Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves 84-unit planned development on Springs Road; developer says homes will be ‘net‑zero ready’
Summary
The council unanimously approved rezoning petition 25‑02 to a planned development for 84 single‑family lots on about 8.5 acres on Springs Road; the developer told council the homes will be market‑rate and built to Department of Energy net‑zero‑ready standards.
The Hickory City Council unanimously approved rezoning petition 25‑02 on June 17 to allow a planned residential development of 84 single‑family homes on roughly 8.5 acres along Springs Road, across from Saint Stephen’s Lutheran Church and School.
The change from R‑3 residential and commercial corridor zoning to Planned Development (PD) was recommended by the planning commission, which held a public hearing May 28 and voted unanimously to approve the petition, Planning Director Bridal Frasier told the council.
Why it matters: The rezoning paves the way for a higher‑density residential project near existing neighborhood‑scale commercial corridors and planned sidewalk and roadway improvements.
Frasier said the developer’s plan shows 84 dwelling units for a gross density of about 9.8 units per acre and that the plan complies with height and land‑use standards for PDs. The site plan shows internal block‑pattern streets, private open space (about 31% of the site) and private maintenance by a planned homeowners association. Frasier said final street, pedestrian and utility work will be subject to City and N.C. Department of Transportation review during permitting.
Developer Nicholas Parker, who spoke to the council, said the homes will be market‑rate and built to energy standards. "The price points will be market rate," Parker said. "These will be, you know, at or slightly above the market rate per square foot in this area. ... This project will be in line with several projects we're doing in in around Charlotte and that these will all be net 0 energy homes built to the Department of Energy's net 0 ready standards. So this will be, we're very excited about this project because this will be the largest net 0 energy project in North Carolina once it's complete."
Two adjacent property owners raised concerns at the planning commission about noise and the feeling of being surrounded by new development; Frasier said the developer agreed to consider a combination of vegetated buffers, fencing and an earthen berm and later spoke with the neighbors to address their concerns. Council members asked whether a sidewalk project planned on Springs Road will front the new development; staff confirmed the planned sidewalk is located on the same side of Springs Road and said construction coordination with DOT will be required so newly poured sidewalks are not later disturbed by DOT improvements.
The planning commission found the petition consistent with the city's Hickory by Choice plan; council members voted to accept the planning commission’s recommendation and to rezone the property to Planned Development under petition 25‑02.
Next steps: Detailed site design, permitting and DOT coordination are required before construction. The developer said pricing details remain to be set and that final design and permitting determinations will govern timing and construction sequencing.
