YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
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APRIL 23-29, 2025 Vol 47 No 17 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
Planning Board hears rezoning request A rezoning request was on the agenda for the Jamestown Planning Board meeting on April 13. The request by True Homes is for 5125 R1 Atwater Dr., a wooded, 18.02-acre parcel of land located between the Fox Hollow subdivision along Adams Farm Parkway and the new D.R. Horton development along Mackay Road. This is on the edge of Jamestown’s town limits. The site is currently zoned Agricultural (AG) but True Homes requests the change to Conditional
Zoning-Single Family Residential (CS-SFR) to construct 73 detached homes, the maximum allowed by Jamestown. That equates to approximately 4.1 homes per acre, with a minimum of 10 feet between buildings. Adjacent land uses include Single Family Residential, Agricultural including Residential and Single Family, and Conditional ZoningPlanned Use Development (D.R. Horton). A portion of the Town’s Land Development Ordinance 8.3(C) describes CZ-SFR as “The SingleFamily Residential District (SFR) provides for the completion of existing residential neighborhoods
COMPILed By nORMa B. dennIs and CaROL BROOKs YARD SALE/PLANT SALE Sedgefield Presbyterian Church, 4216 Wayne Road in Greensboro, will host a yard/plant sale May 1 and 2 from noon to 8 p.m. and on May 3 from 7 a.m. to noon. Items will be half price on Saturday. In addition to plants, the event will include gently used household goods, furniture, toys and more. Shop and save while supporting the church’s ministry. FIRST THURSDAY HISTORY: “ONE LAND: THREE LANDMARKS” Author Shelly Lutzweiler’s new book “One Land: Three Landmarks The Iddings House, TB Sanatorium and GTCC” chronicles the same property on East Main Street as it progressed from farmland to a tuberculosis hospital to Guilford Technical Community College is the topic of the next First Thursday History Program May 1 at 6:30 at the Jamestown Public Library. Lutzweiler’s unique knowledge of the property comes from 31 years of teaching at the school and personal interviews. The program is free. PLANT SALE If you are thinking about beautifying your home for spring, now you can buy what you need and help the ministries that help people in need. Lutheran Church of Our Father, 3304 Groometown Road, Greensboro, will sell outdoor and indoor plants on May 3 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and May 4 from noon to 2 p.m. The church will have annuals, perennials, herbs, houseplants, vegetables, a few hanging baskets and more. Many of the plants have been grown from seeds. Since “leftovers” are not wanted, everything will be priced to sell. Money raised will support church ministries including the youth, the food pantry and other projects. REDEDICATION Renovations are completed on the sanctuary and Sedgefield Presbyterian Church will host a rededication service May 18 during the 11 a.m. morning worship. The church is located at 4216 Wayne Road in Greensboro. The community is invited to attend. BLOOD DONATIONS SAVE LIVES During National Volunteer Month, the American Red Cross asks donors to help keep the blood supply stable by making an appointment to give blood or platelets now. All blood types are important, but Type O blood and platelets are especially needed to ensure hospitals are see aBOUT TOWn, PAGE 6
and the development of new residential neighborhoods in a pattern that encourages the wise use of land. Neighborhoods in this district are the dominant land use in Jamestown and are a major element in defining the character of the community.” Jeff Guernier, a market partner with True Homes, addressed the Planning Board. The company, located in Monroe, N.C., recently completed Boulding Branch Estates in High Point. The one- or two-car homes would be available in several designs from which the purchaser may choose. see ReZOnInG, PAGE 2
Council, Planning Nominations for 2025 preservation oppose bills at Raleigh State House award due May 1 By CaROL BROOKs FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com Would you want to live in a state that has such control over your life that a multi-story commercial building could be built in your quiet neighborhood? That is one possibility of one of the bills currently under discussion at the N.C. State House in Raleigh. The Jamestown Planning Board on April 14 and the Town Council on April 15 each approved opposing several North Carolina Senate and House bills. The Council approved a resolution to the N.C. House. These bills give control of local planning and zoning to Raleigh, rather than individual municipalities. The bills are Senate 314, 493, 495, 497, 499, 688, 713 and 758 and House 626, 627, 661 and 765. Jamestown’s resolution states these bills “propose significant alterations to local planning and zoning authority, as well as municipal oversight of development within their jurisdiction, thereby impacting the ability of local governments to represent the interests and will of their citizens. “Local governments have historically served as the primary guardians of the rights of their residents, facilitating in-person attendance and public comment on zoning decisions through established Public Hearing Processes, thus ensuring that citizens can actively participate in matters affecting their communities.” There are several properties
By CaROL BROOKs FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com
