[{"_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",6483634,"mediaKeyId","5603669-7bab4484f956a7af9ccd8e7263661105","parentId",5603669,"title","Council continues Yergan Road Apartments special‑use hearing after debate over commercial uses, traffic and buffers","audioSeconds",5915,"startMs",4479000,"endMs",10394000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603669-7bab4484f956a7af9ccd8e7263661105&start=4479&end=10394","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603669-7bab4484f956a7af9ccd8e7263661105/thumbnail_4479000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483634/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Council-continues-Yergan-Road-Apartments-specialuse-hearing-after-debate-over-commercial-uses-traffic-and-buffers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483634-bdc17aa730227cb6af6a31efb1a1fa03/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176015&Signature=BxMMaucK3-GnCpLfvP--MiWCJDHHzmFqLE9zlSswEM5D-W5RsikZInkVg41PI-cOrWIYT3P73WSAamvBpxrvdOT9ur8AC2qtMgvsLA7ntgk5K01BaE-Lo~FobnhnFgdVXLkAB76EeKcL~BoLc9uRaDJWtsqi4J61ORFiliLyQ1I~Nk9Jxfspx0AyA2UWHKp5Z-I14pnK9J8O8RTajAojCl34DURU~pQyp21iPf6qQ9c0orFxst28l6fJrCidm48f0MuXTcBuw6JNUY3fPDQaVi~Pr9PffbOt7YInV1hJVRzKgenaoGx571TCuXCz3IaeqNvmsAZnM6xKVpE2949Kvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Garner","date","2025-08-20T02:45:20.43Z","article","The Garner Town Council continued its review of a special‑use permit application for a 257‑unit apartment complex at Yergan Road and U.S. 70 after an extended presentation from the applicant and a lengthy council debate over whether the site should include commercial uses and how to address traffic and tree preservation.

The applicant — Blue Heron Asset Management — presented site plans, architectural elevations and transportation analysis for the three‑building, four‑story proposal. Technical witnesses, including traffic and appraisal experts, testified to the development’s traffic impacts and to market effects on adjacent property values. After more than an hour of council debate that highlighted competing views about commercial development along Highway 70, council voted 4–1 to continue the hearing to a future date to allow time for additional analysis and possible revisions.

Why it matters: the property at the Highway 70/Yergan Road intersection is within a major commercial corridor identified in the town’s planning documents. Council members and nearby residents questioned whether a large residential development on this frontage — without retail or employment uses — would best meet the town’s adopted plans and long‑term economic goals. Council also requested additional detail on preserving the existing tree canopy and on mitigating traffic and noise along Highway 70.

What the applicants presented
Blue Heron representatives described the project as a three‑building apartment complex with 257 units and supporting amenities including a pool, fitness center and internal trails. Staff and the development team said the site is zoned CMX (commercial mixed use) and that the special‑use permit is required for a multifamily use of this scale. Applicants said the site is largely wooded and indicated they would preserve significant tree cover, plant additional canopy and construct stormwater ponds to meet state and town watershed rules. The team also highlighted architectural changes they said addressed earlier community concerns and emphasized that the project would provide more on‑site tree canopy than required by the UDO.

Technical testimony and public concerns
Traffic engineers presented a traffic impact analysis prepared under NCDOT and town guidance; with proposed turning‑lane and access improvements the study found intersections would operate at acceptable levels of service. Appraiser Nick Kirkland presented a property‑value impact review and concluded the development would not “substantially injure the value of adjoining property,” citing local comparable sales and building distances.

Several council members and members of the public, however, pressed for more study. Mayor Gupton said he believed the site — directly on Highway 70 at a major intersection — should better support commercial uses consistent with the Garner Forward plan. He stated that the proposed all‑residential plan was “not the right time at the right place” for the location and urged staff and the applicant to consider commercial or mixed‑use alternatives. Other council members raised questions about preserving the mature tree canopy along the U.S. 70 frontage, locating active amenities (for example, the pool) near a noisy arterial, and the timing of long‑range roadway projects that could change future traffic patterns.

Council action
After extended discussion, a motion to continue the quasi‑judicial special‑use hearing carried by roll‑call vote. Council voted to continue the case to a date to be determined and instructed staff and the applicant to provide additional analysis and potential alternatives, including examining whether portions of the site can support commercial uses, providing a clearer tree‑preservation plan for the U.S. 70 frontage and refining site layout to reduce noise exposure to resident spaces.

