[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6606566,"mediaKeyId","2963355-0ee823f9ad30e017cde937798aeb1f19","parentId",2963355,"title","Neighbors, developer spar over Sheffield Farms rezoning; council opens public hearing","audioSeconds",1396,"startMs",4664000,"endMs",6060000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963355-0ee823f9ad30e017cde937798aeb1f19&start=4664&end=6060","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963355-0ee823f9ad30e017cde937798aeb1f19/thumbnail_4664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606566/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Neighbors-developer-spar-over-Sheffield-Farms-rezoning-council-opens-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606566-b812184b0491b3b50813db3f0c1e4a28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206204&Signature=LQUcxxWfovJL4wZmDQusrcUrbgjyNC9txvlaP4j3X61Tuf4SN4uR7NTrAAPVG~-4wBDtEZeWenrZsyzl7zRlSVwDeiQZ8aiEVnpv4bsP4xDyu0yD6rwx6wHKY04ju8~abzwvhsyJ66oHDS9H1j8Fxf-XpDWcflb2X8PiljZ6s4YTKeJKYp7~mURZYjrPEpBPbLkXf6tZCU0pHjvU4gUkMjkWwFm3kwm76Azo4hloMgk0yn6tOAnkddSaciCwQyYdDB3wCMFw5W-oDx57vidG7lzpIozH10RMQ-HAWDXXuaveDwfBw3Tk8wdh1htzTS9DOvcCj6ibYDhDyRgoMJzClA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Durham","date","2025-04-11T15:07:44.53Z","article","The Durham City Council opened a public hearing April 7 on a proposal known as Sheffield Farms, a rezoning and annexation request covering about 219 acres near Farrington Mill Road.

Daniel Lester, planning department staff, told the council the proposal seeks annexation and rezoning of 219 acres to allow a planned development with 702 residential units including single-family homes, townhomes and apartments, and commercial/retail space. The presented plan calls for a minimum of 315 townhome units and no more than 350 single‑family homes; it also showed retail space and no minimum required number of apartment units. Lester told the council that the proposal is inconsistent in places with the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and that staff recommended modifications to the southern portion of the site to better reflect recreation and open-space protections.

Attorney Neil Gosh, representing the applicant (EMI Homes), said the project includes substantial infrastructure commitments the developer will pay for directly. Gosh said the developer proposes more than $2 million in water and sewer infrastructure paid by the private developer and additional infrastructure exceeding $10 million. He also said the project will preserve tree cover in commitments and provide a minimum affordable housing component — the applicant offered 5% of units at 80 percent of area median income (AMI) for 30 years. Gosh told the council the project would provide a preserved natural corridor, potential park space and investments intended to support future growth in the area.

Several residents and community groups urged the council to deny the request or require stronger mitigation and UDO conformance. Speakers raised concerns that the proposal would extend sewer lines and other infrastructure through areas labeled in staff materials as natural heritage or protected lands, increase traffic on two‑lane roads that cannot be readily widened without encroaching on protected lands, and worsen stormwater and watershed impacts on the Jordan Lake basin. Public commenters described the area as environmentally sensitive and said the project was being considered even though the staff report indicates the proposed plan does not meet several UDO requirements. One speaker noted the city’s long record of denying rezoning requests that failed to meet UDO standards.

Andrea Quinn, a resident whose family has lived on the land for more than a century, said her property is four and a half acres with septic systems and that annexation would allow her family access to municipal water and sewer. \"Please do not shut the door on me or my family's legacy,\" Quinn said, asking the council to approve the project so her family could connect to water and sewer.

Engineers and technical commenters raised questions about whether sufficient engineering studies and detailed utility plans had been provided to show how the sewer extension would be built and maintained. One longtime water and wastewater engineer said the proposal lacked in-depth studies and that developers normally supply more engineering evidence to demonstrate feasibility and operations before a council decision.

The applicant and supporters emphasized commitments to tree preservation, a wildlife corridor and affordable housing components, while opponents and some commenters urged the council to require additional mitigation, more complete traffic and utility studies, and closer conformance with the UDO.

The council did not take a final vote that night. The public hearing was opened, many speakers provided testimony, and the meeting recessed for continued public comment and deliberation; staff and the applicant remain available to supply further information to the council. The council indicated it will consider the record, technical follow-up and the UDO conformance issues as the process continues.