in the Jamestown area currently undergoing development, one of which is purported to eventually double the existing population. Some of these proposed bills could limit growth in the town as well as prevent local governments ability to create zoning regulations that comply with needs of the community. One of the bills wants to eliminate extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) authority. Without this authority, how could cities manage growth effectively and provide for residents in developing areas. Current ETJ representatives could not sit on the Planning Board and have a voice in the process. The resolution continues, “Senate Bill 497 creates a new category identified as ‘middle housing,’ which would require local municipalities to permit duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, and townhouse units in single-family residential districts without public hearings and without consideration of the potential impact on neighboring property values.” Imagine what would happen if the public was not given the opportunity to voice their opinion. “House Bill 626 would allow multi-family dwellings in all residentially-zoned districts and waive construction fees for low or moderate-income housing, establish a minimum gross density of four units per acre across all residentially zoned districts, among other regulations.” Several recent Planning Board zoning discussions have centered on having too many
By CaROL BROOKs FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com The Historic Jamestown Society is again accepting applications for the Mary A. Browning Historic Preservation Award. Do you know a person or a group of people who have contributed to the history of Jamestown that you would like to nominate? Eligibility rules are simple: Candidates are not required to be Jamestown citizens and nominations for posthumous awards will be considered. The contributions of all nominees must be directly related to the preservation, interpretation or research of Jamestown history.
Selection will be based on significance, quality, leadership, impact, performance and dedication. Categories include Archeology, Education and Outreach, Lifetime Achievement, Heritage Interpretation, Research, Documentation/Survey Work, Activism/Advocacy, Structural Preservation/Restoration, Archival Activities, or other. A nomination form is available at the Mendenhall Homeplace, 603 W. Main St., and on the website, www.mendenhallhomeplace.com. Mail your nomination to Historic Jamestown Society, P.O. Box 512, Jamessee aWaRd, PAGE 2 File Photo
Mary Browning
see BILLs, PAGE 6
Council tackles issues
Sheriff’s Office Recently the Jamestown Town Council requested monthly reports from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. Captain Powell, of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office District 3 Jamestown office, gave the first report April 15 and spoke about statistics from March. “Jamestown is pretty low crime but we had four shopliftings in March. We’re working with Food Lion and Dollar General to prevent that. “We had two thefts of property from a residence that were not burglaries. And there were other various reports like frauds, found property, narcotic violations. “Our average response time [from when the call comes in] is 7.33 minutes. We’re working to keep that low. The reaction time is 4 minutes, 17 seconds. That is when we get the call.” Powell reminded everyone to lock their
cars and leave valuables at home. She said there was some fraud going around about the department. Most of these were phone calls saying they were calling from the Sheriff’s Office and claiming they would release an inmate in exchange for payment. “The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office won’t ever call and ask you for anything,” Powell said. “If you question it, you can always call our office.” Lobbyist hired The Council unanimously approved a contract with New Frame, Inc. to work in Jamestown’s interest on any proposed legislation. “Lobbyists closely monitor proposed legislation, budget developments and regulatory changes that impact municipalities like Jamestown,” said Town Manager Matthew Johnson. “They can provide early warning about risks or opportunities, allowing the Town to respond swiftly and strategically. “The Town will be working to renovate/ replace Fire Station 46. Station 46 is owned by the Town and Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire
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Department operates from this facility under our contract. The station is no longer capable of meeting the mission of the fire department and there are numerous challenges that hinder the safety of personnel stationed there. “The replacement of this facility will be costly and it is our hope that a lobbying firm may identify financial opportunities at the State level through grants or other means which would benefit the citizens of Jamestown. “Additionally, as legislation moves through the General Assembly each session, the Town feels that it would be beneficial to have a firm which is proactively monitoring and advocating for the Town in Raleigh and/ or Washington, D.C. “The firm selected (New Frame, Inc.) would be able to work directly with the Town Council each year to craft a specific legislative agenda which it would then use to strategically guide their work with our legislators, thus benefiting our citizens.” see IssUes, PAGE 2
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By CaROL BROOKs FREELANCE WRITER cab1hp@gmail.com