Planning commissioners on Tuesday deferred a case that could have brought a townhome development to Hillsborough Street, and recommended disapproval of a potential car dealership on Louisburg Road.
The Hillsborough Street rezoning case — Z-34-13 — was deferred. The case concerned a 6.4 acre property that is currently zoned both residential-10 and residential-4. The applicant wanted to rezone the property to residential-10 to allow for a townhome development.
Bing Maps
The site in question is indicated by the blue dot
Staff found the rezoning to be consistent with the comprehensive plan, future land use map, and urban form map, and noted that the rezoning would call for increased residential density.
Ray Carpenter, representing the applicant, said the intention for the development was to keep it residential. He added that the townhomes would be grouped together in the northern section of the property, allowing for a tree buffer to the south to mitigate stormwater runoff.
Neighborhood Resident “You’re Not Going to Stop that Water”
A group of neighborhood residents spoke out in opposition of the rezoning at Tuesday’s public hearing. A video was played, showing the flooding of properties along the south side of the property. and there was concern expressed that the development would cause more flooding problems in the area.
Linda Anderson, one neighborhood resident, said the creek that runs along the south side of the property has gotten worse over time.
“You’re not going to stop that water,” she said. “That area is set up for flooding from my house on down.”
Wake County
A 2011 photo of the site
Other residents echoed her concerns, arguing that “the water’s going to go where it wants to go” and “one of our major concerns is that the runoff would cause problems for our neighborhood.”
The case was deferred so the applicant could address some of the neighborhood residents’ concerns.
Rezoning Case on Louisburg Road Found Not in Public’s Interest
The rezoning case on Louisburg Road — Z-4-15 — was denied. The case concerned a .61 acre parcel in North Raleigh not far from 540. The proposed rezoning was to commercial mixed-use with a three-story height cap. A staff presentation showed there was a car repair business to the south and a shopping center across the street. The rezoning would increase residential density and allow for certain uses, including vehicular repair and carwash.
Wake County
The site in question
The rezoning was found to be inconsistent with the future land use map and urban form map and the northeast citizens advisory council voted 8-5 in opposition of the rezoning.
Alexander Wigs, the applicant, said the main reason the CAC voted against the rezoning was because of misinformation and the possibility that the development would cause the street to look like Capital Boulevard, a concern that has come up in regards to a number of rezoning and site plan cases.
Commissioner Joseph Lyle noted that he lived near this location and had driven past many times. It was an odd-shaped parcel, he said, with accessibility issues that had seen a number of developments come and go.
Commissioner Adam Terando said he had concerns about the property and was not in favor. He made a motion to recommend denial and it was upheld unanimously.
The car dealership would be located at the spot indicated by the blue bubble. The Triangle Town Center Mall is north west of the site.
