Planning board backs Mattamy Homes rezoning for 5202 Spence Farm Road; resident urges DOT action on nearby two-lane road

The Fuquay Varina Planning Board on July 21, 2025, recommended approval of RAZ202505, a zoning map amendment to rezone 19.78 acres at 5202 Spence Farm Road to Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a 47-home subdivision. The motion to recommend approval was moved and seconded and the chair announced the motion carried.

Planning staff told the board the rezoning supports several 2040 Land Use Plan policies, including policy 3.1 (green space connectivity), 7.1 (discernible neighborhood structure) and 7.2 (encouraging transitional uses and intensities). Staff said the master plan and narrative provided with the petition demonstrated that the proposed use "fits into the development context and demonstrates compliance with the zoning conditions offered and many goals of the 2040 land use plan." The petition identified the property by PIN 0657360697.

Josh Chenery, representing the applicant Mattamy Homes, described the project as "a pretty good project" and said the development would be smaller than many of the firm's projects: "We're excited about smaller project for us, 47 homes, with, really reducing the density, to I think, the allowable density is about 6 units an acre. I think we're about 2 and a half, 2.6, something like that." Chenery said the plan includes design conditions such as hardy siding and elevated foundations and that the development is adjacent to a school.

During public comment, resident Becca Boss, who lives on Spence Plantation Lane in the extraterritorial jurisdiction just up the street from the site, said she was not opposed to development but urged the town to address traffic safety. Boss said the road is a "very small 2 lane road" and asked the town to "reduce the speed limit, add some stop signs, sort of reduce the ability to make it like a fly through." She asked the town to "look at working with the DOT to lower the speed limit on that road to 35 so that it matched in town speeds" and said she and neighbors have had to work with DOT previously on speed reductions.

Planning staff and commissioners discussed how traffic questions are handled. Staff said speed-limit changes and certain traffic controls are under North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) authority and that the town typically requests such changes from DOT. Staff said the town would discuss the residents concerns with DOT, that DOT can perform site-distance inspections, and that a DOT driveway permit will be required for the project. The board also noted the towns Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) shows Spence Farm Road as a two-lane road with a 70-foot right-of-way along the project frontage; staff said the petitioner will be required to dedicate right-of-way and install curb, gutter and a sidewalk and will be required to provide a deceleration (right-turn) lane into the neighborhood where it meets Spence Farm Road.

Staff told the board a traffic-impact analysis (TIA) is generally required at higher thresholds (about 100 lots or peak-hour trips) and that this project is unlikely to trigger a TIA. Commissioners said frontage improvements such as curb and sidewalk can have a calming effect on speeds but that requests to lower posted limits must go to DOT.

The Planning Board recommended approval of RAZ202505. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Board of Commissioners for final action; planning staff said they would follow up with DOT about the residents safety concerns.