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Johnston County approves conditional zoning for Cattail Mill site to allow event center, deli-bakery
Summary
The board approved rezoning 3.37 acres at 10369 NC Highway 96 to a general business conditional district to permit an event center and deli-bakery at the historic Cattail Mill; approval included 21 conditions and a Board of Adjustment variance cleared a pedestrian-bridge encroachment.
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners on March 3 approved a conditional rezoning for 3.37 acres at 10369 N.C. Highway 96 to allow an event center and a deli-bakery at the historic Cattail Mill.
Rasta Newton, Johnston County planning director, said the parcel fronts N.C. 96 in O’Neal’s Township and is part of the larger Cattail Lake property. The planning staff and the planning board recommended approval and submitted a statement of consistency for the board’s consideration. Newton noted the site plan shows a pedestrian bridge crossing the lake spillway; the Board of Adjustment previously granted a variance to allow that bridge.
The applicant’s representative, Alza Gilbert, described the conditional zoning as a way to limit previously broad community-business uses and to give the county more control over future activities at the mill. “I think it’s a good use for the property,” Gilbert said, and he confirmed agreement with the 21 conditions listed in the staff report. Gilbert also said the Army Corps of Engineers had provided a letter and that no work disturbing the lake was proposed.
A nearby resident, Crystal Burton of the Daylily subdivision, told commissioners she is not opposed but worried about additional traffic and late-hour events given the new subdivision and nearby roundabout at Highway 96 and 42. Burton asked about parking; during discussion a speaker counted roughly 12 paved on-site spaces and additional gravel parking in a former raceway area. Newton said N.C. Department of Transportation had not yet required improvements at the mill’s drive points; a traffic impact analysis for the larger Cattail residential development will factor into DOT’s decisions on required improvements.
Newton reported a 2023 traffic count of about 2,800 vehicles per day on that segment of N.C. 96, and said the county’s land-use map designates the site as open-space and conservation under Envision Johnston. The planning board’s recommendation and staff report included 21 conditions the applicant agreed to; commissioners voted to adopt the statement of consistency and approve the rezoning.
The board approved the conditional rezoning by voice vote; the transcript shows the motion carried and that the board expects engineering and permitting processes, including DOT and Corps reviews, to address buffer and access details.
