Council approves Vision 0 action plan and reviews zoning request for Farrington Mill Road

The Durham City Council meeting on April 7, 2025, focused on significant developments in urban planning and zoning, including the unanimous approval of the Vision Zero action plan aimed at enhancing road safety.

During the meeting, Mayor Williams and council members discussed a request from Bridal Latham and MI Homes of Raleigh for a utility extension agreement, voluntary annexation, and an initial zoning change for a 218.5-acre parcel located at 8422 Farrington Mill Road. The current zoning classification is residential rural, but the developers propose to change it to planned development residential 3.241. This change would allow for the construction of up to 702 dwelling units, which would include single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, along with up to 5,000 square feet of retail space.

The development plan stipulates that a minimum of 350 units must be townhouses, while no maximum is set for apartment units or retail space. Notably, a portion of the land east of Farrington Mill Road will remain under county jurisdiction and is not included in the rezoning request.

City planning staff indicated that while the proposed zoning aligns with the mixed-use neighborhood designation on the Place Type Map, it is inconsistent with the recreation and open space designation in the southern part of the site. They recommended changing this area’s designation to mixed-use neighborhood to better reflect the proposed development.

The meeting concluded with a call for further public hearings on the matter, emphasizing the council's commitment to community engagement in the planning process.