Town forgives $48K from ABC Board

YOUNGSVILLE — The Youngsville Board of Commissioners on Feb. 11 unanimously forgave a $48,000 debt from the Youngsville Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The town’s management and services agreement expired with the ABC board in June 2020. That agreement required the ABC board to provide the town any additional profit it made over the 20% required by state law.

Now, the ABC board is considering opening a store at the Youngsville Shopping Center on Capital Boulevard and would like to use that profit to purchase inventory and equipment. This will increase the revenue of the store, which will increase the amount of money it gives the town, said Town Manager Phil Cordeiro.

Charter school appeals Wake Forest’s decision

WAKE FOREST — Wake Preparatory Academy appealed the town of Wake Forest’s denial of its site plan to the Wake County Superior Court.

The proposed K-12 charter school was denied in October 2020 because the Board of Commissioners felt its site plan wasn’t consistent with town policies or the unified development ordinance. The motion to deny cited six policies the board felt weren’t met.

“Although we have met challenges along the way, we remain steadfast to opening the school in the fall of 2022,” the school said in an online statement.

The school hopes to receive a decision by late spring, it added.

The Board of Commissioners were scheduled to discuss the appeal during a closed session Tuesday, but took no action afterward.

Zebulon Historic District tabled until June

ZEBULON — The proposed Zebulon Historic District won’t be discussed by the National Registry Advisory Committee until June 10.

The advisory committee voted unanimously to table the decision at its Feb. 11 meeting.

Historical Resources Director Ramona Bartos informed the advisory committee that the town of Zebulon sent a resolution asking for the motion to be tabled. She also said N.C. Sen. Sarah Crawford and N.C. Rep. James Roberson both asked for the motion to be tabled as well. The Wake County Historic Preservation also endorsed the resolution, Bartos said.

Sarah David with the State Historic Preservation Office said they had received several letters of support, including 14 letters the day of the meeting.

The Zebulon Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Feb. 1 asking for a decision to be deferred so the town could analyze how the proposed district would affect town policies. According to Bartos, a local architect also asked for the boundary to be reconsidered.

Traditions Grande nursing facility OK’d

WAKE FOREST — The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the major subdivision plan for Traditions Grande Care Facility Tuesday night.

The plan divides 14 acres on Gilcrest Farm Road, just east of Flaherty Park, into two lots. The area is mostly wooded and is zoned residential mixed use. The care facility is planned as an 84-room nursing home.

The planning board recommended denying the plan in a split vote Feb. 2.

Commissioner Chad Sary made a motion to approve the subdivision, which failed due to a second.

Sary told the board that he was voting for the plan because it met the town’s unified development ordinance. He added that the future use of the site didn’t enter into his decision because that wasn’t what was in front of the board.

He made a second motion, which Commissioner Jim Dyer seconded. It passed unanimously.

Street improvements to cost $1.15M

WENDELL — The town accepted $255,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from Wake County at its Monday meeting.

The funds will help implement the Neighborhood Improvement Program in the neighborhood just west of downtown, according to Planning Director Niki Jones.

The project is estimated to cost $1.15 million with Wendell being responsible the remaining $888,000.

The project will add new sidewalks in the neighborhood, also called Zone 1, to create connections with existing sidewalks. The town will also upgrade accessibility at intersections, such as by cutting curbs, to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

New curbs and gutters will be installed along parts of West Academy Street, which will also be resurfaced in some areas, Jones said.

Construction should begin in the first quarter of 2022, he said.

Cooper appoints Everitt to committee

RALEIGH — N.C. Rep. Terence J. Everitt was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Performance Management. Gov. Roy Cooper announced the appointment Tuesday.

The committee advises the governor about new performance management initiatives; proposed or pending state legislation; rules or policies related to performance management and strategies for increasing evidence-based policy efforts.

Everitt represents District 35 in the N.C. House of Representatives. He also has his own law practice in Wake Forest, where he works on behalf of other small businesses. He’s also a member of the Board of Directors for the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce.

Government Notebook is a roundup of local government news from reporter Amber Revels-Stocks. Contact her at arevels@wakeweekly.com.