TOWN OF FOUR OAKS TOWN COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 12TH, 2022 AGENDA  1) 2) 3) 4) 5)  Call to Order  Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Minutes Public Comments Public Hearings  (a) Town Council Meeting - November 14t, 2022  (a) Stephen Webb - Application for Special Use for Oversized Garage at 1105 Keen Rd. (b) Jones Creek, LLC, Petitioner and' Terry Lee Clary & H. Edwin Lee, Jr, Owners- Application for Rezoning & Subdivision at 203 Hollinsworth Rd. (c) Certificate of Sufficiency & Annexation Ordinance -Jones Creek, LLC, Petitioner and Terry Lee Clarey & H. Edwin Lee, Jr., Owners located at 203 Hollinsworth Rd. and off Old School Rd., Four Oaks, NC, Parcels #  08H10043, 08H10047A, & 08H10048  6) 7) 8)  New Business Mayor's Comments Department Reports (a) Police- - Hatch (b) Parks & Rec & Outreach - Robertson (c) Water and Sewer - Hines (d) Sanitation & Streets- - Surles (e) Finance- - Hardy  (a) Adopt 2023 Town Council Regular Meeting Schedule - Clerk Garris  Adjournment    TOWN OF FOUR OAKS TOWN COUNCIL MIEETING DECEMBER 12TH, 2022  MINUTES  Call to Order  Mayor Vic Medlin called the December 12th, 2022 regular scheduled Town Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present included Commissioners Andy Hardy, Mike Hines, Kim Robertson, and Carles Surles. Also, present were Police Chief Stephen Anderson; Public Works Director Barry Stanley; Town Clerk Martha Garris recording minutes; and Mike Dart from FO  Benson Newi in Review.  Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance  Commissioner Surles gave the opening Invocation with Jeremy Johnson leading the Pledge of  Allegiance.  Approval of Minutes  Town Council Meeting - November 14th, 2022  Commissioner Hines made ai motion to approve the Town Council regular meeting minutes as  presented, seconded by Commissioner Surles, voting unanimous.  Public Comments  Town Clerk Garris read the following comments by Sam Austin, resident at 203 E. Lewis St, whom was unable to attend the meeting: (1) as a follow-up since the September 12 meeting, Mr. Austin asked the Board for an update, ifany, on the school traffic on Tucker St.; (2) Mr. Austin had a suggestion to pass along to the Board tol have a recycle box for electronics, batteries, etc. somewhere around Town Hall for residents to use and maybe have it emptied monthly or quarterly. Mayor Medlin responded: (1) there is no definite plan yet but there has been a meeting with the school to discuss options such as: (a) restructuring the areai to bring traffic in off Church St., create a road to go in by the Civitan Building that will go all the way through by the 3rd grade and moving the bus parking lot to the 3rd grade parking lot; (b) the quick fix is to move the buses around and double stack the car line ini the bus parking lot to get some cars off Main St.; & (2) the landfill has aj place for those items but the board may look into an option in Patricia Chisholm-Jones, thanked the Mayor, Board, and staff for working closely with the Smith St. community and for the Christmas lights at the Smith St. (Holt) Park. She wished everyone a  town.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Public Hearings  Mayor Medlin called the meeting into a public hearing.  Pauline Ketchum, Planning and Zoning Administrator, relayed the Planning Board met on December 61 tol hear 2 cases. Notice requirements were met with the newspaper advertisements    being publish on December 21 & 28, signs were put on the properties, and letters were mailed Stephen Webb - Application for Special Use for Oversized Garage at 1105 Keen Rd. Pauline Ketchum, Planning & Zoning Administrator, relayed the Planning Board heard the request for a special use by Stephen Webb, petitioner & owner of parcel # 08111070H located at 1105 Keen Rd., Four Oaks, NC to build a 30'x50' oversize detached metal garage on his 1.07-acre property. She added the building will be used for storage of his tractor, lawn mower, etc. Mrs. Ketchum relayed the property is in the ETJ, the building will match his home, meets all requirements, 9 letters were mailed out, she received no inquiries, and the planning board was  out to property owners within a 500 ft. radius for all cases.  recommending for Board's approval.  There were no public comments. Mayor Medlin closed the public hearing.  