Minutes 11-18-2025-Business Meeting

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14 Laura Haywood, project manager with Forestar Group, said the Planning Board recommended different wording for that condition, and the applicant obliged, which led to the current wording. She said their intention is for the trails to be used by the community. She said Eno River Academy was uncertain because the language had changed, but that was due to the recommendation by the Planning Board. Commissioner McKee asked if a driveway application had been applied for and asked if it included a turn lane. Laura Haywood said it is not typical at this stage to see a driveway permit application. However, she said they intend to improve the roadway to make it safer and complete the same for turn lanes as the Rigsbee property, but they are at the mercy of NCDOT. Donna Crowser said NCDOT has agreed verbally, and they expect the permit to be submitted on Dec. 15cn Commissioner McKee said he finds it very hard to understand being this deep into a project without having a good, clear understanding from the resident engineer for this district of what will be allowed. Josh Reinke said it would be atypical for a rezoning request to have a driveway permit in place because the rezoning hasn't been approved. Vice-Chair Hamilton thanked the applicants for their due diligence but expressed concerns about approving the development while the 2050 land use plan was being developed. She found the proposal inconsistent with the 2030 comprehensive plan, specifically Land Use Goal One, requiring coordinated location of higher intensity development with existing public transportation and infrastructure. Without water and sewer infrastructure from Hillsborough, she deemed the density too high. She also expressed concerns about climate change risks with development close to Strouds Creek and the impact of extensive septic fields on this vital water resource. Commissioner Carter acknowledged the board's support for housing solutions but distinguished between the R-1 zoning of Rigsby versus the Agricultural Residential zoning of this property. The AR district's purpose is to preserve land suitable for agricultural uses and protect it from incompatible land uses. She also shared concerns about septic systems and some lots' proximity to riparian buffers. Commissioner Greene appreciated that the layout was better than a conventional subdivision, but felt it looked crammed into the space with fragmented green areas. She noted Hillsborough's intention to constrict its urban services boundary away from this property, making this intensity inappropriate. She said the Town's unanimous decision against extending water was an important factor for her, as the county historically aligns with municipalities at its edges. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she has met with representatives from Eno River Academy, considered the recommendation from the Planning Board, and weighed the fact that the owners have been trying to sell the property for a number of years. However, she couldn't overlook traffic safety concerns on Highway 86, including a tragic crash killing three people the previous year. She felt NCDOT's practice of waiting for incidents before making changes put families at risk. Commissioner Fowler said she prefers this plan to the 42 because it preserves more acreage overall. She agreed that there are some issues, encroaching on buffers, questions about soil, but other than that, she thought this is a preferable plan to the 42 lot option. She mentioned that it includes a trail that Eno River Academy could potentially use, while the other plan does not include that. She said she trusts that a turn lane will be added if NCDOT allows it. She said she thinks this is closer to the conservation clusters that the Board would like to see. Commissioner McKee main concern was the urban-style, dense development of 49 houses on 20,000 square foot lots without urban services. He stated this would be acceptable with sewer and water, but saw issues with the current proposal. The dense development didn't