China Grove landowner says billboard not in plan

CHINA GROVE — A man who asked the Town Council to rezone his property along Interstate 85 said he has no plans to put up a billboard.
But Billy Mack Deal said he’s now considering a hog farm.
Deal, who lives on Mary Street, said the suggestion that he wanted to change his zoning — from residential to industrial — to put up a billboard is a “pack of lies.”
Deal said today he may withdraw his request for rezoning and look into putting a in a hog farm. “I can stink up the whole town,” said Deal.
He blasted the council, saying that if they paid attention, they would see the property wouldn’t qualify for a billboard. He pointed out he has 670 feet of road frontage, and China Grove requires 1,000 feet of spacing for billboards.
An existing sign on the Sarah Antonelli property is adjacent to his tract, blocking his property from qualifying for a sign.
Antonelli also has asked the council to rezone her land from residential to industrial.
Deal and Antonelli have approximately 15 acres along I-85 between Lentz and Pine Ridge roads that is zoned rural residential and rural suburban. The property immediately north is zoned industrial.
Councilmen John Miller and Vernon Johnson raised the billboard issue, saying the town needs to protect its limited interstate area. They pointed to a previous rezoning where they were told it was not about billboards but ended up with billboards.
Miller raised questions about the elevation of the property, which borders Cold Water Creek.
Deal said he has additional acreage along the interstate and it’s virtually all buildable property.
Deal said he did not attend the public hearing after calling Town Planner Robert Van Geons at Benchmark on Tuesday. Van Geons indicated there shouldn’t be any problems, he said.
The Planning Board and Van Geons had recommended that the council approve the two rezoning requests.
Van Geons and county planners have said that the best use of property along I-85 is industrial or commercial. In a memo to the council, Van Geons pointed out that rezoning would add to “the already existing, development-friendly corridor currently located along sections of Interstate 85.”
The county is in the process of revamping zoning districts along I-85 and U.S. 29 from Salisbury to China Grove’s extra territorial jurisdiction.
“I’m sick and tired of China Grove,” said Deal. But as a resident of the extraterritorial jurisdiction, he has no say on who gets elected, he pointed out.
Deal has been vocal opponent of the town’s annexation plans in the past.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com.