Kings Mountain City Council Approves Equestrian, Solar Farms

An equestrian farm and a solar farm were approved by Kings Mountain City Council this week after public hearings were heard on both projects.

The equestrian farm was first brought before council in March, when a Kings Mountain couple, Edy Jakubiak and Eric Bergstrom, made a rezoning request to turn their property into a horse training and boarding facility.

The facility, which would be on Grand View Drive, off Chestnut Ridge Road, would include a barn, pasture, arena and parking. The farm could have other animals as pets, but would not include any mobile homes or poultry houses, according to the application. Council approved the rezoning request.

The solar farm, which was also approved by city council, would be on about 17 acres on Bolin Drive, near the intersection of Hardin Drive and Stony Point Road.

Dennis Bolin, property owner, told council the farm would be located on a small part of his property and would not have an impact on the surrounding area. Once constructed, it would be a passive farm only needing routine maintenance.

Here’s a look at other city council business from the meeting Tuesday night.

 What else was on the agenda?

• Special events director Ellis Noell gave city council an update on Kings Mountain’s upcoming special events. The Revolutionary Fourth celebration at the Walking Track Park begins at 2 p.m. on July 4. The two-day event will feature a concert, colonial encampment, local Revolutionary War militias and the largest fireworks show between Charlotte and Asheville. The city is also holding its annual BeachBlast event on July 19, which will include music, a beach ball drop and a “Best Backyard Burger” grilling competition.
• Nelson Cody Clemons, a student at Kings Mountain High School, was recognized for being promoted to the rank of Eagle Scout. Clemons’ project was a patio enhancement at the Council of Aging Senior Center. Clemons was also an active volunteer at the Cleveland County Memorial Library.
• Multiple members of the Kings Mountain Awareness Group spoke during the meeting’s public comment against the proposed casino, asking city council to rescind its letter in support of the casino. Beauford Burton said he was a recovering gambling addict himself and did not want to see others fall into addiction. Eddie Lovinggood told council about a man who committed suicide after gambling everything away at a casino. Marie Jackson said she would not have moved to Kings Mountain years ago if a casino had been there.

Source: http://www.gastongazette.com/news/local/kings-mountain-city-council-approves-equestrian-solar-farms-1.339245