A growing Hamlet business hopes to get community support and council approval for its re-zoning petition at a public hearing on April 14.

The Hamlet City Council will incorporate three public hearings into its upcoming April meeting agenda so that residents can voice their opinions and learn about new items of business from the planning department.

Starting at 7 p.m., the first two hearings will involve new ordinances and code amendments; the third will decide whether or not to rezone Seaboard Railcar Repair and Cleaning from General Business (B-2) to Heavy Business (I-2).

“We are looking to expand. The company is growing; we had deferred growth at this location to develop our Oklahoma facility,” said Seaboard Co-owner Mike Haynes. “Since 2003, that (Oklahoma) facility has grown from 18 to 90 employees. We’d like to duplicate that here in Hamlet.”

Haynes said he would like to see employment increase in Hamlet to 90 within a five-year period — providing Seaboard gets approval to re-zone.

“Once we get the zoning down we can start doing a site plan and looking at functionality,” said Haynes. “We need support from the city to expand and grow.”

Haynes confirmed that Seaboard purchased an adjoining property to the south of its office on Hwy. 177. The space is currently occupied by a vacant green building.

According to Gail Strickland, the city planning coordinator, said the Haynes rezoning request went before the city planning and zoning board in March and got a favorable response. The recommendation was then sent on to the council for final approval after a hearing.

“We encourage citizens to come to these public hearings and express their views, whether pro or con,” said Strickland.

Citizens will also have the opportunity to learn about and discuss a proposed ordinance that will require the owners of non-residential buildings to meet specific standards. According to Strickland, the establishment of Code Article 5, Chapter 5, would serve both aesthetic and security functions.

“We’re being pro-active so that we do not allow buildings to get to the demolition stage. There will be restrictions as far as general maintenance — things like painting or the upkeep of windows and doors,” said Strickland, adding that one can see some buildings downtown with roofs caving in or windows broken out.

“This is a part of our work with the Small Town Main Street Group to improve the downtown area.”

In the second hearing, public comments will be considered in reference to code amendments for properties with swimming pools.

“It involves updating our code for the safety of residents within the city as far as the type of fencing and gates that are required for pools,” said Strickland. “Safety is the main concern there.”

Public hearings on proposed amendments to the city code and city zoning ordinance, as well as Seaboard’s re-zoning petition, will take place at Hamlet City Hall on April 14 at 7 p.m.