioned whether those tasks constituted prohibited repairs.

Commissioner Scott Kincaid, who moved to deny the request citing inconsistency with the Land Use Plan, said he had reviewed the Planning & Zoning Board’s prior work but ultimately agreed with staff that the rezoning did not match the plan’s recommendations. Richard Atkinson seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous.

Next steps: the denial ends this conditional rezoning application; the town may consider other, plan-consistent redevelopment proposals for the parcels in the future.