HAMLET — The Hamlet council approved two property rezoning requests following public hearings during its special meeting on Thursday.
The council approved rezoning applications for 705 Spring Street and 146 Boyd Lake Road, with both properties moving from R-6 Residential to B-2 Business.
The Spring Street property is Hamlet Commons, while the Boyd Lake Road property is the former VFW building on City Lake.
Following the rezoning approval, the council approved a one-year lease agreement for the former VFW building. The lease will begin Aug. 1, 2026.
Earlier in the year, John Martin, co-owner of the Landmark Tavern, approached the council about converting the former VFW building into a bar and grill. The lease will be $1,200 per month and requires a security deposit of the same amount. Martin will be given the opportunity to renew the lease 90 days prior to the expiration date of the initial agreement.
Martin will be responsible for utilities and routine maintenance. The city will be responsible for the roof, foundation, structural supports and exterior walls.
Martin told the council that his long-term goal is to purchase the property. Council member Oscar Sellers opposed the lease agreement, saying he had an issue with a provision in the lease agreement that would give Martin a “dollar-for-dollar” rent credit, up to $10,000, for renovations.
Acting City Manager Mackenzie Webb noted that under the lease, any tenant improvements would require written approval from the Hamlet council. All council members, with the exception of Sellers, approved the lease agreement.
The Hamlet council also approved a resolution of tentative award for a portion of the City Lake trail project.
According to Webb, the project was sent to 200 potential bidders, with only one company, Fred Smith Company, based out of Raleigh, submitting a bid.
“It came in far over the original $94,773.41 that they had estimated,” Webb said.
Webb continued to say that the submitted bids consisted of:
• $271,700 for a gravel trail
• $250,210 for an asphalt trail
• $127,109.66 negotiated bid for a mulch trail
[NOTE: The negotiated bid uses all of the remaining American Rescue Plan funds the city has available for the project.]
“If we don’t expend these funds by Dec. 1, they’re going back to the federal government,” Webb said.
Sellers said he frequently walks down the asphalt trail and that it’s not currently being maintained as it should be.
Webb shared that if the council accepted the bid for the asphalt or gravel trail, the difference would have to be made up with city dollars. Webb said that the city had spoken with WithersRavenel to see if there were any alternatives to explore.
Mayor Pro Tem asked Webb if the money was designated for the trail, to which Webb responded yes and said it must be used on the trail only. The council unanimously approved the mulch trail bid.
The council also approved LKC Engineering, based out of Moore County, for engineering services for general water and sewer projects.
“LKC already has an established working relationship with the city through several major infrastructure projects, including our AIAs, our water treatment plant, and our wastewater treatment plant projects,” said Webb. “The purpose of this intended contract is to have access to these engineering services to support planning and design efforts for critical infrastructure replacement projects.”