HIGH POINT – The City Council approved boundaries at its meeting Monday night that could determine the development of new furniture showrooms.

Council initiated a zoning map amendment for the proposed market overlay district. The proposal is based on a Core City Plan recommendation to limit the development of new showrooms to one area within the city, thereby allowing a more concentrated area for the High Point Market. It could also allow other businesses to flourish in the downtown area where furniture showrooms have reigned dominant in the past.

The map was approved as an “initial action that must be taken,” but no final decisions were made regarding the approval of the market overlay district itself, according to Mayor Becky Smothers.

The proposed boundary encompasses areas that include the largest concentration of existing showrooms. New showroom development would not be allowed outside the district. Showrooms that already exist outside of the district will be “grandfathered in,” according to Councilman Latimer Alexander.

Cathy Hinson, building manager for Union Square, said the showroom, located at 410 W. English Road, was outside of the market overlay district. She told council members that by keeping Union Square out of the district, it would devalue the showroom’s property.

Further discussion of the district will be considered today at a Planning and Development meeting at 2:30 p.m. on the third floor of city hall.

Council also approved the purchasing of a property that will house the Guilford County Workforce Development Board’s JobLink career center in High Point. The city will purchase the property at 607 Idol St. and lease it to the Workforce Development Board and the N.C. Employment Security Commission. The site would be paid for in 10 years under this proposal.

“This will have no negative impact on the city’s revenue, and it will ultimately finance itself,” Alexander said.

In other news, a discussion of changing municipal elections to odd years was proposed by Alexander. Smothers said the topic would be discussed among council members in the future.

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