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WHITSETT — The Whitsett Planning Board will recommend new rules on yard appearance and accessory buildings to Town Council.

The board voted to ban uncontrolled growth of weeds or grass more than two feet tall “causing or threatening to cause a hazard detrimental to the public health or safety, have unkempt appearance or to constitute a nuisance.”

The nuisance ordinance also would ban the accumulation of rubbish, furniture, refrigerators, stoves or other appliances that could cause a fire hazard, collect stagnant water or attract rodents or other vermin dangerous to public health.

The board voted to bring Whitsett’s code in line with Guilford County’s by expanding its code on accessory buildings. The town bans sheds, barns and similar structures from frontyard setbacks. New rules would ensure all accessory buildings are behind the front building line of houses. In nonresidential zones, accessory buildings would be permitted in front of the main structure but would have to follow the same street setback as the main building.

The board also had an informal discussion with a real estate agent and landowner about the zoning of a piece of property on one of Whitsett’s main corridors.
Sylvia Edwards is trying to sell her 7.4-acre property on 7210 Burlington Road. Her agent, Richard Jones, and broker Ted Crum told the planning board that the zoning of the property is impeding the sale.
 

About four years ago, the front 400 feet of the property was rezoned commercial, with the rest of the land remaining residential. Recently someone was interested in purchasing the property to use as an automobile storage lot, but banks were not willing to offer a loan because not enough of the property is designated as commercial, Jones and Crum said.
 

They said the petroleum contamination of the well water on the property already makes selling the property difficult, but if more of the property were zoned commercial, it would be easier to find a buyer to use it for a business.
 

Board members said they would look into the possibility of rezoning but have concerns about setting a precedent for other landowners.

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at 373-7088 or jamie.kennedy @news-record.com