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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina |
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HeadlinesThis week's Pigskin Pickin' results Landis Howell brings a hot meal, visit to seniors PHS senior killed in car accident Blue Ribbon Committee plans for growth in Johnston Co. PHS Football: Rams take Bulldog blood for homecoming, 28-0 RHS Football: Eagle drive not enough to stall Midway, 28-6 PHS Volleyball: Princeton girls at 3-1 for conference play RHS Volleyball: Lady Eagles take home loss PHS Golf: Lady Bulldogs notch win Photos Obituaries Eutha P. Young, Sara Evans, Carl Millard Jr. Movies Sydney White Local Showtimes
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Blue Ribbon Committee plans for Johnston growthBy Barry Merrill 26 September 2007 — While he’s sensitive to differing opinions on dealing with growth, a Princeton Professional Land Surveyor believes that the land use plan is an essential tool that will serve as a guide for the planning board and county commissioners when they review future private and public development proposals in the communities throughout Johnston County. Dennis Blackmon, whose home is just outside Princeton, is a long-time surveyor in the county with his business office in Smithfield. He was one of three local residents who served on the Blue Ribbon Committee appointed by the Johnston County Commissioners earlier this year to study issues related to growth management concepts. He was vice-chairman of the Land Use workgroup that studied issues that directly related to that area. Don Johnson of Benson, former mayor of Benson, and currently the Director of Small Business at Johnston Community College chaired the group. Also serving on the Blue Ribbon Committee from Princeton were Mayor Don Rains and Planning Board Chairman Marshall Price. Mr. Blackmon and Mr. Johnson discussed the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee at Mr. Blackmon’s office earlier this month. From their perspective, the committee grew from reaction to a proposal directed at “maintaining the rural nature of Johnston County,” which county commissioners had set as a priority in growth issues. County staff had drafted a proposal that would limit growth by restricting maximum density of housing to one unit per two acres in much of the county. While that met the desire to restrict growth, when many heard of the proposal they felt that went too far. One of the concerns of the Blue Ribbon Committee is that county commissioners get plenty of public comment on whatever they propose to adopt. Mr. Blackmon was clear to say that while he generally supported the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee, he wanted differing opinions respected. Along with Mr. Blackmon, the one area that the entire committee supported was the development of a comprehensive land use plan. In making their presentation to the county commissioners, Blue Ribbon Committee co-chairmen Harold Keen and Sammy Jackson pointed out that Johnston County was one of only ten counties in the state without such a plan, and the others without such a plan were in low growth areas with limited future prospects. Mr. Blackmon and Mr. Johnson pointed out that zoning and subdivision policies might be different in some areas of the county when compared to the I-40/42 area, for example, and a land use plan could recognize those distinctions. Both praised the members of their committee for their openness in dealing with the problems, though the group was composed of people with varying backgrounds, including a number of farmers, Mr. Johnson said the group favored channeling growth into areas where infrastructure could be provided. For residential development, that usually involves sewer service, as other areas will require septic tanks, and with additional land required for septic fields, that will act as a growth restrictor. Mr. Johnson said one of the headaches some have already encountered with a lack of planned growth has come where sewer and schools are provided, but now too many are trying to use the two lane road still there. What the committee is proposing is that the established areas of high density be continued, but the towns be the primary way in which new high density growth be added as their infrastructure is able to extend beyond the towns. While there have been established sewer lines in the Cleveland area, Flowers Plantation area, and the interstate highway interchange districts, the county has set a policy against extending sewer beyond those defined areas. The committee has proposed that be continued. Mr. Johnson went on to say that with planned growth pushed towards towns, that would ease the property valuations that squeeze farmers. Today while land is still being farmed, if the potential for residential development is in the area, it pushes the value of that land well beyond its value as strictly farmland. Mr. Johnson also said that disputes, such as the one currently between Selma and Wilson’s Mills over ETJ, can be addressed through a land use plan. “It forces you to make decisions based on policy, lets you know what basis you will be judged on. You get away from back door politics.” Mr. Blackmon was asked to serve on the committee by the local chapter of the N.C. Society of Surveyors.
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