City paves way for Pierced Ministries to move forward

ASHEBORO — Pierced Ministries and Rehab hopes to build a congregate living community in Asheboro. The city council approved their rezoning request to move forward.

At the March 5 meeting, Community Development Director John Evans presented the request to rezone 24 acres of undeveloped residential land north of where Oakland Avenue ends. 

Pierced Ministries’ executive directors Bob and Alice Wilkerson asked to make it OA6 (CZ) Office-Apartment Conditional Zoning for dormitories, family dwellings and multi-purpose buildings for women who go through a nine-month drug recovery program.

The Wilkersons said they have operated their faith-based nonprofit for 18 years. They said the land could help them grow to eventually house 42 women.

“We are busting at the seams, getting applications every day for more,” said Bob Wilkerson. “So, there’s a great need for us to expand.”

Construction would happen in phases. In Phase 1-2, they would build three dorms, two multi-purpose buildings, office, kitchen and two detached homes south of the creek. 

The Wilkersons would live on site. In Phase 3, they plan to add five more homes north of the creek. They said people moving out of the program would live in those while they work on family reunification, find jobs and make other preparations to return to the community.

Bob Wilkerson said Pierced Ministries does not do detoxing, nor is it a homeless shelter or short-term transitional housing. He said participants go through an extensive interview process and testing for Hepatitis C, HIV and tuberculosis. He said, “Those things take time, which speaks to how desperate they are to actually get help.” He also said they do not use harm reduction processes like taking suboxone.

New Asheboro City Council member Cam Mills asked about their success rate. Bob Wilkerson said they’ve seen 80 to 85 percent.

Dr. Brad Thomas with Randolph Health StayWell Senior Care sits on Pierced Ministries’ board and spoke in support. He helped them secure funding from opioid manufacturer legal settlements. He said many churches work with Pierced Ministries and that Randolph Public Health is interesting in watching how a faith-based program compares to other programs receiving opioid funds.

“This is unique for the state,” Thomas said. “I’m hoping we come back to you in a year or two years and say, ‘Hey, we’ve done something here in Randolph County that hasn’t been done anywhere else, and we’ve done it extremely well.’ “

Duncan asked about their exit strategy for participants. He said with some organizations, people who decline help are turned out with no resources, and they end up homeless or in trouble with the law. Bob Wilkerson said they can’t stop someone from walking away, but they try to get them in touch with family or shelters.

Alice Wilkerson said life skills, job skills and budgeting lessons are part of the program. “Those nine months are intense,” she said. “They will tell you it’s the hardest thing they’ve ever done in their lives. But if they’re with us for nine months, and we say, ‘Thanks for coming, now go succeed in life,’ we’re setting them up for failure.”

Pastors Mark Wilburn of Balfour Baptist Church and Tim Fonner of Russell’s Grove Baptist Church also spoke in favor of the rezoning. Fonner said, “The amount of stress as a pastor trying to minister to families affected by addiction is just overwhelming. This is the solution beyond what we have.”

Patti Williams, who lives next to the property, spoke against. She said when she bought her land, she had been told nothing would be built on the parcel behind her home. 

She asked about wildlife and the size of the dorms and homes. She said, “I think we can all agree this is a wonderful program, but I don’t see what that has to do with tonight,” referring to the rezoning.

Rezoning conditions

Evans went through the conditions set by the Asheboro planning board. Pierced Ministries proposal used gravel for part of the driveway and vinyl siding on some of the buildings, which the zoning ordinance does not allow.

The board granted an exception to vinyl siding on the dorms but stipulated pavement for all required parking spaces, access and maneuvering areas. The right-of-way out of Oakland Avenue will have to be upgraded to North Carolina Department of Transportation standards.

Additionally, their proposal includes a 50-foot vegetation buffer, larger than the required 20 feet for the zoning ordinance. Because of the creek, buildings will have to be built north and south of the special hazard flood area.

The planning board said that while the property does not have access to a minor thoroughfare, the proposed use would be less intense than if it were a housing development.

Bob Wilkerson also said there would not be a lot of traffic. As part of the program, participants are not allowed to keep their own vehicles on the property. He said neighbors would only see the program’s vans and staff’s personal vehicles coming and going.

Council member Kelly Heath asked about the timeline. Wilkerson said they want to have the first dorm ready within a year, but it will take several years to complete. While this would house only women at first, eventually they want to move men in recovery from their other facilities to this site.

Asheboro reports two wastewater overflows 

The city recently reported a pair of wastewater overflows to the Division of Water Quality in Winston-Salem.

■ On Feb. 26, approximately 4,500 gallons overflowed from a manhole near 1412 Ridgewood Circle. The overflow was due to “Excessive Rainfall.” The overflow reached Penwood Branch.

There was apparent environmental impact from this overflow and City of Asheboro drinking water was not affected. 

■ On March 7, an overflow occurred of approximately 1,500 gallons from a manhole near 928 Fayetteville St. The overflow was due to “Grease.” The overflow reached a ditch which flows into Cedar Fork Creek.

There was no apparent environmental impact from this overflow and City of Asheboro drinking water was not affected. 

For more information, contact the Superintendent of Wastewater Collection at 336-626-1234, ext. 2205.