Question 1 - What are your plans and how will you go about making visual improvements to the gateways (entrances) into your community?
Daniel Evans (Candidate for Mayor of Smithfield): Visual improvements are paramount and are top priority for me. The entrance/gateways to any community often establish the commitment of that community to its overall development. The Neuse River bridge replacement, US 70 does allow for some improvement money and the city is already looking at our current ordinances that will reclaim ride away to assist in the efforts. Also, on the east side of Town there are roadway enhancement projects that will give us an opportunity to address adjoining property for improvements. Other areas like Brogden Road, US 301 South and North continue to be discussed for improvements. I would like to also encourage private and community involvement in all of our visual improvement throughout the town with coordination from the town staff. This will be highlighted later as we develop this most important issue.
Vic Ogburn (Candidate for Smithfield District 2 Councilman): All entry ways should be up-graded and maintained. The corridor from I-95 to 5th Street should have the most emphasis to visibility improve this area. This could be done with planting, encouragement to land owners and the town itself.
Charles A. Williams (Candidate for Smithfield District 2 Councilman): My plans and how I will go about making visual improvements to the gateways of this community is by encouraging the council to allocate more funding between the Public Works, Appearance Commission and private sector on Beautification Projects at our west and east entryways towards downtown to improve our community image. Such improvements would include attractive town light pole flags, landscaping and energy-efficient solar panel lighting. I feel these improvements would express town pride and invite newcomers to visit and reside within the Town of Smithfield.
Tony Gupton (Candidate for Smithfield District 3 Councilman): Smithfield’s gateways are key entrances to the area and form the basis for people’s initial impressions of the town, especially the downtown business district. Clear identification of where the downtown is and how to get there is crucial to the area’s viability and image. Improvements to these “gateways” will enhance the experience of entering downtown and the image of the community. To make these visual improvements, we should first recognize that there have already been improvements and recognition of the current gateways to our town. For the future improvements of these recent projects, entry features should be updated and made more visible from highways and intersections. The way finding signages should be unique and the views of entering downtown improved without blockage or unkempt buildings and grounds from landscape treatments, and by improving the appearance of highway frontage. Attractive plantings or other elements that are, or get implemented must be maintained, for if they are not, they will become an eyesore instead of an asset. There is no single answer for addressing this concern, but it will be important for the Town leadership, and community to work through this goal and work with each other and business owners to continue and keep our downtown attractive. The town must provide the buy in and enforcement of covenants required to maintain. Securing funding for projects will require direct public expenditures and/or grant receipts. These are challenging components of town development and planning. Many of the funding tools often used to finance visual improvements are already established by the local taxes charged and collected on citizens and business of Smithfield. These improvements are typically low cost; however, more extensive improvements such as streetscape improvements should be placed on a long-term track so that they can be initiated as they become financially feasible. One of the goals of visual improvements is to increase merchant traffic and visitors to our business district. With the increased business traffic, you inherently increase patronage and consumer participation, thus business revenues and sales tax collections should increase which would mean the ongoing maintenance would pay for itself and most significantly, no increased tax burden on citizens or business of Smithfield.
Perry Harris (Candidate for Smithfield District 3 Councilman): I feel that Visual Improvements are needed along our gateways/entrances and I will work to reach out to landowners in these areas to establish a working plan to nurture a revitalized Visual Improvement Plan that is strongly backed by the City of Smithfield.
Zach Crocker (Candidate for Smithfield District 4 Councilman): It is important to make a good first impression and having neat and clean gateways into the community is a good way to accomplish that. Smithfield is currently requiring updates in appearances as new business or use permits are requested. Case in point, The Last Resort bar on Business 70 in West Smithfield. There recently was a change in ownership of the business and part of the requirement for the permit is to make improvements to the appearance of the property, pave, landscape, etc. Also, an eyesore trailer that had been left to deteriorate was removed by the land owner. I do not believe in forcing a property holder to retroactively meet code, but new code violations should be enforced and I would encourage property owners to take pride in their community and keep buildings and road frontages well maintained and organized.