Motion to approve the proposed special use by Stephen Webb, petitioner & owner of parcel # 08111070H located at 1105 Keen Rd., Four Oaks, NC to build a 30'x50' oversize garage on his property was made by Commissioner Hardy, seconded by Commissioner Surles, voting  unanimous.  Mayor Medlin called the meeting back into a public hearing.  Jones Creek, LLC, Petitioner and Terry Lee Clary & H. Edwin Lee, Jr, Owners- Application forl Rezoning & Subdivision on Parcels # 08H10043, 08H10048, & 08H10047A Pauline Ketchum, Planning & Zoning Administrator, relayed the Planning Board heard the application requests of rezoning & as subdivision by Jones Creek, LLC, Petitioner and Terry Lee Clary & H. Edwin Lee, Jr, Owners ofj parcels # 08H10043, 08H10047A, & 08H10048 located at 203 Hollingsworth Rd and offo Old School Rd., Four Oaks, NC to (1): rezone the property from R-A to R- 12 and (2) build a single-family residential subdivision with approximately 320 lots on approximately 150 acres. Mrs. Ketchum relayed the property is currently in the ETJ, the 3 parcels will become 1 parcel and will be annexed into the town for town services, the lots will be aminimum of 12,000 sq. ft., the subdivision will have curb & valley gutters & sidewalks, there will be landscape buffers & a mailbox kiosk, and the majority ofthe homes willl be approximately 1,750 sq. ft., 2 story with a garage & a minimum of3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms starting at $325,000. A preliminary NCDOT review has been done for the entrance and the traffic to decide about at turn lane which the engineer can discuss. She reported letters had been sent out, she had received numerous concerns about traffic, schools, stores, runoff, water, sewer, & gas. Mrs. Ketchum relayed the Planning Board did: not recommend because: (1) the town has already approved several R-12 subdivisions with al large number ofl lots; (2) the down turn of housing nationwide due to inflation and higher interest rate and we are seeing already developed lots sitting empty; (3) approving another R-12 subdivision oft this magnitude would only add additional and unnecessary stress to the community schools, roadways, fire & police as well as destroying our natural environment therefore effecting the homes and lives oft the exiting people; & (4) the Planning Board certainly doesn't feel it is good planning for the future ofthe  located at 203 Hollinsworth Rd & Off Old School Rd  community.  Brian Leonard, BRL Engineering, representing the owners and petitioner addressed the board. Mr. Leonard commented there were valid concerns by individuals at the Planning Board    meeting. He added that he had met with a few of the individuals and discussed their concerns since the meeting. Mr. Leonard provided the board with revised plans based offs some oft the concerns and explained the revisions as follows: (1) added a 25 feet perimeter buffer around the entire development that will be owned and maintained by the HOA which reduced the lot count to 302 lots; and (2) added 3 additional dry stormwater ponds to meet the same standards as Johnston County. The revisions were done on a voluntary measure by the developer. As for stormwater concerns, the Town of Four Oaks doesn'thave a Stormwater Ordinance but engineers have to design the project to take runoff to natural areas in which there is a large basin to the south oft this property into a swamp near CSX railroad which raised concerns from the Shearers' and the revised plans addressed this. Commissioner Hardy inquired ift the ponds will be fenced in. Mr. Leonard responded they can be with no problem. Mr. Leonard added there is an ongoing traffic study by the NCDOT which includes from Raleigh Rd. to Church St. & Parker St. and he is waiting tol hear back from them but based on the initial results and with the low traffic volume there was no signalization requirements and no proposed road improvements at that time however he did anticipate a turn lane being required at a minimum. With drainage being aj point of concern, there will be stormwater ponds at the outlet with stormwater pipes and inlets to move water into the development and to the south. There are existing underground drain pipes in fields and he suspects there are issues with those pipes. The goal is to be able to pull that water more efficiently into the development storm system and help with some ofthose  drainage issues.  