Sanford unveils Project SOL project proposal and more developments

Applicant Brent Donner, a civil engineer from Kansas, requested approval for STERIS Corporation to construct and operate a 616,160 square foot medical-production facility in Sanford’s ETJ at Helix Innovation Park at the Brickyard off Hawkins Avenue.

Vice President of Strategic Optimization at STERIS Corporation, Greg Meunier of Ohio, is the property owner.

The 76-acre site does not need to be rezoned. A portion of the property is in a flood zone and is part of a watershed. It has existing water, sewer and streets.

Donner described the project as industrial, with manufacturing and distribution, with a rail spur.

This facility site requires subdivision from the parent tract and spine road for city maintenance.

The site is designated for industrial manufacturing of “Chemicals, plastics, and rubber products.”

The site is zoned as the Helix Innovation Park at the Brickyard Conditional Zoning District, which was approved by City Council in Aug. 2023. The conditional zoning district permits all current heavy and light industrial and LI uses with some specific exclusions, like animal slaughter, concrete plants, junkyards and landfills. So, the land use is permitted by right in this zoning district.

The next steps for this project are to record a final plat for the completion of the roadway and new parcel for this site, and once approval is issued, submit for building permits.

With a focus on infection prevention, sterilization, surgery, laboratories, and life sciences, STERIS delivers essential products and services to hospitals, surgery centers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device companies, research laboratories, and a broad spectrum of healthcare providers.

Central Carolina Community College offers custom training for the medical industry.

Read Sanford approves $11M incentive for $600M medical project, advances Tramway growth toward Bruce Coggins Road for further details.

Junior’s Tires on Jefferson Davis Highway applied for approval to relocate its building because the North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to widen roads along U.S. Highway 1 in Tramway.

The existing auto repair shop was built in 1942 as a retail space and must be demolished as part of the right-of-way acquisition. The existing property is currently zoned RA, so the business is legal existing nonconforming since RA doesn’t permit auto repair businesses, but since the building and its commercial use pre-date zoning, Community Development staff will honor the grandfathered vested rights of the property owner.

The property does not need to be rezoned. If the project is approved, the owners will need to apply for building permits next. It has existing water, sewer and streets.

Site Engineer Jeremy Thomas requested approval for John Cooper’s business, Cooper & Associates, to develop a 17,700 square foot project. The owner plans Cooper Equipment with a building for offices, equipment rental, sales, and service with additional parking, drives and a gravel storage area on 6.91 acres at 1803 Keller Andrews Road.

Site Engineer Jeremy Thomas applied for property owner Richard Noel of Sanford to construct a 4,800 square foot commercial building with driveways and parking at 1925 Keller Andrews Road.

The site has existing public water, private sewer and city streets.

The proposed project would act as a replacement building for the existing structure that burned down several years ago.

The project is flexible tenant space for an unknown user. The site’s current zoning is C2 general commercial.

If approved, the applicant must apply for building permits.

Aug. 7, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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