Council approves Dominion plan for 167-unit age‑restricted housing with traffic, stormwater and safety conditions

Clayton Town Council on Sept. 16 approved a conditional‑use rezoning that will allow Dominion to build a 167‑unit, age‑restricted (55+) multifamily building and about 6,500 square feet of commercial space on an 8.3‑acre site at Pritchard Road and Swan Trail.

The vote, 4–1, followed months of review, revisions and public comment focused on traffic, school pedestrian safety and stormwater. The developer agreed to an expanded set of conditions after a planning‑board recommendation and a second neighborhood meeting, including right‑in/right‑out access on Pritchard Road, a raised crosswalk and lighted signage at Collinsworth/Athletic Club Boulevard, installation of a Level 2 electric vehicle charger, additional buffer landscaping, double silt fencing during construction and a fenced stormwater pond with a fountain.

The council’s approval amends the zoning from CRM (Corridor Commercial) to conditional commercial (CZM) with use restrictions limiting the housing to age‑restricted affordable multifamily. The developer said the project is intended to provide long‑term, income‑restricted housing for seniors and to generate fewer vehicle trips than many commercial alternatives that could be built under the current zoning.

Why it matters: Councilmembers and residents repeatedly raised safety concerns about pedestrian crossings and school carpool congestion at nearby Riverwood Elementary and Middle School. Council and staff pressed the applicant for physical improvements and stronger commitments before approving the rezoning. The council framed the vote as a tradeoff between allowing higher‑traffic commercial uses by right and approving a conditioned affordable senior housing project that the applicant says will produce substantially fewer daily trips.

Key facts and commitments - Site: ~8.3 acres at Pritchard Road/Swan Trail/Collinsworth/Waterfield Drive. - Housing: 167 independent living units in a 3‑story building; units restricted to residents 55+ with income/rent limits (applicant described 60% AMI terms during the hearing). - Commercial: ~6,400–6,500 sq ft of detached retail/office space limited by condition. - Parking: Applicants propose about 273 total spaces (246 on site, 27 on‑street). - Public improvements and conditions the applicant committed to include: - Right‑in/right‑out driveway onto Pritchard Road (permitted by NCDOT after coordination). - Raised crosswalk with ADA landings and lighted signage across Athletic Club Boulevard at Collinsworth. - New sidewalks, a 10‑foot multiuse path on Pritchard, parallel parking on Collinsworth and widened rights‑of‑way (applicant will dedicate additional R/W). - Double silt fence during construction and perimeter…