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Aberdeen board approves Ripple Fiber encroachment amendment, schedules annexation and zoning hearings for Feb. 24
Summary
At its Feb. 10 work session, the Aberdeen Town Board approved an amendment to a Ripple Fiber right-of-way encroachment agreement, accepted a clerk's certificate for a 39.46-acre annexation petition by Old Village Enterprises LLC and scheduled public hearings Feb. 24 for the annexation, a rezoning request and a sign-code text amendment.
The Aberdeen Town Board on Feb. 10 approved an amendment to a right-of-way encroachment agreement with Ripple Fiber and set multiple planning-related public hearings for Feb. 24, 2025.
Mayor Robert A. Farrell opened the work session at 6:00 p.m. and recognized staff and board members in attendance. Public Works Director Joe Wood told the board Ripple Fiber requested that additional streets be added to the town's existing encroachment agreement. Mayor Farrell said this was the same company "that was really creating some troubles in Robbins," and Town Manager Paul Sabiston replied that staff has been working with Ripple and that "there have been no issues in Aberdeen working with Ripple Fiber." Mayor Pro-tem Bryan Bowles moved to approve the amendment; Commissioner Elease Goodwin seconded and the minutes record the motion as "unanimously carried 5-0." The minutes do not record an itemized roll call for the vote.
The board accepted the Town Clerk's Certificate of Sufficiency for Voluntary Annexation #25-01, a petition from Old Village Enterprises, LLC for a 39.46-acre parcel east of Pee Dee Road (PID 00056777). The board then approved Resolution #25-04 setting a public hearing on the question of annexation pursuant to G.S. 160A-31 for Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Robert N. Page Municipal Building. The resolution and a legal description of the property appear in the meeting materials and minutes.
Assistant Planning Director Chad Hall told the board the rezoning request ZA-25-01 is tied to the annexation; the applicant seeks to change zoning from Light Industrial to R-10 for the same 39.46-acre parcel. The board scheduled a public hearing on ZA-25-01 for Feb. 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Planning staff also briefed the board on a proposed Unified Development Ordinance text amendment (UDO 24-05) addressing freestanding signage. Planning Director Pam Graham said the Planning Board and staff had spent substantial time drafting revisions; she clarified that relocating a sign on the same property would not require a permit if the sign's dimensional square footage remains the same, though relocation costs would apply. The board scheduled a public hearing on the sign-code amendment for Feb. 24 at 6:00 p.m.
In other business, Assistant Town Manager Phillip Richardson updated the board on the library construction: contractor rough-ins for plumbing, HVAC and electrical are complete, IT wiring is finishing, inspections were expected within a couple of days, and sheetrock installation was anticipated by the end of the week. Richardson also presented photos from a recent fire at Hawthorne of the Pines, saying, "there was no loss of life, but unfortunately one cat was found deceased in the fire." The board and staff praised mutual aid by county fire departments and assistance from the Aberdeen Police Department.
Manager Paul Sabiston reported staff is working with the owner identified in the minutes as "Fabio" on redesigns for the old Aberdeen Elementary School property to reduce unit counts to help project financing; the owner hopes for completion around November if schedules hold, and the project will require a gas-line relocation. Public Works Director Joe Wood said a crosswalk from Junction Hall to a nearby church will be installed when final paving is completed at Knight and Talbooth. Commissioners raised concerns about weeds in downtown planting boxes; Mayor Farrell said a letter requesting reseeding and plantings will be sent to NCDOT Division 8. The board also discussed bringing back the Reindeer Fun Run and asked that it not be scheduled on the same day as the Southern Pines Christmas Parade.
The work session concluded after Director Pam Graham confirmed the board wanted both business storefront holiday lights and pole-mounted snowflake decorations; Commissioner Wilma Laney moved to adjourn and the minutes show the motion was carried 5-0.
Votes at a glance - Amendment to Ripple right-of-way encroachment agreement: motion carried (minutes show "Motion unanimously carried 5-0"). - Acceptance of Clerk's Certificate of Sufficiency for Annexation #25-01: motion carried (minutes show 5-0). - Approval of Resolution #25-04 (fixing public hearing date for annexation): motion carried (minutes show 5-0). - Scheduling of public hearing for UDO Text Amendment 24-05 (freestanding signage): motion carried (minutes show 5-0). - Scheduling of public hearing for Zoning Map Amendment ZA-25-01 (Light Industrial to R-10): motion carried (minutes show 5-0). - Adjournment: motion carried (minutes show 5-0).
Next steps: The public hearings on the annexation, the zoning change and the sign-code amendment are set for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at the Robert N. Page Municipal Building. The minutes and attachments include the Clerk's Certificate of Sufficiency and the full text of Resolution #25-04.
