Special-use permit for South Gardner Avenue renovation fails after no motion

The Board of Adjustment and Kenly Town Council on July 14 heard a special-use permit request for a multi-family renovation at 313 S. Gardner Ave., but the application failed when no approving motion was made.

Tony Sears, the interim town manager, recessed the regular session to convene the Board of Adjustment for the hearing. Applicant Joshua Craig presented floor plans and a packet of materials that described a "full-gut renovation: replacing siding, roof, windows, and all plumbing." Craig told the board that two plumbers assessed the site and that the property's plumbing capacity (measured in drainage fixture units, or DFUs) was sufficient: the existing four-inch line supported 160 DFU, while the planned seven apartments with one toilet each were estimated to use about 55 DFU. Craig also described planned electrical upgrades (the panel was updated in the 1990s), replacement of stairs and landings, interior renovations, and parking-lot regrading with roughly 85 tons of crush-and-run material.

Public Works Director John Pitts confirmed staff review that the existing sewer tap and DFU capacity were adequate and said prior sewer issues related to other buildings that are no longer present. After the applicant's presentation and closing of the public hearing, the Board of Adjustment did not receive a motion to approve the special-use permit; the record shows "NO MOTION," and the item failed for lack of a motion.

Council members discussed whether to establish a future "cooling-off" period (six to 12 months) for rehearing special-use requests but noted no such policy currently exists. The council invited Craig to present again for further consideration.

Next steps: Applicant may return with additional information or wait should the council adopt a rehearing policy; staff indicated no immediate infrastructure impediment based on current DFU and sewer-tap assessments.