Lincoln County commissioners approve several rezoning requests, deny one and OK companion special-use permit

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved a series of zoning changes and a companion special-use permit at its March 2026 meeting, while denying one rezoning request the planning staff and planning board recommended against.

Jeremiah, planning staff, summarized the items and said the planning board recommended approval of ZMA 772 (Greg Smith) — a request to rezone a 0.58-acre parcel at 128 Killian Farm Road from transitional residential to neighborhood business so the existing dwelling can be converted to a commercial structure. The board voted to adopt the planning board’s statement of consistency and then approved ZMA 772 by voice vote.

The board also approved ZMA 773 (Cole Reynolds), rezoning about 3.28 acres near West Side of Shoal Road from residential single-family to residential suburban to allow the option of constructing duplexes or single-family homes, after the planning board voted unanimously to recommend approval.

A plan development amendment (PD 2018-2) for Piedmont Natural Gas — which would add five operational/maintenance buildings and a pad for a future substation on an existing conditional zoning district — drew a question from a resident concerned about turbines. Jeremiah said the proposal does not increase turbine capacity or add new turbines and that the applicant had clarified that during the community involvement meeting and public hearing. The board approved the amendment.

Jeremiah also presented ZMA 774 (R A R A Family Holding LLC), a request to rezone 0.98 acre to general business in order to build a contractor’s office and combine two parcels as shown on the applicant’s site plan. The board later approved the companion special-use permit, SUP 529, and the applicant’s proposed findings of fact.

Two smaller map amendments were approved with a recorded split: ZMA 775 (Butternut Investments LLC), to rezone 0.46 acre to industrial light, and ZMA 776 (a reciprocal rezoning to align district boundaries). In both cases the board recorded a 4–1 result (the minutes note Commissioner Susina in the record for the dissent). The transcript records the board approving these items after motions and voice votes with the dissent noted.

One request failed. ZMA 777 (Troy LaHue) sought to rezone a 1.9-acre parcel from general business to residential suburban; planning staff and the planning board recommended denial because the request was inconsistent with the county’s adopted land-use plan and because residential suburban zoning parcels are scarce in the area. The board voted to adopt the planning board’s statement and denied ZMA 777.

All zoning items were handled after planning-board presentations and adoption of statements of consistency. The board’s actions move the approved rezoning requests and SUP forward; denied requests end the rezoning application unless the applicant re-files.

The board adjourned the zoning portion of the meeting and moved on to other agenda items.