LUMBERTON — The City Council took action Tuesday that could improve the housing situation in Lumberton, particularly for low-income residents.
During the meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall, the council approved rezoning requests to allow the construction of two apartment complexes on Elizabethtown Road, and approved entering into an agreement with state government that clears the way for construction of homes for victims of the recent hurricanes.
The first rezoning request approval was for land on Elizabethtown Road near the intersection with Roberts Avenue. Fred G. Mills Jr. asked that the land be rezoned so he can build a 72-unit complex with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Mills will be seeking tax credits from the state, so all the units will be available to low-income residents whose rent payments would be adjusted to meet their incomes.
Councilmen Chris Howard and John Cantey both praised the idea of housing being available to low-income residents, particularly at a time when two hurricanes have created a need for such housing.
Ricky Ward, who owns a business adjacent to the land on which the complex would be built, stood to challenge the idea.
The land is an area of high crime, he said, adding that his business has been struck more than once by gunfire.
Ward pointed out that the back portion of the land is in a flood plain.
Elizabethtown Road is a high-traffic street that the N.C. Department of Transportation says is used by 10,000 vehicles a day and the intersection with Roberts Avenue is one of the busiest in the city, Ward said.
Councilman John Carroll said placing an upgraded apartment complex there would deter crime.
“We do need good, affordable housing, and if Big Wayne (the late Councilman John Robinson) were here he would approve of the complex,” Carroll said.
The complex would be in Precinct 2, which Robinson represented until his death on Feb. 28.
The council was assured that a traffic study would be conducted at the site and N.C. Department of Transportation recommendations would be followed. Cantey restated his support for the project.
“One hundred kids, that’s what you got to remember, Cantey,” Ward said. “One hundred kids near 10,000 vehicles. One hundred kids with people shooting guns. A good steward would not allow this, and I’m going to hold you accountable.”
No one rose to speak against a rezoning request by MC Morgan & Associates Inc. that would allow the construction of another apartment on Elizabethtown Road. The council approved the request.
The planned 84-unit complex with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments would be built at 3400 Elizabethtown Road. All units in the complex would be available to low-income people.
Victims of hurricanes Matthew and Florence will be eligible to buy the homes planned under the agreement with the state government. The planned 30 units would be offered to people who have participated in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s program in which the federal government buys their damaged or destroyed homes.
The agreement calls for the city to find and then buy land for the homes using money supplied by the state government. The state would then find someone to build the homes.
Buyers can use their FEMA buyout program money and money received from insurance companies. Any difference in the amount of FEMA and insurance money and the home purchase price would be made up through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.
No date was given for when construction might begin.
“We’re just doing the paperwork now,” City Manager Wayne Horne said.
The Rev. Mac Legerton, representing the newly formed Robeson County affordable Housing Coalition, rose to ask the city to help homeowners who have fallen victim to what he called the predatory financial activities of Florida-based Time Out Communities.
The company has bought 21 low- and moderate- income mobile home parks in Robeson County, he said. Seven of them are in Lumberton. He said since then many owners have seen their lot rental fees and utility bills increase dramatically. The situation has caused some owners to move, some out of the county.
The council took no action on Legerton’s request. Cantey asked for a discussion but was stopped by Mayor Bruce Davis.
“We have not met on this to discuss it, and we are not going to get into an argument over it,” Davis said.
The council also approved a conditional-use permit request from Colorado-based Air Methods Corporation for property located at 2391 Roberts Ave. The company wants to house and operate an emergency medical helicopter at the property.
The permit petition also came with a request for an adjustment to the shade tree requirement. Air Methods asked for approval to substitute the large maturing shading trees on the property with small maturing shade trees, for safety reasons. Council approved this request.
Also approved Wednesday was an amendment to the Tanglewood drainage project agreement with the Wooten Company by a not-to-exceed sum of $39,600, which would be paid for using Golden LEAF Foundation money.
The amendment was made necessary because the Tanglewood project is almost ready to bid, said Rob Armstrong, Public Works director. But before it can move ahead the city needs to acquire new easements or enlarge existing easements to accommodate the installation of the proposed pipe. The city’s Legal Department was able to obtain some of the easements. Easements on other parcels are more difficult to obtain because owners of those parcels live out of town.
The Wooten Company proposed using a consultant who charges $4,400 per parcel to help obtain the easements, Armstrong said. There are about nine parcels that may require this service.
In other business, the council approved:
— Offering city employees optional long-term care insurance through the NC League of Municipalities. The insurance comes at no cost to the city.
— The transfer of the Roberts Avenue Rescue property to Lumberton Rescue & EMS, subject to a reverter clause.
— Allowing the Electric Utilities Department to buy two 2019 Nissan Frontier trucks from Fred Anderson Nissan of Raleigh in the amount of $33,022.
— The purchase by the Lumberton Police Department of two vehicles from Performance Dodge in Clinton at an estimated cost of $39,395. The vehicles will replace two “worn out” vehicles in the drug unit.
— The purchase by the Lumberton Police Department of 21 vehicles with an estimated cost of $868,700 on state contract from Performance Dodge in Clinton.
— The purchase by the Public Works Department of a replacement aerator motor/impeller assembly for the Wastewater Treatment Plant from Aerator Solutions for $16,230.
— The purchase by the Public Works Department of a street sweeper for $223,967.40 from Carolina Environmental Systems.
— The purchase by the Public Works of a Case 125 Tractor with side mounted Alamo 22’ Boom Mower from Clinton Truck and Tractor Company Inc. for $136,900.
— Spending $22,290 to elevate a well head out of the flood plain.
