Commissioners approve 11-lot subdivision, golf-cart shop and restaurant permits

At its April 6 meeting the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved three land-use items following staff presentations and brief public participation.

PA-65: 11-lot subdivision — Staff described a preliminary plat for John and Karen Wilson for an 11-lot single-family subdivision on an 11.67-acre parcel in the RT district in Howards Creek Township. The parcel is in the WS-4 protected area of the Catawba South Fork watershed; staff and the applicant said the proposal is well under the maximum density for the watershed and will use individual wells and septic systems. Neighbor Gail Bowles asked about home sizes, prices, timing and maintenance; applicant John Wilson said he expected prices in the mid-$300,000s to mid-$400,000s and most homes to be ranch-style at a minimum of about 1,400 sq ft. The board approved PA-65 after the applicant incorporated proposed findings of fact.

SUP-531: Botero Carts — The board approved a special-use permit for Botero Carts (applicant Ashley Botero) to operate an indoor electric golf-cart sales, service and customization business at 4857 North NC-16 Business Highway. Staff emphasized the request included no outdoor display and that marked parking spaces on the plan were customer parking. Botero described the business as low-intensity with scheduled appointments and no anticipated major traffic increases.

SUP-532: Restaurant — The board approved a request for a restaurant (applicant Dewey Hal Lu) on a 1.01-acre parcel in the East Lincoln development district. Staff reported a 34 peak-hour-trip estimate using the ITE manual; a traffic impact analysis was not required under the current thresholds for the proposal. The applicant said the use would be a Chinese restaurant, the applicant's first in Lincoln County and part of a small local chain.

All three items were approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the meeting record.

Speakers quoted: "All the densities and all the requirements that are on the plans are well within the limits of the guidelines of the UDO and also the land use plan," said John Wilson. "My business is primarily focused on sales, maintenance, customization of electric carts," said Ashley Botero.