Commission agrees to renew property option

The Alleghany Board of Commissioners voted to extend the Blevins property option for 90 more days during their joint meeting at the county office with the Alleghany Board of Education March 22.

The option includes a home and piece of land, owned by Harrol Blevins and others, located at 528 N. Main St. The first option on the property was approved tentatively by the Board of Education on Dec. 28, 2004 for $3,250. That amount is 5 percent of the sale price of $65,000. The money paid toward the option will be applied to the purchase price, assuming that the boards agree to move ahead with the deal before the extended option expires. Thus far, 10 percent of the price, or $6,500, has been paid.

The commissioners voiced concerns that school officials had not investigated whether or not there are environmental and zoning problems with the property.

County Manager Don Adams was instructed to talk with Town Manager Bryan Edwards about any potential zoning problems with the Blevins property, which is currently zoned neighborhood business.

The town manager said Tuesday there were no zoning problems with the property surrounding school. In fact, the land on which Sparta School is located is zoned residential. “The tracts that adjoin the school could be used for any school expansion needs,” said Edwards. “No change of zoning district or variance is necessary for what they propose to do there.”

In addition, no specific environmental concerns have been identified by school or county personnel.

At the meeting last week, Frank Williams and Randy Baker, architects with Pinnacle Architectural Firm of Matthews were available to assist by providing drawings and answer the boards’ questions.

“I’ve talked to Duane (Davis) several times of getting a right-of-way across the top of the property,” Williams said. “We could put a road in and connect this other road, which would really open the traffic up. Right now, getting in and out, it’s a maze of roads.” If the property is purchased, the architect noted that the existing road, Charles Street, could then be moved to the north, allowing room for a new playing field.

One item of concern is Charles Street’s proximity to the school, due to safety concerns. The public street is only feet from the the back exit of Sparta School, which also serves as the entrance for the SES auditorium.

Putting in a piece of advice, Williams told the boards, “Any time a piece of adjacent land becomes available, buy it, because you’ll need it sooner or later.”

Superintendent Duane Davis commented that he spoke with Town Manager Bryan Edwards about relocation of the roads over the Blevins property.

“He was very interested in doing that because he’s concerned about the safety of Charles Street, especially when it comes around the gym up there,” Davis said. “You go around a blind curve and the kids go around the playground all the time.”

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon asked Davis if Edwards indicated that rezoning would be necessary, to which Davis said Edwards did not mention it.

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