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Harnett commissioners postpone vote on 8.5-acre rezoning at Rawls Church Road and U.S. 401
Summary
After an hours-long public hearing that drew both local support and opposition, the Harnett County Board of Commissioners voted to postpone a final vote on a request to rezone 8.5 acres at Rawls Church Road and U.S. 401 to commercial zoning until a special voting meeting next week.
Harnett County commissioners postponed a final vote on a petition to rezone about 8.5 acres at the intersection of Rawls Church Road and U.S. 401 after a lengthy public hearing on Feb. 17.
The rezoning petition, submitted by PFD Incorporated with applicant Jonathan Tucker, asked that the property be changed from RA-30 (rural agricultural) to a commercial zoning district. County staff told commissioners the parcel fronts U.S. 401, abuts a 100-foot railway right-of-way and sits near existing commercial uses; staff recommended approval. The county planning board unanimously recommended approval on Feb. 3.
Supporters who spoke at the hearing said the site is well suited for commercial development because of nearby residential growth and existing commercial parcels. “This rezoning would bring much needed commercial development to our area, fostering job creation and local economic growth,” said Jonathan Tucker, the applicant, who said his family grew up near the intersection.
Opponents raised traffic and public-safety concerns, and some said the location is too close to a recent traffic-safety improvement the county helped secure. Kevin Matthews, who lives near the intersection, said the new signal has already reduced crashes and that placing commercial development at the corner would reintroduce risk by creating additional turning and crossing conflicts. Johnny Shanton and several other residents cited studies they said link discount-chain stores to localized crime and declines in nearby property values.
Staff reported traffic counts of roughly 8,200 daily trips along the section of U.S. 401 near the site and about 2,100 daily trips on the segment of Rawls Church Road. Staff said a traffic signal has been installed at the intersection since a 2023 rezoning petition for the same property and noted that the parcel is in the county’s employment/mixed-use land-use classification, which supports commercial uses.
After public comment, a commissioner moved to postpone the vote until the board’s next advertised voting meeting, scheduled for Feb. 25 at 9 a.m., when all five commissioners are expected to be present. The motion was seconded and the board voted in favor.
The postponement means the board will re-advertise the item and hold no additional public hearing before taking a final vote at the special meeting. Staff and the applicant said they will continue to work with neighbors and provide any additional information requested by commissioners.
If the board ultimately approves the rezoning, staff said water is available to the site but sewer availability was not verified in the hearing record. The applicant and staff also said no specific commercial tenant had been finalized.
