AHOSKIE – The residential area of Ahoskie has increased by nearly three acres.

That fact was determined here Tuesday where, at their regularly scheduled meeting, members of the Ahoskie Town Council voted unanimously to approve a rezoning request made by Samuel J. &uot;Sam&uot; Farmer.

Farmer proposed rezoning a 2.76-acre strip of his property, located at the corner of Malibu Drive and North Catherine Creek Road, from B-2 (Neighborhood Business) to R-6 (Residential). That property is located in the Malibu subdivision.

Interim Town Manager Evelyn Howard informed Council members that Farmer’s property was first zoned as a Neighborhood Business area when the subdivision was first created.

&uot;The original plans some 20 years ago called for an area within the subdivision that could be used for a community store, or to house a barber shop or beauty salon,&uot; said Howard. &uot;That plan never came to be. Now Mr. Farmer is requesting that the property be rezoned as Residential.&uot;

Howard also revealed that Farmer has a prospective buyer for a portion of that particular property. The buyer wishes to place a modular home there.

During the public hearing conducted concerning the rezoning issue, Ahoskie Public Works Director Bryan Lewis addressed the issue that there was no existing curb-and-gutter at that location, due to the fact it was previously a B-2 zoning area.

&uot;This is only food for thought, but if you approve this request and then residential lots are sold, those buyers may think the town is financially responsible for providing the curb-and-gutter,&uot; Lewis said.

Howard answered by saying the issue has already been addressed. She said adding curb-and-gutter to that area would be handled in a normal manner – through a petition presented by the property owners who will then pay for the service by way of an assessment fee.

Council member Elaine Myers motioned to accept the recommendation of the Ahoskie Planning Board to rezone Farmer’s property from B-2 to R-6. The motion passed 3-0.