Actions and status

- Public hearing opened on rezoning/annexation for Sheffield Farms (approx. 219 acres). No final council decision recorded on April 7.
- Applicant presented infrastructure commitments and affordable-housing offer; opponents requested denial or stronger conditions.

What to watch

Residents asked the council to require more complete engineering and traffic studies and to ensure UDO compliance before approval. Staff and the applicant said more detailed materials can be provided; the council will consider those materials and any recommended conditions before any final vote.

Sources: Planning staff presentation by Daniel Lester; testimony by attorney Neil Gosh for the applicant and multiple resident commenters including Andrea Quinn; planning commission record referenced by staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SPANISH VERISION DURHAM CITY COUNCIL MEETING 4.7.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Durham City Council opened a public hearing April 7 on a proposal to annex and rezone roughly 219 acres for a mixed residential development called Sheffield Farms that the applicant says will build infrastructure and some affordable units, while opponents say the plan fails to meet the city’s Unified Development Ordinance and poses traffic and environmental risks.","taxTitle","Durham City, Durham County, North Carolina","taxId",5766,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6606571,"Council approves consent agenda; councilors extract items, approves multiple public-street acceptances",702,3633000,4335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963355-0ee823f9ad30e017cde937798aeb1f19&start=3633&end=4335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963355-0ee823f9ad30e017cde937798aeb1f19/thumbnail_3633000.jpg","/articles/6606571/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Council-approves-consent-agenda-councilors-extract-items-approves-multiple-public-street-acceptances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606571-1f15d079dcaa594c3a8713576d8536c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206204&Signature=PdSVqggS-ThqroFAEsLJV1Eff~OT3xgSSKPiw2~pbR9mQMtdNB8ziG9px8PqcFc0MdnFzdsweCD1KFv0B7sqI-iPyz9MiH~b-xFxTdlM9hYQf8BDPIjWv5feBRbGMck-PWi9xGaxr53IiT1IOh5zEZbFaD29dMbhriUMKtdbJWgoFdNdx39KG61Gt6fNo2JzO7hs1alNwE1JUFGIo~2htlA2ETwgc4htY0yAYiCjMKyxl8L~oO32ArUZQRikJ1ut5hSZCbnUqTdggcyZ-k81bwnAb9PM-jU05GEauThUoldU2ql4c7rBjP-AKHmqKStLAsI1RuGIvbK~TIWkNuTC1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Durham City Council on April 7 approved most items on its consent agenda unanimously, referred two items for further review and took separate votes on several extracted items, including acceptance of streets and public utilities.

At the start of the consent calendar the council voted to approve the consent agenda with several exceptions. The clerk recorded that items 5 and 13 were referred back to staff and item 15 was extracted for separate consideration. The motion to approve the remaining consent items passed unanimously.

A community speaker asked the council to consider the neighborhood impacts of accepting small alleys and private drives for city maintenance, saying some alleys serve only a handful of homes and were maintained historically by homeowners’ associations. The speaker said the added linear feet of street accepted by the city shifts ongoing maintenance costs and stormwater impacts to the municipal budget.

Councilors then moved to approve item 14 — a set of acceptances of streets and public utilities in several subdivisions and phases across the city — which the agenda described as acceptance of certain streets and infrastructure for maintenance by the city (South Point, Creekside, Bedpage and multiple phases listed in the agenda). Robert Joiners of the public works department answered questions on specific cost and measurement points during the discussion.

The council voted 7-0 to accept the streets and public infrastructure listed in item 14.

What passed

- Consent agenda (items not extracted): approved unanimously. Items 5 and 13 were referred back to staff; item 15 was extracted for separate consideration.
- Item 14 (Acceptance of specified streets and public utilities): approved 7-0.

Public comment and staff responses

Residents asked the council to provide consistent standards about when the city will accept small, alley-like streets for maintenance and whether acceptance effectively subsidizes suburban expansion. Public works staff clarified details about how frontage and linear feet are measured and said they would follow up with specifics requested by councilors.

Next steps

Staff will follow up on the referred items (5 and 13) and the extracted item (15) per the council’s direction and will provide the requested clarifications about costs and linear feet calculations related to street acceptances.