Mr. Leonard explained there are phases for the project with no anticipation to build more than 36 Mr. Leonard and Commissioner Hardy explained that BRL Engineering was representing the developer and not the town for this project therefore the town will get a separate engineer to Commissioner Robertson inquired ift the buffer will be landscaped. Mr. Leonard responded there are no plans to landscape them at that time. On the west side near the Moore property there is not room within the 25 feet to landscape it because there is aj path on the property line which is part of the 25 feet and it will remain aj path, while the south side has existing vegetation that could be retained and to the east is a small portion that doesn't back up to any homeowners. He stressed there is no requirement to landscape the buffers. He stressed again they do intend to build a berm and al landscape buffer along the existing properties that back up to the subdivision or John Shearer, adjacent property owner, inquired ift the sewer lines will run within the buffer or on the outside of the buffer. Mr. Leonard responded it will be outside of the buffer. Tim Purvis, resident at 1814 Old School Rd, inquired if there would be al buffer along Old School Rd. Mr. Leonard responded, yes. Mr. Purvis commented that he realizes a subdivision is coming however his concern is for Four Oaks because the town doesn'thave the resources such as restaurants, grocery stores, or something like a mini mall for all the people coming in. He feels the: resources are needed before the houses and he is depending on the board to make a decision to protect Four Oaks. More houses and people require more police & fire protection.  homes in any given phase throughout the life ofthe subdivision.  review the plans ifapproved and reached that point.  surrounded by the subdivision.    Commissioner Hines inquired if all the interior streets will be developed up front. Mr. Leonard responded, no, the details are still to be worked out. They will not build the entire network of streets for the subdivision but willl build what is needed to build out for the storm drainage not to block off water. Mr. Leonard added that storm drainage is a great concern to deal with the phases and if effected by not extending, they will extend into another phase as needed. Mayor Medlin asked how the board will know that the infrastructure for drainage control will be planned and taken care of, ifapproved. Mr. Leonard responded that as an engineer, these are preliminary designs and he can't design the entire subdivision at this stage because things are subject to change but, like all engineers do, he has anticipated as much as possible at this preliminary stage. After approval, he will submit detailed design plans for review by another engineering firm and There were several residents that spoke up with concerns and Mr. Leonard ("BRL") responded to (1)] Blake Parker - concerned about how the drainage can be controlled when adding concrete and houses giving the water nowhere to go, water already floods the area. He doesn'tsee: any positive outcome with a 300+ homes subdivision. BRL responses - he will be submitting detailed plans that meet Johnston County criteria and the dry stormwater ponds are designed to hold the water until it can be released at a slower intermittent rate unlike the older existing pond (2). Jonathan Raynor, his property/business will be surrounded on 3 sides by the subdivision - he knows growth is coming but encourages wise growth and expressed his concerns: concerned about pets, kids, 4-wheelers, etc. messing up his nursery; nursery traffic issues; it will cause. him added expenses toj put up gates, etc. tol keep unwanted people out ofi nursery; aging sewer system infrastructure concerns; feels should keep to the smart growth concept in certain areas as Land Use Plan indicates because this area is deemed residential agriculture; rapid growth rate and the effects on the town; concern for only one outlet on Hollingsworth Rd.; homes turning into rental homes; his understanding is the HOA doesn'tusually take over until last home is sold in a subdivision; additional traffic; school capacities & strains; and what ift the housing market crashes. BRL responses - because of the number ofl lots the build out is approximately 10 years soi itv will not be immediate; as each phase is build there will be a HOA; and the developer is willing to add fencing around the