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By Jim Buice

For the Clemmons Courier

The town of Lewisville took a stand against billboards along U.S. 421 from the western city limit of Winston-Salem to the Yadkin River in last Thursday’s meeting.

Even before it was revealed that the town council had already taken action in the previous week’s briefing and action meeting by passing a resolution in opposition to this specific billboard application, resident Christopher Smith offered his take in a public hearing.

“I’m against the proposal,” Smith said. “I think it sets a dangerous precedent. There are no billboards from Peace Haven Road all the way down to the river. If we allow one billboard, we’re going to see a lot more, and I don’t think anyone wants that.”

Following his comments, Mayor Mike Horn told Smith that he would be interested in the manager’s report later in the meeting, where James Ayers provided more specifics.

“We have requested the City-County Planning Board and Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to designate U.S. Highway 421 from the Winston-Salem western city limit all the westward to the Yadkin River as a view corridor and to deny requests for billboards in this area,” Ayers said.

In new business in last Thursday night’s meeting, the council approved resolutions of setting a rezoning request and an annexation request for the Shallowford Road Golf Driving Range after receiving a certificate of sufficiency regarding the request from Ricky Lyons to rezone annexed property from RS-40 Forsyth County Jurisdiction (Residential Single Family, minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet) to HB-C Lewisville Jurisdiction (Highway Business – Conditional).

The original request for public hearings on the rezoning and annexation was scheduled for Feb. 8, but the applicant asked for postponement of that date and for it to be rescheduled March 14 at 6 p.m. in town hall.

According to the staff report, the acreage on Shallowford Road is 16.76 acres, and the site is currently vacant aside from an existing cell tower. The homes in the area are mainly single-family medium to large lots.

Town staff is of the opinion that the request is in general conformance with the town’s Comprehensive Plan and Legacy for the area, with the developer meeting the Golf Driving Range requirements and the HB requirements for setbacks and buffering.

The recommendation from the staff is that the project meets the overall requirements of the HB zoning district as well as the Golf Driving Range requirements as stated, and the staff recommends the project be approved as long as any conditions placed are met along with staff placed conditions.

In an upcoming event, the Lewisville Public Art Committee has announced its inaugural art exhibit: Lewisville: “The Town I Love.” It will run from Feb. 9 to March 9 at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center.

An opening reception will be held on Feb. 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The deadline to submit art is Jan. 25.

“If you are an aspiring artist or an established artist and live in Lewisville, we encourage you to participate,” Horn said, “This is very exciting. Our Public Art Committee has been working really hard on this.”

In other items from last Thursday night’s meeting, the council:
• Heard from Ayers that the council authorized use of eminent domain to acquire two parcels for the NCDOT roundabout project at Lewisville-Vienna Road and Robinhood Road.
• Was introduced to new Lewisville Deputy Lucas Manning.