One sign of it -- easily seen even outside town limits -- is the new construction starting at Robbins Crossing (a new name for the intersection of N.C. 705 and N.C. 24/27) bringing Subway and Domino's Pizza to Robbins.
"I grew up near here," Brown said. "We called it Frogtown."
Clarence and Edith Hussey sold the long-held land to make it possible for the development at Robbins Crossing to occur.
Frogtown Pottery is just down N.C. 705 toward Pinehurst. On the town side of Robbins Crossing, Northern Moore Tomorrow (NMT) president Gene Lewis has operated a convenience store for years. Both expect gains as popular food brings customers to the crossing.
Things are changing, and board members say they are changing whatever rules they need to change in order to help. At Thursday's regular July meeting, the Town Board made alterations in zoning ordinances needed for this construction. Afterward, Brown and others trooped out to the crossing for a ceremonial cutting of the first tree.
After the site is cleared and prepared, construction will start on a new Robbins home for sandwiches and pizzas. It will be a steel building, but it is going to have a rock face on the front side and blue or red awnings.
Come fall, "Carolina Growlers" will be rolling off an assembly line just down the road -- heading for the U.S. Marine base at New River, home to the Osprey, a combination helicopter/airplane that has been years -- and nearly $20 billion -- in development. It will fly faster and farther than Vietnam-era helicopters remaining in the arsenal. Most of them are even more limited by age and deterioration.
Growler workers, Brown says, are likely to be enjoying subs and pizzas for lunch.
"People in Robbins have to eat somewhere," Brown said. "Soon we will have pizza and hero sandwiches right here."
Trouble was, zoning rules didn't allow for what partners Dan Shefte and Bo Jackson needed out at Robbins Crossing for their building and businesses.
No problem, commissioners told them.
Changes such as that require a public hearing. The start had to wait for necessary advertisements to be published, and the hearing held.
"In reviewing what they needed out there, we realized we needed to make some changes that would affect everything else in the business district," said Town Clerk Debra Cockman.
At Robbins Crossing, Jackson and Shefte wanted people to be able to park out front. They needed to use more of the lot than they could with existing rear setback rules.
They couldn't go to the Robbins Board of Zoning Adjustment, because the terms of all members had expired.
The Town Board appointed itself as the Board of Adjustment. It voted to change permitted uses, rear setback rules, required buffers, dimensional requirements and board procedures. Once the construction ends, people can park in front and go inside for a sub -- or to collect a pizza to take home.
Robbins may even expand its long-set town limits if growth continues.
Commissioner Theron Bell said, "I've been waiting a long time for that."
John Chappell can be reached at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.
