BY MILES LAYTON
Edenton Town Council is poised to have a busy night on Tuesday.
Council will discuss blight/condemnation of derelict properties, the Harbor Town lease and perhaps appoint someone to serve as a member of the prestigious/very important Edenton Preservation Commission.
Mark your calendars for 6 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers.
Worth noting with the Albemarle Observer, our readers don’t have to wait a week or more for dead tree media to publish a story about this or any other meeting.
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First up — Town Hall cited nine properties that need repair and appear to be on the chopping block for condemnation or removal for violating the Town’s housing ordinances.
Though it is public record, the Albemarle Observer is withholding the property owners’ names to preserve their dignity and because we have faith that things will work out, but you know who you are and what you need to do.
That said, these properties, old houses that are familiar to folks who walk Edenton’s streets for each evening’s exercise, well… there’s no denying they need a bit of work to bring them up to code:
• 1318 Paradise Road
• 203 Dr. MLK Jr. Ave.
• 112 E. Queen Street
• 121 W. Peterson Street
• 202 E. Gale Street
• 204 E Gale Street
• 303 E Church Street
• 513 Coke Ave.
• 724 Dr. MLK Jr Ave.
In other news, the council will discuss the Harbor Town’s lease that began Jan. 1 for 2,000 square feet of space at $125 per month for a one-year lease agreement between the Town and Harbor Towns Cruises for 500 S. Broad St.
Worth noting in case anyone is wondering, since this space is in the old Chamber building where the council meets — The space designated as “Council Chambers is not included in the “Leased Premises” subject to Lessee’s exclusive possession, but subject to availability, Lessor will make the same available to Lessee for events and needs so long as those functions do not interfere with Lessor’s use for operations, meetings and other functions. Lessor will maintain a master calendar for the Council Chambers regarding its use and by whom, according to the lease.
A little background — late last year, a five-year lease agreement was originally proposed, but it was changed to one year.
Several council members, including Mayor Hackney High, questioned the low rental cost during a special council meeting in November.
Town Manage Corey Gooden noted that the lease agreement was based on the Town’s previous arrangement with the Edenton Chowan Partnership and Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce.
Council Member Aaron Coston, 3rd Ward, noted that private entities can’t find a place in Edenton at $125 a month. “I’m sorry, I just can’t wrap my head about this” Coston said at the November meeting.
Mayor High noted that he shares Coston’s concern but feels better about a one-year lease.
“It is someone that we’re partnering with,” he said of Harbor Town Cruises. “I’m also aware that substantial funds from this group are gonna come in the form of $2 million to help refurbish and do some projects here on our waterfront. So with that in mind, and the fact that it’s a one-year lease, and we can maybe take a look at their financials for year two through five, I feel better about it than I did before.”
In other business, the council is poised to appoint someone to serve on the Edenton Preservation Commission, which seeks to safeguard the integrity of the Edenton Historic District by ensuring that property within the district is treated consistently with the special character of the district. One of the most useful functions performed by the Edenton Preservation Commission is to encourage property owners to plan sensitively and carefully the changes they choose to make to their property. In other words, you don’t want to build a fence on West King Street without the Commission’s blessing.
Commission candidates (in alphabetical order) are Gay Chatham, Hal Murray and Wade Rogers.
Chatham – well, most folks around here know her, but here is a brief bio if you’re new to the area. Chatham is very active in historical preservation and is a member of the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation, which aims to maintain and preserve historical sites and buildings in Edenton. The organization focuses on historical societies and preservation efforts. Chatham served with distinction as Regent for the Edenton Tea Party chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution – a very prominent group — she is active with the Cupola House folks and with giving hospitality tours.
Murray — look at this – nice – he has a PhD in chemistry – very smart guy – retired after 28 years with Exxon’s Research and Engineering Department. He not only attends council meetings, but Edenton Preservation Commission meetings. Murray is a noted sailor – Edenton Yacht Club.
Rogers’ application says he’ll be moving, maybe already has, to Edenton – East Church Street – in 2025. Employed at Andrew Ownbey Restoration, Rogers was chairman of Bath’s Historic Committee and served on the Board of the Historic Bath Foundation.
In other matters, the Edenton Woman’s Club is poised to give a report about the Pilgrimage of Homes — an amazing tour through the heart of historic Edenton and the surrounding countryside, highlighting prime examples of beautiful homes.
Lastly, if you folks are still reading – there’s this: Council will consider an application for a text amendment from Caroline Small, who would like to subdivide family farmland to build a single-family residence.
Currently, the Unified Development Ordinance does not allow lot sizes and square feet in the Residential Agriculture, RA district to be under 5 acres or lot widths to be less than 250 feet.
Article IX of the Town’s UDO, Zoning Districts and Maps, defines the RA, Residential Agriculture district “as a district in which the principal use of land is for very low-density, single-family residential and agricultural
purposes (1 dwelling unit per 5 acres). The regulations of this district are intended to protect prime agricultural land, as defined by the Soil Conservation Service, from an influx of users likely to render it undesirable for farms and low-density residential development.”