Planning Board

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The board recommended denial of the Mira Ridge rezoning. It first adopted a plan consistency statement 8-1, Tom Urquhart opposed, finding the change from rural residential to suburban residential conditional inconsistent with Vision Holly Springs: the future land use map calls the land a conservation neighborhood, and the suburban residential district does not require 30 to 50 percent of the buildable land be kept as permanent open space. It then voted 7-2, Urquhart and chair Rick Madoni opposed, to recommend the council deny petition 24-REZ-07 on 21.62 acres.

The case was for 43 detached houses at about two units an acre, which the applicant's representative Tommy Craven compared to Lochridge at 1.7 and called compatible, arguing that 40 new rooftops would support commercial uses nearby once sidewalks are in, and that a conservation subdivision with the required open space and lot sizes is hard to make economically viable. Members pressed on the buffer type, on reduced setbacks at interior corners, on why a lot had been dropped, which Craven said was to preserve wetlands, and on whether the developer agreement could restrict rental ownership. The assistant town attorney advised that use can be regulated but ownership cannot.

The Ragan property came up repeatedly as a comparison, and staff explained that the council had settled with that applicant after its ruling was overturned. Joseph Cuccurullo told members that once a property is rezoned the later options narrow and the decision is hard to revisit, and that the board's job is the rezoning itself rather than the design details.

Three residents spoke. All nine members attended and the meeting ended at 8:45 p.m.

How the votes went

Four votes. The agenda passed 9-0 and the November 19 minutes 8-0 with Tom Urquhart abstaining. The plan consistency statement for 24-REZ-07 Mira Ridge carried 8-1, Urquhart opposed, moved by Roger Bess and seconded by Josh Prizer. The recommendation that the council deny the rezoning carried 7-2, Urquhart and Rick Madoni opposed, moved by Bess and seconded by Craig Kessler. Adjournment was 9-0.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

3 members of the public spoke.

1. Dawn Santoianni of RiverLedge Drive submitted written comments and spoke in favor of the changes the developer committed to after the town council public hearing, and complimented staff and council feedback.
2. Wendy Lynn Puopolo of Silent Bend Drive spoke against the project.
3. Fran Hudson of Rex Road spoke against the project.

Three residents spoke, two of them against the rezoning. Written correspondence had gone to members before the meeting.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.