Editor, The Smithfield Times:

At the July Planning Commission meeting, I watched with astonishment, embarrassment and disbelief as our Planning Commission members grilled the representative for the new cupcake establishment, Small Cakes.  

This new bakery is located in the strip shopping center by Farmers Table and Wells Fargo and is a great addition to the town. Ms. Christa Pickrell from Cardinal Sign Corp. was there to request approval for the sign that was to be placed above the door.  

I have been present for PC meetings when out-of-town developers were presenting large residential projects.  The contrast between the questions Ms. Pickrell (who was seeking approval for a sign for a small business) had to endure vs. the questions that developers (who were seeking a change to our comprehensive plan and many waivers and special use permits) had to endure was astonishing.   

I couldn’t stop watching because it was truly unbelievable. Ms. Pickrell was grilled for over 20 minutes with no less than 32 questions about the lighting, the icing, the logo, the frosting, the background, is it all connected, is the cup pink, will the icing shine through? It turns out that when our PC updated ECO guidelines, our Planning Department misinterpreted commissioners’ intentions. Ms. Pickrell was following the guidelines, resulting in an opaque sign that will not be visible at night. 

The interaction with Ms. Pickrell and our PC might not have been quite so unbelievable had I not attended the presentations by developers for the Mallory Scott and Grange developments. I decided to go back and watch the April 11, 2023, PC meeting when the Grange was presented.  Our PC asked 14 questions about a 267-unit project proposed for our historical downtown. And they asked the cupcake lady 32 questions. About a sign. In a strip mall.  

I bring this up now because the Times’ editorial last week (“Double standard by planners”) pointed out how unfriendly our PC seems to be to local, small businesses, and how they bend over backward to welcome out-of-town developers.   

 

Renee Bevan

Smithfield