High Point residents who erect metal frame structures with fabric coverings, such as tents and canvas or plastic canopies, and use them as carports or storage facilities will now have to follow certain regulations about where those structures are placed.
The High Point City Council approved an amendment to the city's ordinance defining these structures as residential accessory structures and, just like garages, should be located in the side or rear yard. The size of those structures must also be 50 percent or less of the total area of the home.
A building permit would be needed for those structures that are 12 feet in any dimension.
This amendment also allows temporary structures to be erected up to 14 days. Those temporary structures can be placed anywhere on the property and can be any size as long as those structures are removed after the allotted time period.
The council requested staff to consider such an amendment after some residents complained about persons who erect such structures and used them for permanent storage throughout their yards.
The council also approved an ordinance amendment that prohibits a property owner from seeking a rezoning or special use permit on a piece of property that already has a request before the city's board of appeals. No action can be made on the property until the board of the appeals or a court has made a ruling.
In other action Monday night, the council approved:
- A resolution in support of pending legislation about a proposed congestion relief/intermodal transport fund. The bill would allow Guilford and Forsyth Counties to levy a 0.5 percent sales and use tax. Other counties would be able to levy 0.25 percent. The tax would not be levied on food or medicine, according to the resolution.
- A minor amendment to a conditional use permit that will allow Miracle of Faith Temple of Deliverance to remodel an existing structure on the east side of James Road into a church. The structure was used in the past as a daycare center. Without the amendment, the church would have been required to construct a sidewalk and close one of its two accesses.
- An appointment of Donna Jeffers-Brown to the parks and recreation commission.
- Contracts for $1.38 million to Rehrig Pacific Company for 36,000 95-gallon recycling carts, $1.67 million to Davis Grading for the Northwest Water System improvements and $907,364 for four side loading refuse trucks and $367,916 for used side loading trucks to Amick Equipment Company. The council approved a resolution that authorizes the city to reimburse itself for expenditures associated with the new refuse collection equipment from the lease-purchase proceeds.
- A contract amendment of $295,105 to an agreement with Regional Site Solutions to complete the Kivett Drive Gateway Project. This brings the total project to $1.99 million. The project entails new sidewalks and roadway improvements in various locations throughout the city. The additional funding will allow the contractor to construct intersection improvements along Kivett Drive, which were originally included in the project design but were removed due to budget concerns.
- An ordinance to demolish a structure at 618 Cable Street. Property Owner Teresa Thomas has 60 days to bring the home up to code before the home is demolished.
Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com