smithfieldtimes

 
  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
News

Carrollton housing eyed

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

News editor

Plans for a 162-apartment mixed-use development on what is known as the Norsworthy property is under rezoning review with Isle of Wight Planning and Zoning.

Brewer’s Station also calls for 85,000 square feet of retail space, 34 townhouses and 54 single-family units, according to preliminary plans.

The application is expected to go to the Planning Commission sometime in the summer.

The property was formerly approved in 2005 for 42 single family units and the new application represents a change from that, said Matt Smolnik, assistant director of planning and zoning.

The proposed development located at the intersection of New Towne Haven Lane and Norsworthy Drive along Brewer’s Neck Boulevard in Carrollton.

The developer is also working with the county on plans to build a sidewalk to connect the Carrollton Library and Carrollton Elementary School, Smolnik said.

Already approved in the Carrollton area are 1,509 single-family homes, condominiums, townhouses and apartments, including Red Oaks mobile home park, Benn’s Grant, St. Luke’s Village, The Crossings, Bridge Point Commons and Carrollton Condos.

The Planning Commission recently recommended denial for 208 apartments for the Eagle Harbor Tract 8 site, located along Carrollton Boulevard.

Those plans are expected to go before the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors this month.

Also already approved in the Carrollton area are more than one million square feet of retail, commercial, office and mini-warehouse space, as well as Riverside Medical Center with 30,000 square feet of medical offices and 50,000 square feet of clinical space located at the intersection of Brewers Neck and Benn’s Church boulevards.

All of the developments are located in the Newport Development Service district — an area the county set aside for higher density and commercial development. ...(Subscribe!)

 

County looking at 8-cent hike

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

News editor

The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors continued to pick apart its fiscal 2014 operating budget during a fourth work session Monday.

The Board is considering a maximum real estate tax increase of 8 cents to cover the county’s operating budget and the school budget.

There were varying discussions Monday on why some departments followed the supervisor’s 5 percent budget reduction request and some didn’t.

“It’s not fair,” said Newport Supervisor Buzz Bailey about departments such as the Sheriff’s Office and the schools not following the reduction request.

The Board asked everyone to cut and then it gives some back to other departments, said Chairman JoAnn Hall.

All departments should have to participate in the 5 percent cuts, Hall said.

Carrsville Supervisor Rex Alphin was in favor of yielding to some additional budget requests.

That would prevent departments from coming back in the middle of the year and the Board having to pull from reserves, he said.

“We need to look at realistic expenses,” Alphin said. ...(Subscribe!)

 
 
Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne sits — without eating — each day from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the Surry County Circuit Courthouse. 
 

School officials appeal for more local funding

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

News editor

Teachers and technology were the biggest concerns Thursday during a second public hearing on the Isle of Wight school budget.

And many who spoke were in favor of a tax increase to support needs of the school district.

“I don’t think teachers feel appreciated,” said Smithfield High School student Dane Mosely.

Windsor High School senior Will Wyatt said his teachers’ low morale was due to the “outlandish threats they receive,” such as closing schools and cutting out summer school.

Stephanie Bailey, who heads up the Isle of Wight Education Association, said “teachers feel like toys to be played with and people are playing with them.”

Others asked for technological upgrades, such as increased bandwidth to handle the additional computer traffic.

The Board of Supervisors had asked the School Board to present a flat budget and most of the cuts included kindergarten aides and technological upgrades.

Parents who spoke were also worried that the county’s schools were getting a negative image due to the recent conflict between the School Board and Board of Supervisors.

People choose to move to a community based on its school system, and Isle of Wight can’t afford to have people move elsewhere, said parent Aaron Millikin of Carrolton.

Parent Corey Hearn of Smithfield questioned why instructional jobs were slated for cuts when no change was being made for the “six figure” administrators.

“The budget is heavy on administration and this is where the cuts can be made,” he said.

Neal Johnson of Smithfield advocated for raising taxes, as did School Board member Herb DeGroft, who gave the Board a check for $450 to cover his proposed tax increase.

Windsor Mayor Rita Richardson, who taught for 30 years, also advocated for a tax increase. Richardson was alarmed that the schools were receiving the same amount of money as it had five years ago — despite rising expenses. ...(Subscribe!)

 
  • «
  •  Start 
  •  Prev 
  •  1 
  •  2 
  •  3 
  •  Next 
  •  End 
  • »


Page 1 of 3

Pulse Community Calendar

<<  February 2013  >>
 Mo  Tu  We  Th  Fr  Sa  Su 
      1  2  3
  4  5  6  7  8  910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728   

Like it? Share it!

Featured Advertisers:
to advertise call one of our ad reps