HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0742PUBLIC HEARINGS
Chairman Tice declared the meeting to be in a public hearing.
Consideration of an Economic Development Incentive for an Undisclosed Industry
(Incentive up to $112,800 Over a Five -Year Period): Economic Developer Jeff McKay
introduced James Lestorti, the Chairman and CEO of LesCare Kitchens, Inc., and Tim Longino
(Managing Director). McKay said LesCare Kitchens was a cabinet manufacturer that desired to
locate in the county and utilize the former King ArthurlThonet site. Mr. McKay said the
company proposed to have a first -phase investment of $6 million and employ 60 to 150
individuals. He said the cabinetry work would be "high-tech," and the county's economic
incentive policy would allow the company to receive $I 12,800, over a five year period, due to
the investment. McKay said the company would use the funds to renovate an existing building.
Commissioner Williams asked when the company would begin operations.
Lestorti said his company would like to target the fourth quarter of this year as the
opening time. Mr. Lestorti said that in five years another 500 jobs might be added. He said the
company began in 1945 as a small woodworking facility in Waterbury, Connecticut. Mr.
Lestorti said the company had two major plant facilities with over 400 employees making it the
largest privately held kitchen cabinet manufacturer in the United States.
No one else spoke, and Chairman Tice adjourned the hearing.
OTIO by Commissioner Bowles to approve the economic incentive grant of
$112,800, over a five year period based on a $6 million investment, for LesCare Kitchens, Inc.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Chairman Tice declared the meeting to be in a public hearing and invited the individuals
desiring to speak in reference to Conditional Use Case No. 0204-1 to come to the dais and be
swom in.
Request for Approval of an Amendment to the Land Development Pian Regarding a
Rezoning Request from Ronnie Taylor, an Applicant for the Kathleen Martin Property,
(Case No. 0204-1) from Residential Agricultural to Highway Business Conditional Use
District (Location: 866 W. Memorial Hwy., Harmony, NC): Planning Supervisor Ron Smith
said Kathleen Martin owned property where the applicant, Ronnie Taylor, desired to operate a
refrigeration equipment repair business. Mr. Smith said the proposed site was located
approximately 2,400 feet east of the intersection of Eagle Mills Road and Hwy. 901 (PIN#4862-
70-1966). He said the site was currently vacant, and one of the county's solid waste transfer
stations was on an adjacent property. Smith said Mr. Taylor had worked with the planning staff
to create the following conditions for the business.
1. Use of the property shall be limited to that proposed (light equipment repair with outside
storage and vehicle trailer parking).
2. No billboards shall be permitted on the property.
3. Signage shall be limited to one non -illuminated sign with a maximum sign face of 36
square feet.
4. Roadway landscaping on the front portion of the property will be required. This will be
accomplished either by a row of shrubs or trees at a ratio of 15 per 100 linear feet.
5. Paving of the driveway from the pavement of the road to the right-of-way edge.
Smith said Mr. Taylor desired to put a steel building on the property with a driveway. He
said the daily traffic count on Hwy. 901 was low, and it could accommodate the operations of
the business. Smith said that, initially, the planning staff had concerns about the lack of
commercial development in the area; however, he said the road was a major thoroughfare. Mr.
Smith noted that the transfer station was on an adjacent site, and there was commercial node
located at the intersection. He said the planning board on April 3, 2002, in a vote of 8-2,
recommended approval of the request.