Downtown StreetFest & Fireworks Coming April 22

The community is invited to downtown Sanford on April 22 for the Downtown StreetFest & Fireworks event, a celebration of the completed streetscape revitalization, a project totaling $6.5 million in public investment.

The City of Sanford, Downtown Sanford, Inc., the Sanford Area Growth Alliance and local nonprofits and businesses will offer music, food trucks, demos, live street entertainers, and more. The evening will be capped off with fireworks.

Schedule of Events

The StreetFest will begin at 4:15 p.m. with a street party on Steele Street, led by Sanford Latin Dance. Steele, Carthage, Moore, and Wicker streets will be closed the remainder of the evening.

The B Sides will start the evening with honky tonk and country music on Steele Street starting at 4:45 p.m., followed by rockabilly group The Straight 8s at 6:15 p.m. Food trucks will be set up around downtown, including NC Wings & Things, Bold Flavors, Bac 2 Mac, Bull City, and Kona Ice.

The StreetFest is family friendly. There will be a Kids' Zone on Carthage Street complete with games and face painting, the Sanford Police Department’s mobile unit, bounce houses, and more. A martial arts demonstration by Black Belt Leadership Academy will begin at 5:45 p.m. There will be kid-friendly activities throughout downtown all evening.

More Fun in Downtown

Those looking for fun daytime activities will also find plenty to do in downtown Sanford. The first annual “Art in the Alley” will begin at 10 a.m. and feature local artists, demos, and activities on Charlie Watson Lane. Merchants will offer specials and discounts.

There will be activities in Depot Park from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., including Yoga in the Park with the YMCA and a cornhole tournament hosted by The Smoke & Barrel. Yoga will be free and starts with a 30-minute family session followed by a 60-minute adult session. Entry for the cornhole tournament is $10 per team.

Join the Event

To become a sponsor or volunteer, contact Jennifer St. Clair at 919-718-4659 x 1400.

To stay updated on the day, visit www.sanfordstreetfest.com or join the Downtown StreetFest & Fireworks event on Facebook.

4 Chances to Weigh In on Local Land Use Plan

Residents will be able to share their thoughts on growth and development in Sanford, Broadway, and Lee County at drop-in public input sessions scheduled for September and October.

At these meetings, the public will have the chance to provide initial guidance and feedback on topics that influence land use. A consultant and planning staff will be available to answer questions. Attendees can make comments and submit simple survey questionnaires. There will be no formal presentation.

Land Use Update Underway

Input gathered during the sessions will be used by the Sanford/Lee County Planning Department to update its Land Use Plan, a document that guides development over the next 10 to 20 years. “A modern land use plan is the tool that brings positive, attractive tax base expansion for Sanford and Lee County that makes us the envy of other areas,” explains Chet Mann, mayor for the City of Sanford.

When adopted in 1999, “our current plan was for a much more rural community, with surrounding areas also being predominantly rural,” notes Amy Dalrymple, chair of the Lee County Board of Commissioners. However, with rapid urbanization happening in nearby counties and major plans for more growth on the horizon, Lee County will see tremendous changes in the next twenty years. “In order for that growth to be sensible, sustainable, and affordable, we must have an updated Land Use Plan to reflect our vision,” she says.

An updated plan is especially useful for small municipalities where funding is limited, says Donald Andrews, mayor for the Town of Broadway, as it allows them “to plan for future infrastructure needs and upgrades to meet demand.” The plan also gives the private sector some guidelines for what the community will support, he points out.

To accomplish that goal, the plan must provide a vision for development that “balances the economic, social, and environmental needs of Sanford and Lee County; strengthens the local economy; and preserves a higher quality of life for all its residents,” Mann says.

The updated plan can also help resolve modern concerns like fracking, coal ash, and quarries, Dalrymple says. “These industries have great impacts where they occur because of the environmental and quality-of-life concerns. Having a plan that more specifically addresses conditions for these industries is important moving forward.”

The updated Land Use Plan will include insight from residents, business owners, community leaders, and other stakeholders. The upcoming meetings are “a great opportunity for citizens to have input into what they want their community to look like in the future,” says Andrews.

Share Your Thoughts

Public meetings have been scheduled to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the following days at the following locations.

• September 27, 2016 – Broadway Community Center (111 N Main St.)
• September 29, 2016 – Dennis Wicker Civic Center (1801 Nash St.)
• October 4, 2016 – Deep River Elementary (4000 Deep River Rd.)
• October 6, 2016 – Greenwood Elementary (1127 Greenwood Rd.)

Bonus: On Monday, September 26, Mayor Mann will host a Facebook Live chat session on his Facebook page to discuss the Land Use Plan update and answer questions anyone might have about both the plan and the process for updating it.

Moving forward, the public will be able to submit written comments and questions throughout the update process using the plan’s website.

More Information

Contact: David Montgomery, Long Range Planner for the Sanford/Lee County Planning Department, at 919-718-4657 ext. 5392 or via email.

Registration for the Summer Citizens' Academy is Open

The City of Sanford is now registering for the summer session of Sanford Citizens' Academy, a 13-week interactive program designed to give you an inside look at your city government.

Any Lee County resident is encouraged to apply. Residents living in the city will be given preference. Please note that space is limited to 10 participants.

When: Mondays from July 25 through October 17*, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Graduation will be on Tuesday, October 18.

Where: Municipal facilities.

Cost: Completely free!

Participants will tour the Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sanford Municipal Golf Course, municipal parks, and more. A new feature this year is an evening dedicated to economic development that includes a visit to the Raleigh Exec Jetport and the future Central Carolina Enterprise Park.

A light dinner will be served at the beginning of each session.

The deadline to apply is July 18. Download the application form here.

For more information, contact Kelly Miller at 919-777-1133.

*Note the Academy will not meet on Monday, September 5.

Public Works Employee Wins Speech Contest

A City of Sanford employee took home top honors at the N.C. Statewide Safety Conference this month.

In March, Alvan Davis, Lead Utility Maintenance Worker in the Public Works Department, competed in the Safety Talk Contest sponsored by the Mid-State Safety Council. Davis won first place and went on to represent the region at the state conference, held in Greensboro.

At the state conference, Davis competed against other regional representatives on a topic of his choosing that addressed a safety and injury prevention message. Davis’ presentation was entitled, “Trenching and Shoring – Keeping It 100,” took third place.

Judges and attendees were surprised and pleased by Davis’ unique topic choice and excellent delivery.

Mayor Chet Mann, the Sanford City Council, and Safety Officer Donna Matthews
congratulated Alvan Davis, Lead Utility Maintenance Worker in the Public Works
Department at the City of Sanford, on his third place finish in the Safety Talk Contest
sponsored by the Mid-State Safety Council at the N.C. Statewide Safety
Conference this month.

For more information about the N.C. Statewide Safety Conference or the Mid-State Safety Council, visit ncsafetyconference.com or call Donna Matthews at 919-777-1208.

National Night Out 2016 is Underway

Get ready for another fun-filled summer of National Night Out events by attending the annual Coordinators' Meeting at City Hall.

When: Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: West End Conference Room at City Hall, 225 E. Weatherspoon Street
Details: Join and share our Facebook Event

Attendees will be able to ask questions about National Night Out, start preparing for their neighborhoods' events, and win prizes.

A light dinner will be served.

For more information about National Night Out, contact Kelly Miller at 919-777-1133.