Staff Writer

The Elizabethtown Town Council Wednesday proposed a highly restrictive list of approved development along the N.C. 87 Bypass.

The action came at a special called meeting of the board. A three-month moratorium on bypass development was approved at the council's regular board meeting March 5. Town Manager David Smitherman said he hopes the board can have the new plan completed and ready for review by the planning board by May.

The proposed Corridor District includes areas zoned C-1 along the N.C. 87 Bypass. The majority of the area is primarily zoned to allow agricultural usage, but some areas were previously zoned for commercial development.

Under the proposed new guidelines, large and medium retail stores-like department stores, grocery stores and auto parts houses-banks, pharmacies, retail furniture stores, hardware and building supply stores, medical offices and most types of service businesses would not be allowed.

"Generally speaking," Smitherman said, "the majority of retail uses currently allowed in areas zoned C-1 would not be allowed in the corridor area."

Around 85 types of businesses and buildings will be allowed under the proposed Corridor District plan.

Convenience stores and enclosed auto repair shops would be allowed under the proposal. Automobile dealers would be permitted, as well as hotels, motels and restaurants. Laundries, mobile home dealers, photo shops, restaurants, drive-ins, and a number of trade service enterprises such as sheet metal shops and office equipment and repair shops would be allowed.

Drive-in theaters, amusement parks, some kinds of storage businesses and planned commercial developments like office complexes would be allowed with a special use permit.

"Council examined the table of uses for C-1 zoning and worked out what they thought would be best kept off the bypass," Smitherman said. "We hope we can have this finished with thirty days to spare on our time limit."

The moratorium was first discussed at a town council retreat earlier this year. Numerous citizens and business owners turned out for the April 5 meeting in opposition to the move.

Commissioners took no official action on the move Wednesday. The meeting was adjourned until Monday, when commissioners will continue discussing the proposal

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