Sources: Council discussion and votes, public comment, responses from Robert Joiners, Department of Public Works.","Durham's council approved the consent agenda unanimously on April 7, referring two items back to staff and extracting others for separate consideration; a separate vote approved acceptance of multiple public streets and utilities (item 14) by a 7-0 tally after public comment about alleyways and maintenance responsibilities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6606576,"Durham council adopts Vision Zero action plan, staff to continue case-by-case speed work",750,3710000,4460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963355-0ee823f9ad30e017cde937798aeb1f19&start=3710&end=4460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963355-0ee823f9ad30e017cde937798aeb1f19/thumbnail_3710000.jpg","/articles/6606576/Durham-City/Durham-County/North-Carolina/Durham-council-adopts-Vision-Zero-action-plan-staff-to-continue-case-by-case-speed-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606576-7c90e14139efc53d568a55e3115e943f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206204&Signature=MJhfnYGjImRiiakrR6~n1zG6CtuVG9weTuFY1nvfjDq3Wktq2~SGL8dJ~8Ee0rto-7go1BHw3gAG-y4p4mEXqTw~PHU7rdrlWc117sj53gvzVLF0dE4khTmFIUH9PLsOFGs9inb3oqEOftnIJfznnqZA~UxRE85rfbPLHQHlEGo7P63fQKIYOspWaHXLFPtaIuBeCIlu6j4Rd4BwwRSf4bYsYIkzWy~TgIyeuf07fQe0b8P53CAm3ByYn2l-htskUrkMRFeX3lDZ7XiJkxhtxjpj2fmiWW0N6-4QGOEVT1tc7cknsZPAF-ILeOqPmcfO1YWGWPRm~73wzcRYveZ3mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Durham City Council on April 7 unanimously approved a Vision Zero action plan aimed at reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries across the city.

The plan sets out a citywide strategy and an implementation timeline that, according to staff, includes ongoing case-by-case work and data collection now, while a comprehensive, citywide management strategy will be refined and phased in later. \"We are doing the work in specific locations now and will compile those efforts into an overall strategy,\" said the city transportation director (identified in the meeting as the director of transportation). The council voted to proceed with the plan without opposition.

Councilors and staff stressed that certain actions tied to other regulatory updates — such as Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) revisions — require sequencing and that some technical steps are urgent. City staff told the council that the plan requires more systematic data collection and that the city currently addresses speed and safety concerns largely by responding to resident requests and collision reports. Staff said those case-by-case responses will continue while a centralized dashboard and citywide prioritization tools are developed and shared with the public.

During discussion, a councilor asked for assurance that the plan did not signal a delayed start to safety work until 2027, when some staffing milestones are expected. The transportation director replied that 2027 is the anticipated date for some staffing and broader program commitments, but that site-specific safety work, collision reporting and mitigation work are happening now and will inform the full rollout. \"We are doing this work now in targeted locations and will incorporate those results into an integrated approach,\" the director said.

The motion to adopt the Vision Zero action plan was made, seconded and approved unanimously.

What the council approved is a policy-stage plan directing staff to continue current, location-specific safety interventions while preparing a citywide management strategy, data dashboard and prioritization framework. The plan calls for additional speed data collection, evaluation of high-collision corridors and coordination with UDO updates where regulatory tools are relevant. The council did not vote to fund new, citywide staff positions in the motion; any staffing or budget changes would be handled through future budget processes.

The adoption marks a policy commitment to a data-driven, phased approach to speed management in Durham: continuing immediate mitigation where collision risk is highest while building the tools and staffing to manage speed comprehensively across the city.

Council action

- Motion: Proceed with the Vision Zero action plan as presented to council (no ordinance change required at time of vote).
- Outcome: Approved unanimously (7-0).

Next steps

Staff said they will continue case-by-case speed management work, collect additional speed and collision data, build the public-facing dashboard, and return to the council with implementation details and any resource requests as needed.

Sources: Presentation and remarks by the city transportation director; council roll call on April 7, 2025.","The Durham City Council unanimously approved a Vision Zero action plan that outlines a citywide strategy to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries, with staff saying targeted, case-by-case work and additional data collection will continue immediately rather than wait until the plan’s full implementation date.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Neighbors, developer spar over Sheffield Farms rezoning; council opens public hearing

Council approves consent agenda; councilors extract items, approves multiple public-street acceptances

Durham council adopts Vision Zero action plan, staff to continue case-by-case speed work