Ending
The town attorney noted that any future continuance date will require public notice before a subsequent hearing. Council members and staff asked the applicant to remain available while the requested additional information is prepared so the matter can return to council with a complete record for decision.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting for August 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council held a multi‑hour quasi‑judicial hearing on a 257‑unit apartment proposal at Yergan Road and U.S. 70 and voted 4–1 to continue the special‑use permit review so staff and the applicant can study alternatives, including whether portions of the site should be reserved for commercial use and how to preserve trees along the U.S. 70 frontage.","taxTitle","Garner, Wake County, North Carolina","taxId",55441,"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},6483638,"Council sends Arden Subdivision rezoning to planning commission after public hearing",3123,1310000,4433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603669-7bab4484f956a7af9ccd8e7263661105&start=1310&end=4433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603669-7bab4484f956a7af9ccd8e7263661105/thumbnail_1310000.jpg","/articles/6483638/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Council-sends-Arden-Subdivision-rezoning-to-planning-commission-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483638-deab57f0e07b194fb4218c878df36fa6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176015&Signature=OrspB~~2hugyFmdF68uja8Ei9kMDUCQ~YdW880AFO5q5stfdMl00I7S4M8lcNZjtGvNGxyV4fufnDE8U0Zl7UMPEm2kCyewiv52QO3qndDZbKzXTvFPJmd2zX6GDFUFNPYSPlCwn8V4gTw8Ylx3GB6iw3SRKERFfyF-0Nnw7hJa3p4aiefRMwn0QpGhk1E-AHp9IBeRt7ncye6ob6It5yLnd27Lq1Ey5xRE7t4JCM47b3XysUGocpVksSwuaOoqr38sbV5DF755x2J95GtUthaYMmmyl3InIZ3eCGsmId5TRExDbBrjvDzb7NU5gCLHzzgFnxnlchV2ghj-5U9Ka3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Garner held a public hearing on a tier‑2 conditional rezoning for the Arden Subdivision and then referred the petition to the Planning Commission for further review.

The petitioner asked to rezone 54.4 acres from Rural Agricultural to R‑4 Conditional to allow up to 136 single‑family detached units. Assistant Planning Director Erin Joseph summarized the proposal and staff’s analysis; the development team and neighbors also spoke. After public testimony and council questions, the council voted to refer the matter to the Planning Commission for findings and a recommendation.

Why it matters: the rezoning would convert a large, mostly vacant tract in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction into a medium‑density single‑family community with pedestrian connections, open space and off‑site traffic improvements. The petition raises transportation, watershed protection and neighborhood‑connectivity questions central to Garner’s land‑use planning.

Key points from staff and applicant
Joseph told the council the applicant—represented by Sarah Van Evry of McAdams Group and Mungo Homes—proposes 136 single‑family lots with an average lot size meeting the applicant’s stated dimensions. The plan includes a maximum density of 2.5 dwelling units per acre, minimum lot dimensions of about 53 by 120 feet, a commitment to first‑floor primary bedrooms on some plans, and site design elements such as multiuse trails, open‑space acreage and playground and recreation amenities.

Joseph also noted environmental constraints: the site lies inside the Lower Swift Creek Conservation Overlay District, which limits impervious area for single‑family development to 30 percent. The applicant is proposing stormwater controls and a single stormwater control measure to meet water quality and quantity requirements.

Traffic and neighborhood concerns
A traffic impact analysis completed in October 2024 estimated the development would generate about 1,340 average weekday trips; the applicant presented recommended right‑ and left‑turn lanes and a future signal at Seastone and Old Stage Road. Engineer and traffic representatives told council that NCDOT reviewed the TIA and agreed with its conclusions.

Neighbors at the hearing raised concerns about the proposed one‑way vehicular connection from Hearst Drive and the impact of additional traffic on existing subdivisions. Zach Brown of Whitecroft said residents “do not want any connectivity tied to this master plan” and urged that the connection, if needed for trails or greenway, be pedestrian‑only.

Council action and next steps
Following testimony and council discussion, a motion to refer the rezoning petition to the Planning Commission for a detailed review and findings carried unanimously by voice vote. Planning Commission review will include the issues raised at council — traffic, right‑of‑way and landscaping/buffering — and will return a recommendation to council for a final decision at a later meeting.

