Not in my neighborhood

Bladenboro, NC (WWAY) — The heart of the controversy lies on 8 acres of land in west Bladenboro.
Town leaders are considering changing it from industrial to residential and it’s stirring up quite a debate.

“I don’t like it one bit at all,” said Bladenboro resident Frank Miller.

It’s hard to find anyone who lives near the land in question that’s in favor of it being rezoned from industrial to residential.

“It’ll bring our property values down and it would bring a lot of bad people around,” said Miller.

Miller and many other residents are concerned with who will move in. The property owner filed a request with the town to rezone the area into a residential property that would allow manufactured homes.

“I really don’t want the subdivision to be messed up by a trailer park,” said Miller.

Town Manager Delane Jackson said he’s aware of the community’s concerns, though the
town cannot control who could possibly live there, there are standards they’ll have to follow if the
rezoning request is approved.

“The town has a zoning ordinance that would control what type of house can be located on there,” said Jackson.

The manufactured homes will have to pass the towns appearance standards that were recently adopted; making sure the homes are not eyesores. Some residents say if the area is rezoned, they’ll be on their way out.

“I’ll be ready to leave Bladenboro myself, definitely would be ready to leave Bladenboro,” said resident Tara Armstrong.

A special meeting is being held tonight at 7PM to address the issue. Town leaders are expected to make a ruling on the rezoning request. We’ll have details tonight at 11P.