Planners OK Race Trac zoning

Pat Kimbrough, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·2 min read

Apr. 25—HIGH POINT — Convenience store chain Race Trac can proceed with its plans to build a store at a High Point intersection following a unanimous vote Tuesday.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the company's request to rezone 2.59 acres at the northwest corner of N. Main Street and Belle Avenue to support construction of a 6,000-square-foot convenience store with 19 gas pumps.

The site is at the same signalized intersection as Weno Power Equipment and Country Barbeque Express, which are directly across N. Main Street.

The commission agreed with city planners that Race Trac's request was consistent with existing commercial development along this part of the N. Main Street corridor, which includes two nearby gas stations.

"I think this will be a good thing for our city. It's a good business," said Commissioner Mark Walsh.

The approval is final unless it's appealed to the City Council within 15 days.

Race Trac plans to make use of two parcels — which have a vacant office building at 3001 N. Main Street and a discount store next to it — as well as a small residential lot at 200 Belle Ave.

Once it purchases the properties and demolishes the buildings on them, the site will be combined into a conditional zoning general business district to accommodate the company's plans.

Race Trac agreed to create a dedicated right-turn lane on Belle Avenue to facilitate the flow of traffic at the intersection.

It also pledged to construct an access point from N. Main Street with a right-in/right-out driveway design and a concrete median in part of the road that would prevent left turns out of the site.

The site will include diesel fueling stations, and truck traffic will be directed to exit on Belle Avenue instead of N. Main Street, which will provide access to the traffic signal.

Other zoning conditions include higher-than-required landscaping and buffer standards at the site's rear, which abuts residential uses, and upgraded facade materials on the convenience store building and fuel canopies.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Race Trac has about 850 stores, mostly in the Southeast.