Ending
Staff said the packet contains a full consistency analysis with Garner’s comprehensive plan and an itemized list of recommended conditions. Council members asked staff and the applicant for additional plans on right‑of‑way acquisition, the proposed Hearst Drive connection and tree/landscape preservation for review at the Planning Commission.

","A Tier‑2 conditional rezoning request for 54.4 acres at 1010 Road and Old Stage Road to create 136 single-family lots was discussed at length; council referred the case to the Planning Commission for a detailed review after testimony from staff, the applicant and nearby residents.",{"_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},6483643,"Garner council adopts annexation for Bennett Assemblage, 64.92 acres",313,996000,1309000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603669-7bab4484f956a7af9ccd8e7263661105&start=996&end=1309","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603669-7bab4484f956a7af9ccd8e7263661105/thumbnail_996000.jpg","/articles/6483643/Garner/Wake-County/North-Carolina/Garner-council-adopts-annexation-for-Bennett-Assemblage-6492-acres","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483643-c896cd4b3a3c8a958918c9a333a348cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176015&Signature=EigxTNwBCHrzZiNRCaXBTR7UiKZn7e7RBPrZux2wEXM462JHs7T1epx5BD1-U1JnLuF9x1DYetYKNYMzTijEDUl6tGOW6eeZxZ8jGP4um3YcZZmw3JdHjpa5dUEjdEVE9QqAZYgA-xe5-HPKjYweYzxNh8EWVBmp6nniVlubunamAjLNmFCNadUSbe0EfaQbyCQf08qeLCZDzvQ8dVyQR6-Nce4L1EqbwYbmgtAMW6ZTzPdP--jMTCW~1NzijmBhhjSo0fTMGjkYzFaNFxBhyboz7Wb5nN09WJXOzZ65E3FoUAe6GCA5KXpl3NQuzSL04WvD46r5hk~1vuGBsTK8~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Garner Town Council approved an ordinance authorizing the voluntary contiguous annexation of the Bennett Assemblage, adding 64.92 acres plus 6.11 acres dedicated for right of way to the town.

The annexation, described by staff as “annexation case ANX25013,” was presented by Assistant Planning Director Erin Joseph as the final procedural step for a project that previously received rezoning and a special-use permit. Council voted to adopt the ordinance by voice vote; the mayor announced the motion passed 4–1.

Why it matters: annexation places the property inside Garner’s municipal jurisdiction and clears the way for infrastructure connections and subsequent subdivision work. The applicant is seeking water and sewer service from the City of Raleigh, and town staff said the annexation is a necessary municipal procedure under the interlocal agreement with Raleigh.

Details and background
Erin Joseph, the town’s assistant planning director, told council the annexation petition covers “64.92 acres, and also includes an additional 6.11 acres, dedicated for right of way,” and noted the parcel previously underwent a tiered rezoning (CZMP 21-10) and a December 2024 special-use permit. The town described the council action on Tuesday as the final municipal step before the developer proceeds with construction documents and other approvals.

Beth Blackman, a civil engineer with Timmons Group speaking for the applicant, said the project team is working through plan review and site preparations. Town staff said the annexation petition also includes a request that the City of Raleigh provide water and sewer service to the property under the standing agreement between the two municipalities.

Council action
Councilmember Vance moved to adopt the annexation ordinance; Councilmember Matthews seconded. The mayor called for a voice vote and later announced the motion passed with four ayes and one nay. The council did not record individual roll-call votes for each member on the audio record but reported the tally following the vote.

What’s next
With the annexation adopted, the applicant can continue site plan engineering and permitting steps required before horizontal and vertical construction. Town staff said additional approvals — such as subdivision construction drawings, required utility agreements with Raleigh, and any development agreements for frontage improvements — remain to be completed by the applicant and approved by the town.

Ending
Town staff will include the annexed parcels in forthcoming town mapping and service planning. No members of the public signed up to speak on the annexation at the council meeting.

","The Town of Garner unanimously approved an ordinance to annex roughly 65 acres for the Bennett Assemblage, clearing the final municipal step after prior rezoning and a special-use permit; water and sewer service from the City of Raleigh are part of the proposal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council continues Yergan Road Apartments special‑use hearing after debate over commercial uses, traffic and buffers

Council sends Arden Subdivision rezoning to planning commission after public hearing

Garner council adopts annexation for Bennett Assemblage, 64.92 acres