Moore: Southern Pines renames park, increases fees, and approves developments

During the July 22 meeting, the Town of Southern Pines renamed Pool Park on Hensley Street to J. Pleasant Hines Park to honor West Southern Pines’ first mayor and changed the pool’s name at 735 S. Stephens Street to Joe R. Wynn Pool to honor a swim coach.

The name changes followed community outreach with positive reviews.

Town leaders suggested adding signs or displays at the park to tell the story of Joe Wynn, the first lifeguard and swim coach, and the story of the Honey Bees Little League team.

Planning Department Fee Increases

The Town adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 32, Section 32.046, to raise fees on planning, zoning, and development. The changes followed proper public notice and a hearing, with notice posted both online and at town offices.

Planning Director BJ Grieve said the planning board provides payable services, and the current recovery of costs is under 50% and the increase will cover 60% of cost.

Board of Adjustment – Variance: $610

Board of Adjustment – Appeal of Administrative Decision: $610

Architectural Review – Town Council: $370

Architectural Review – Staff: $120

Special Use Permit: $1,840

Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat: $1,840

Additional fee per lot: $30

Zoning Map Amendment: $1,840

Conditional Zoning District Map Amendment: $1,840¹

Planned Development District – Conceptual Development Plan: $2,210

Planned Development District – Preliminary Development Plan: $2,210

Additional fee per lot with plat: $30

Planned Development District – Final Development Plan: $610

Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment: $1,230

Comprehensive Plan Amendment: $920

Subdivision Review – Minor Final Plat: $180

Subdivision Review – Major Final Plat: $180

Additional fee per lot: $30

Subdivision Performance Guarantee: $170

Exempt Survey: $30

Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness – Major Works: $300

Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness – Minor Works: $60

Zoning Permit²: $60

Site Plan Review – Major (1 acre or more): $2,460

Site Plan Review – Minor (1 acre or less): $610

Site Plan Re-Review – Major³: $610

Site Plan Re-Review – Minor³: $180

¹The administrative fee is reduced by 50% for projects in Character District overlay zones, which is downtown and West Southern Pines to show the use of conditional zoning is important to the town, according to Grieve.

²Fee includes zoning compliance reviews for building permits and various permits (e.g., fences, signs, events, food vendors).

³Re-review fees apply beginning with the third submittal if the third is not approved.

Hale Street Cottages

The board approved Hale Street Cottages’ zoning request and preliminary plat because it met all five criteria required under the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for major subdivision preliminary plats.

The Town rezoned five parcels in between SW Service Road and S. Hale Street from Office/Service (OS) to Residential Mixed Housing Conditional Zoning District (RM-1CD).

Trevor Hansen of Koontz Jones Design PLLC, represented Moore HL Properties Inc., and submitted the request for a major subdivision preliminary plat to divide 2.86 acres into 16 lots: 12 single-family lots (each about 0.04 acres), three four-family lots (each about 0.08 acres), and one common area lot (2.17 acres).

Comprehensive Plan Consistency

Planner James Broadwell reviewed the proposal in a legislative hearing and said the project showed balance.

“They will have detached garages in the rear…Zero parking on Hale Street…and each house will have two parking spaces,” Travis Greene, owner of Legacy Construction and managing director of Moore HL Properties Inc said about traffic being on Service Road. “We want this to look and feel like it was built and we came in and remodeled it.”

The HOA language did not address the possibility of purchasing and using for short-term rentals, but Greene said he would consider adding the language.

See an image of the property on page five here.

The proposal aligned with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan by supporting “missing-middle” housing and preserving natural character.

The subdivision complied with UDO regulations, including buffer and stormwater requirements.

Though the project proposed slightly higher density, staff determined the lot dimensions, access plans, and separation distances were compatible with surrounding land uses.

Based on the Technical Review Committee analysis, staff concluded that safety and use of neighboring properties would not be negatively affected. A 20-foot-wide access easement ensured fire and emergency vehicle access throughout the site.

Murray Hill Road Townhomes

The Town asked the developer to gather more information on the 2.06 acres major subdivision and return Aug. 12 for a review before voting on the preliminary plat.

Mr. Paul Saathoff of Koontz Jones Design, PLLC, on behalf of On Your Lot, Inc. (Value Build Homes), submitted a Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat application to the Town of Southern Pines Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), asking to subdivide the two parent tracts into 20 townhomes and one single-family dwelling.

Tommy’s Car Wash

After a quasi-judicial hearing, the Town of Southern Pines approved a preliminary development plan for Tommy’s Car Wash in Morganton Park South.

Bob Koontz, on behalf of Carolina Car Wash, LLC, submitted the plan to develop an express car wash on approximately 1.84 acres along the south side of Morganton Road, between Patriot Boulevard and Carolina Green Parkway.

July 23, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers