Council adopts Project Cougar rezoning for 128-acre site at 5100 Rainer Road
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Summary
Garner Town Council unanimously approved a conditional rezoning (CZ25001) for a 127.98-acre site known as Project Cougar, changing a mix of CMX, light and heavy industrial conditional districts to a single light industrial conditional district to support employment uses.
The Garner Town Council voted unanimously Sept. 16 to adopt a conditional rezoning for Project Cougar (CZ25001), rezoning 127.98 acres at 5100 Rainer Road to a single light industrial conditional district intended to support employment-driven development.
Planning staff described the site as currently containing a mix of commercial mixed-use (CMX), light industrial and heavy industrial conditional zoning and said the parcel sits within two designated activity centers, including a regional employment center and a transit-oriented development node. The applicant, NCTH Holdings LLC, proposed allowing 25 of the 44 permitted uses normally allowed in the target light industrial district; the applicant also offered a written condition locating office and headquarters uses at the northwest corner facing South Greenville Parkway and U.S. 70.
Planning commission reviewed the application Aug. 11 and recommended approval 6–1. Staff recommended approval and provided draft motions and a consistency analysis in the council packet. Commissioners and staff flagged questions about jobs, traffic, infrastructure and environmental impacts during the planning commission review.
On Sept. 16, council considered a motion to adopt the ordinance effecting the rezoning. The motion was seconded. The council approved the ordinance by unanimous voice vote; no roll-call tally of named votes was recorded in the meeting minutes, but the council's earlier roll call indicates Mayor Gupton, Mayor Pro Tem Vance and Council members Singleton, Behringer and Matthews were present and voted in favor. Council member Dellinger was excused.
Planning staff noted 2024 NCDOT traffic counts on the nearby portion of U.S. 70 of roughly 42,000–45,000 average annual daily trips and said the site is targeted for employment uses in the town's comprehensive plan. The record shows a neighborhood meeting held Nov. 18 at the Garner Senior Center with four attendees and 123 properties/occupants notified; planning commission and staff materials are in the council packet for detail.
The ordinance was adopted during the regular meeting. No amendments to the rezoning ordinance were recorded on the council floor at adoption.
