Mooresville staff advance rezoning, voluntary annexation for 108-home Brumley project on Oak Ridge Farm Highway

Town of Mooresville planning staff on Sept. 10 presented a conditional rezoning and a voluntary annexation request for a 55.488-acre property at 1304 Oak Ridge Farm Highway that the applicant proposes to develop as 108 single-family detached homes.

James Colley, with Community Development and Planning, told the board the applicant, Jordan Grant and Associates, and the owner, June Goodman, seek to change county residential zoning to Town of Mooresville conditional residential general and to annex the property into Mooresville to access town utilities. The property lies in voting Ward 3 and spans two watersheds, Back Creek and Caudle Creek.

The planning board recommended approval of the rezoning by a 6–2 vote on July 22, Colley said. He added the site is in Tier 4 on the town growth map, meaning it is not a current priority for utility connections.

Allison Craft, Mooresville’s water resources director, told commissioners the site sits beyond the town’s existing distribution in that area and will require developer-installed water and sewer extensions. "This will require a pump station," Craft said, adding the developer is responsible for bringing water and sewer service to the lots “at their expense.” She said the new mains would not discharge to the South Iredell pump station.

Town staff and commissioners noted the rezoning would not upzone density beyond what could exist under county residential-agriculture zoning; Colley said the planned two houses per acre reflect similar densities to the county’s existing zoning. Road improvements included in the proposal call for a realigned Highway 150/152 and a signalized intersection; several commissioners cited safety concerns at the existing intersection and said the road work weighed into their consideration.

Planning staff said police and public works have confirmed they can serve the property, and fire coverage is within the town’s five-mile coverage area though outside the preferred four-minute response window from Station 6. Colley said the proposal meets statutory requirements for voluntary annexation.

Commissioners pressed staff on service continuity, response times and the developer’s commitments for on-site infrastructure; staff said details on the annexation and service extensions will be addressed in the forthcoming annexation ordinance and development approvals.

If the Town Board moves forward, annexation and the rezoning ordinance would return for formal action at a subsequent meeting.

Questions and next steps from the board focused on sewer/water financing and the timing of road and utility improvements that would allow building permits to be issued.