Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Annexation Residential Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council holds Tar Heel Clubhouse annexation and rezoning after fire‑service concerns; applicant to explore reserving land for future station
Summary
A large annexation and rezoning request on Tar Heel Clubhouse Road was continued to July 1 after council and staff raised concerns about fire response times; the applicant agreed to explore reserving land on the site for a future fire station and asked for more time to refine conditions.
Council on June 17 continued both the annexation (AX1724) and rezoning (Z1424) for a roughly 78‑acre site on Tar Heel Clubhouse Road to the July 1 meeting after public safety staff identified fire response time concerns and the applicant agreed to investigate options for mitigating those concerns.
Planning and Development staff reported the site sits inside the city's planning jurisdiction and is adjacent to Alvis Farm, a parcel the city holds for future parkland. The applicant proposed R‑6 zoning with conditions to allow up to 225 single‑family lots; staff noted the proposal would be inconsistent with the existing future land use map designation of rural/residential production but included conditions to preserve open space and prohibit townhouses and apartments.
Planning staff briefed council on proximity to existing city‑maintained streets and utilities; staff and commissioners expressed mixed views because the site lies near existing development and parkland but also beyond typical service response times for fire. Bynum Walter, planning staff, said assessments showed required water and sewer are available but that the site would trigger immediate assessments for waterline extensions upon annexation.
Marie Farmer, representing the applicant Meritage Homes, said the team had modified conditions to increase on‑site open space, limit building types and lot sizes, and coordinate a greenway connection to the adjacent Alvis Farm. Farmer said the applicant was exploring reserving acreage for a future fire station on the site to address public safety concerns.
"We have been exploring ways to respond to address, including, reserving acreage on‑site for a new fire station," Farmer said. "We understand that engineering services and Raleigh Fire have indicated that reservation for a new fire station would need to be on existing right of way and be at least 3 acres in size."
The applicant asked for a continuance to finalize conditions and provide additional materials. Council voted to continue both the annexation and rezoning to July 1 so staff can review any revised conditions and follow up on public safety and utility assessments.
