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Ranlo leaders weigh Lewis Farm redevelopment, $1 million seed and options to fund projects
Summary
Ranlo officials discussed marketing the Lewis Farm site for commercial development, selling town land (about 20 acres) to raise local funds, and possibly setting aside $1 million to strengthen grant applications; town attorney outlined legal sale processes required by North Carolina law.
Ranlo’s town leaders spent a portion of their special meeting discussing redevelopment prospects for the Lewis Farm property and how the town might fund a slate of proposed projects.
The mayor said the town is seeking attractions — ‘‘rec centers’’ and amphitheaters — ‘‘that is going to attract people to the town, so that we can make more money for the town,’’ and indicated those uses could increase tax receipts to support future projects. Town Manager (Speaker 2) described the Lewis Farm parcel as previously marketed and said a developer once showed interest before that deal fell through; he said the town’s primary role would likely be zoning rather than purchasing the land.
Town Manager Speaker 2 also outlined local funding options: using bank reserves, selling town assets such as approximately 20 acres where an old water plant sits, or contributing local money to demonstrate commitment when applying for grants. He warned that larger appropriations could trigger review by the North Carolina Local Government Commission, adding a procedural step for spending above statutory thresholds.
Town Attorney Speaker 5 briefed the board on the statutory disposal processes for municipal property in North Carolina, saying the town generally must use one of three methods — upset bid, sealed bid, or public auction — unless an economic‑development exception applies. ‘‘You can do it as an upset bid process… sealed bid process… or an auction,’’ the attorney said, describing the open processes the law requires.
Board members flagged practical constraints: about one‑third to two‑thirds of the old water‑plant site lies in the floodplain, which Speaker 2 said could deter potential buyers. That condition, he said, would factor into whether selling the parcel is a practical source of seed money.
The board did not take a formal vote on a specific sale or appropriation during the meeting. Members asked staff to gather additional information and bring refined options — including zoning implications and the procedural steps for property disposal — back to a future session.
The item remained in the discussion phase; the town manager and attorney will prepare more detailed options for board consideration at subsequent meetings.