property surrounding the nursery.; (3) Randy Johnson - asked for the case study # by BRL. BRL - provided engineer project # RKA: Project # 22481 and explained this is a draft until NCDOT approves; (4) Becky Shearer, owner property on the south side or the swamp area, expressed the following concerns - have drainage concerns but thankful for the additional ponds; would like to seea privacy landscape buffer & berm or fence along their property to separate & keep folks off their land; other concerns are overcrowded schools and the effects on kids learning; school carpool lines; & not enough restaurants, grocery stores, etc.; she encouraged larger lot sizes & would like tos see smart growth; & she inquired who the builder is. BRL responses- doesn'trecommend a berm on the low side ofaj property due to the effects on drainage and suggested leaving the 25ft natural with existing vegetation along the Shearer property; confirmed the only landscape berm isa along Jonathan Raynor's property because it backs up tol his business; the target builder is Tony Carroll; and reminded everyone that everything is market determined. Mr. Leonard added rental property is not in the plans and starter homes are typically 1,200 sq ft home while these homes will be 1,600 sq. ft. ranch style homes and 1,800 sq. ft. 2 story homes.;  then address any further concerns that may be found.  most:  that has no outlet structure.;    (5). JoAnn Rhodes - concern about 4-wheelers, horses, etc. going on her mom's 's property & asked ift there could be a fence or something tol help protect her mom's property. BRL-yes, he (6) Elizabeth Isaacs, on Tucker St. = she is a newer resident in town that loves Four Oaks and its (7) Tim Purvis - wants to see nice houses that look nice & clean for Four Oaks and doesn't want Randy Johnson inquired ift the retention ponds will be dependent upon CSX. BRL responded the intent is to minimize the runoff so the culvert will not be overwhelmed. Something will have to be sent to CSX for approval which could add time to the development process. Mayor Medlin suggested that in the HOA, the developer states no rentals. The developer indicated he is willing to add as a clause ift the law will allow fori it. Commissioner Surles stressed the need to make sure the water flows correctly to prevent Commissioner Robertson expressed her concerns & thoughts: (1) the town has approximately 415 homes approved with 74 having been permitted or constructed; (2) we already have school traffic issues plus the schools are already overcrowded & we are talking about bringing in more homes; (3) the board needs tol be smart about the growth and has one opportunity to be smart because one wrong decision will affect us all for the rest ofo our lives, noting that in the Land Use Plan the board chose the smart growth option and we. need to be smart as chosen; (4) suggested the board needs and discuss what we want for the town because this all scares her and isn't the direction she wants the town to goi in; & (5)just 2 months ago the board told a developer we didn't have sewer capacity but now tonight how do wel have enough for a much larger subdivision. Mayor Medlin responded we now have a sewer contract with the County. Commissioner Robertson commended she gets that but said she has spoken with the County and do we really have the sewer capacity right now. She stressed, she has one opportunity to speak her peace and feels the board has tol be smart, she thinks maybe the lots could be bigger because people know growth is coming but they are asking not to have such small lots and that they be attractive. Mayor Medlin commented he agrees but unfortunately the ordinance is currently 12,000 sq. ft. but thinks it needs tol be larger at 15,000 or 18,000 sq. ft. Once get larger than 18,000 sq. ft., there is no advantage because the developer could go out and build on 20,000 sq. ft. lots using septic tanks in the county then we would still have the overcrowded schools and people coming into the town but no additional revenues to service those people. Commissioner Hines expressed concerns about the infrastructure and ift the housing market goes south, we would have a big mess with roads going nowhere. He would like to see: more plans.  thinks SO but up to builder;  rural nature and doesn't want to see it look like other towns.;  to see a development with several cars, chickens, & junk in the back yard.  flooding.  