Electric bikes banned from King city parks

KING — Electric bicycles will not be allowed at either of two parks in the City of King following a unanimous July 1 City Council vote.

Electric bikes were already not allowed at King Central Park on Kirby Road but were not against the rules at Recreation Acres on White Road.

Because electric bicycles present a safety hazard to pedestrians and non-electric cyclists, the King Parks & Recreation Advisory Board recommended banning them at both parks, City Engineer Intern Benjamin Marion told the Council during the meeting.

The updated rule will require changes to signs at the park, the cost of which will be absorbed by the normal operating budget.

"Electric bikes are more of a safety threat than normal bicycles and are a nuisance to citizens enjoying the parks," agenda materials state.

Mayor Pro Tem Jane Cole and Council members Terri Fowler and Michael Lane voted in favor of the new rule; Tyler Bowles was not present at the meeting. (The Council had voted to excuse his absence).

Watershed exceptions approved

The City Council approved two zoning applications allowing increased watershed coverage for adjacent properties on Meadowbrook Drive.

Both 3.43 acre tracts are within the city's watershed that only allows up to 24% built upon area (with curb and gutter). A provision in the city's ordinance allows for up to 70% built upon area with approval.

The first site submitted would cover 41.05% of the site, or 1.41 acres. The second site would cover 23.93% of the site, or 0.82 acres.

The planning board had recommended approving the requests.

City Planner Jon Grace told the Council that the city started with an allotment of 637 acres within city limits designed to allow this type of growth.

"We stand right now, if this goes through, it'll be 627.66 acres," he said.

The City Council unanimously approved both watershed review requests.

Sign size rules considered

The Council considered a proposed change to two ordinances governing the allowed size of signs projected from businesses. The current rules limit such signs to no greater than 18 inches from a building wall. The proposed revision would allow such signs to project up to 36 inches in B-1 zoning only. No one spoke at the public hearing held during the July 1 meeting. Council members spoke in favor of the changes but tabled the matter until the Aug. 5 meeting so they could receive recommendations from the Downtown King Partnership before voting. The King planning board had previously voted unanimously to recommend the changes.

An additional revision to a separate ordinance regarding residential multifamily apartments was also tabled. The proposed revision would increase the number of units allowed per building from 16 to 32.

Public hearings set

Several public hearings will be held at the City Council's Aug. 5 meeting.

Hearings will be held on:

• A resolution for the City/County Economic Incentive Project for extending sanitary sewer to the Reaper & Duggins site on Meadowbrook Road, according to agenda materials. The resolution authorizes the city to execute an agreement where the city will pay 40% of the cost to extend a utility line and the private company will invest $3 million in real property by Jan. 1, 2025. The incentive grant amount is capped at $22,640 plus $5,000 for contingency funding.

• A financing agreement of three police department vehicles and equipment purchases, projects that have already been budgeted.

• The question of a permanent road closure of Shelton Shack Booze Circle Road. Agenda materials indicate that the road is an old, unused farm road.

• A text amendment to the city's Water Supply Watershed Ordinance. The amendment would make the city in compliance with state's model ordinance and does not include big changes to the regulations, according to agenda materials.

Among other business, the King City Council:

• Approved an interlocal agreement between the City of King and Forsyth County regarding the city's providing fire and rescue protection to the Forsyth County portion of the King Fire District.

• Approved an amendment to the road closure ordinance that changes the date of the West Stokes High School homecoming parade to Friday, Oct. 4, at 4 p.m.

• Approved the sale of surplus items, three police department Dodge Chargers and a radar trailer, at auction on GovDeals.com.

• Received departmental reports.

• Approved minutes for the June 3 regular meeting.