Panel backs rezoning for age-restricted residential development

A planned residential development for adults 55 and older with closely associated commercial development cleared an important hurdle Monday when the Rolesville Planning Board recommended rezoning for the property.

Located south of The Point, east of U.S. 401 and west of Rolesville High School, the 148-acre tract is the planned site of an “age-restricted” development for adults 55 and older. Although the plans calls for mainly residential development, some neighborhood businesses such as barber shop and pharmacy are also planned — mostly as amenities to serve the residents.

The planning board voted 4-1 at its Aug. 26 meeting to recommend that the Rolesville Board of Commissioners approve a rezoning of the bulk of the property from Residential Low to Residential High as a conditional zoning district and also approve rezoning about seven acres to General Commercial.

The town commissioners make the final decision on rezoning requests, taking into consideration the recommendation from the planning board.

A conditional zoning district places additional restrictions on the development beyond what would otherwise be specified in the definition of that particular district in the town’s Land Development Ordinance.

The rezoning would allow higher-density residential development. The proposed conditions include an age restriction to adults 55 and older, a maximum of 525 residential units, and a requirement that planned amenities be constructed by the time 400 residential units are completed.

Planning board member Derek Versteegen cast the lone vote against the recommended rezoning. In particular, he expressed concern about the development’s impact on traffic safety in the area and also a concern about the loss of potential business development within a planned Business Park area.

Town staff said the rezoning request is consistent with the Town of Rolesville’s Comprehensive Plan because:

• The proposed single family detached and attached housing types fit within the Mixed Use Neighborhood land use description as the residential component and proposed General Commercial areas will allow for some areas of nonresidential development to support the future residents of the development.

• The proposed vehicular circulation network will enhance or establish Thoroughfare and Collector connections, respectively, as recommended by the Town’s Community Transportation Plan.

• The proposed sidepaths will establish pedestrian connections as recommended by Rolesville’s Greenway Plan.

But town staff also noted some inconsistency with the Comprehensive Plan, namely:

• The proposed single family detached and attached housing types do not fit within the Business Park Future Land Use Designation. The 2022 Commercial Growth Feasibility Study yielded a plan to diversify Rolesville’s tax base with nonresidential development along the future Fowler Road extension.

In recommending approval of the rezoning, town staff noted “it is a priority for the Town Board of Commissioners to find locations for age-restricted housing in Rolesville. As town staff are working on the Affordable Housing Plan and getting started on the Comprehensive Plan update, the need for different housing types for different people, such as those over age 55, is becoming more and more prevalent.”

There is also a voluntary annexation petition for the property that will be coming before the town board.

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