There were no public comments. Mayor Medlin closed the public hearing.  Commissioner Hines asked ifall oft the property was zoned R-A becausel he was thinking some of it was R-6 on the corner. Mrs. Ketchum commented, the best she recalls, all 3 parcels were  rezoned to R-A a couple years ago.    Motion to table the rezoning and subdivision requests by Jones Creek, LLC, petitioner and Terry Lee Clary and H. Edwin Lee, Jr., owners located at 203 Hollingsworth and off Old School Rd. until we can get al little more information on some oft the Boards questions and concerns was made by Commissioner Hines, seconded by Commissioner Surles. Mayor Medlin told Brian Leonard, the engineer, that he would need to get with Commissioner Hines and whomever else to address the concerns then you can come back and look at it next month. Motion passed 3 to1l.  Favor Commissioners Hines, Hardy, & Surles Opposed - Commissioner Robertson  Motion to table the annexation hearing for. Jones Creek, LLC, petitioner and' Terry Lee Clary and H. Edwin Lee, Jr., owners located at 203 Hollingsworth and off Old School Rd., Four Oaks, NC, Parcels # 08H10043, 08H10047A, & 08H10048 due to the rezoning and subdivision applications being tabled was made by Commissioner Hardy, seconded by Commissioner Hines, voting  unanimous. New Business  Adopt 2023 Town Council Regular Meeting Schedule  Clerk Garris presented the 2023 Town Council regular meeting schedule to the Board. All meetings will remain on the 2nd Monday of each month except for Easter Monday in April and it will be on Tuesday, April 11. Motion to approve the 2023 meeting schedule was made by Commissioner Hardy, seconded by Commissioner Surles, voting unanimous.  Mayor's Comments  Mayor Medlin turned the meeting over to Joan Pritchett, Chamber of Commerce Director, reported: (1) we had a fabulous Treel Lighting event and Christmas parade with Santa seeing approximately 105 families; (2) January 26 will be hosting the Chamber's. Annual Membership Appreciation Dinner; & (3) they are working on the events for 2023. Mayor thanked Joan and Mayor Medlin reported: (1) have 5 or 6 applicants for the vacant board seat, the board will be talking to each person, making some recommendations, & hopefully make the appointment in January depending on how things go; & (2). Downtown Streetscape update - bidders have indicated the project is too small or too big SO we are going to expand the scope, rebid, and hopefully get more interest from contractors because we have more grant money to use towards  the Chamber for all they are doing.  the larger scope. Department Reports Police- - Chief Stephen Anderson  Chief Anderson read the monthly police report (attached). ChiefAnderson added the department has al BLET graduate and he will be moving forward with getting him started & trained. Commissioner Robertson reported: (1) thanked JR & Chris for getting the Christmas lights & decorations up; & (2) met with WithersRavenel to get started with the P&R Master Plan which  Parks & Rec and Outreach - Robertson will allow the town to apply for more grants.    Water and Sewer-F Hines  Commissioner Hines highlighted the water and sewer report (attached). Water had revenue of $29,420 and the sewer had revenue of $30,262. The 12-month daily average per gallon was a 1%  loss for water and 12% loss for sewer. Sanitation & Streets  Commissioner Surles reported: (1) streets & sanitation were good; & (2) there are lots ofleaves and the guys are working hard to pick up; & (3) looking to get aj joint garbage bid to help save  money by purchasing in bulk. Finance - Hardy  Commissioner Hardy highlighted the financial report (attached) with total funds of $3,131,881. Commissioner Hardy made ai motion to approve the October payables listed ini the attached report, seconded by Commissioner Surles, voting unanimous. He reported the 2021-2022 audit has been completed and sent to the LGC for approval, and then once approved the auditor will  present to the board hopefully within the next couple months. Mayor Medlin and the Board wished everyone a safe Merry Christmas.  Adjournment  With no further business brought before the Town Council, motion to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. was made by Commissioner Hardy, seconded by Commissioner Hines, voting unanimous.  ATTEST: Martha Town Clerk  Vic Medlin, Mayor h  4400  Garris, NCCMC