Mebane City Council

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June

City Council 06/05/23

• Unified Development Ordinance Updates | Approved

• 1.99-Acre First Source Rentals Expansion | Approved

City Council 06/13/23

• 0.29-Acre Manufacturing to Residential Rezoning | Approved

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First Source Rentals Expansion

Southwest Mebane | 1.99 Acres| Approved

3S Investments has announced an expansion plan for First Source Rentals, led by project head Chad Huffine. The project involves a two-acre plot, previously a residence, now rezoned as B2 (General Business) and situated between an equipment rental, a funeral home, and residential areas.

Approved by the Mebane Technical Review Committee, the detailed project plan includes a special use permit for rental and leasing operations with outdoor storage. Requirements include a 50-foot distance from residential zones, a security fence around the storage area with mesh screening, and maintenance of existing vegetation around most residential boundaries, along with extra shrubs near the parking area and certain street-facing areas.

The City Council has fully endorsed the project, appreciating its segregation of uses, security measures, and considerate landscaping. While its impact on Mebane's real estate market wasn't directly discussed, the project's smooth journey through rezoning suggests a favorable environment for future commercial initiatives that comply with the city's development standards.

Developer: 3S Investments, Henry Edwin Scott

Staff report

Unified Development Ordinance Updates

Citywide

The Unified Development Ordinances discussed at the City Council meeting in Mebane, NC, primarily focused on sign regulations and standards. Here are the key points:

1. Sign Types and Standards: The ordinances clarified the definitions and standards for different types of signs. For instance, a freestanding or pole sign should have some open space between the sign face and the ground, while a ground or monument sign should be comprised of a solid pedestal or some type of side decorative bracing system. The base of the sign support should be at least 75% as wide as the sign face area to prevent the use of a very thick pole as a ground or monument sign.

2. Mural Advertising: The ordinances added the word "primarily" to the definition of a mural to clarify that while a mural is not intended for advertising, it can be used for some form of advertising provided the appropriate permits are obtained.

3. Exempt Temporary Signs: Changes were made to exempt temporary signs to be consistent with recent court cases. The change involved removing signs serving a political purpose to read signs with a noncommercial message.

4. Sign Standards by Sign Type: A new note was added for ground or monument signs and freestanding or pole signs. This note clarified that the city council can offer certain conditions associated with the approval of rezoning and special use requests. These conditions could allow for greater sign height or sign area for a particular type of development.

5. Professional or Occupational Signs: A new standard was added for professional or occupational signs, which are often used for offices like CPAs or attorneys. These signs are not allowed to have illumination, and they may be mounted to a single post in the ground. The maximum sign area for such signs is three square feet.

6. Freestanding or Pole Signs: Changes were made to the standards for freestanding or pole signs. These signs are now permitted in all non-residential zoning districts provided the property has public street frontage and off-street parking. The maximum sign height for such a sign would be six feet, and the maximum sign area would be fifteen square feet. Illumination for this type of sign would only be external.

The council discussed these ordinances in detail, and there was a suggestion to change the word "increases" to "may permit deviations" in one section. The staff recommended adopting the amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance, except for the proposal to reduce sign height and sign area for freestanding or pole signs within 400 feet of the interstate. This particular discussion was deferred for a later public hearing.

St. Lukes Church Rd.

West Mebane | 0.29 Acres | 1 Unit | Approved

The owner, Mr. Adams, presented his plan to build a two-bedroom house with ADA accessibility. The septic system has been approved by the county and town water will be used. The board approved the rezoning request.

Developer: Gerald Adams

Staff report

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