Residents of Needmore and other areas in proposed N.C. 24/27 bypass routes on N.C. Department of Transportation maps need not worry about disruption of their homes and neighborhoods, according to town commissioners.

The commissioners said they will vigorously oppose any route that would isolate the town or destroy homes and communities.

The stand was taken Monday night in a special session originally called to hold a public hearing on a proposed Moore County flood plain ordinance. That involved adopting new flood plain maps, accepting an interlocal agreement with a resolution to effect it, passing a resolution of intent, and adopting a resolution proclaiming Carthage's acceptance of the county ordinance.

Nobody spoke against the plans, and all the measures were adopted.

In one of two emotionally charged public addresses to the board, Needmore Community leader Milton "T." Dowdy asked board members to make some strong statement reassuring people who fear a proposed highway bypass.

"We are trying to get a commitment," Dowdy said. "We want the town to reassure us they will not destroy these neighborhoods."

A recent information session by DOT officials displayed three tentative 1,000-foot wide swaths on a map, out of which a 200-foot right-of-way would be acquired by eminent domain for a bypass.

Two proposed routes passed above the town center, cutting through historically black sections that had been brought into town limits only a few years ago. Another, longer route, passed below and cut the growing development at Little River Golf Resort off from the historic town center.

A coalition of affected residents met Aug. 1 and appointed seven people to serve as a steering committee.

"They are concerned about losing land that has been in their families for generations," Dowdy said.

These people fear their long-held land could be sliced by a paved canyon driving through the center of old Carthage in the form of a limited-access highway.

"That is not happening," Fields said. "There is no way they will take Needmore."

Eventually, the DOT intends the new road to connect Interstate 85 with I-95, Charlotte to Fayetteville.

Nothing is very likely to happen anytime soon, board members said, despite the appearance Monday morning of DOT monitor devices counting traffic.

"Tell them it will probably not happen in our lifetime," said Sherwood Lapping. "The highway engineers who came here had no cognizance of our town and the development around here."

He said those DOT maps were based on decade-old studies done before Carthage bought Little River Farms, before the town bought the Klaussner Furniture plant for a municipal building, built Nancy Kiser Park and the sewer pump station and its line, or approved Ron Jackson's development at Savannah Gardens -- all in the path of one of the possible routes for the bypass shown on the DOT map.

"It is the unknown that is really bothering people," said Jean Riley.

In the other public address to the board, Lloyd McGraw made a plea on behalf of an elderly resident for the town to "grandfather" rental apartment use for her remodeled flat in the Central Business District.

Commissioners had prohibited such a use in the Carthage business district by amending the town ordinances some years ago.

"I don't see how we can legally do this," said Ronnie Fields. "There's been no power, no water bill. It hasn't been in use as an apartment. We would have to change the town ordinance."

He and Sherwood Lapping had visited the property at McGraw's request. They told the board that, while one of two apartment sections had been remodeled, the other area was unlivable.

"It would be better as an office," he said.

McGraw pleaded with the board to reconsider.

"I wish you could see it differently and allow it," he said.

Commissioners felt their hands were tied by law. They could not grant his request unless a new ordinance were to be drafted, advertised and passed.

"We don't like to tell any of our citizens 'no' any time," said Mayor Pro Tem Bill Walton, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Larry Caddell. "But, it does seem this is one of those times."

McGraw will try to find a business tenant, but might return to seek a change in the town ordinance at some future meeting if seeking a commercial tenant proves unsuccessful.

John Chappell can be reached at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.