Princeton approves preliminary plat for 92‑home Cardinal Crest with one entrance, contingent on construction plans

The Town of Princeton Board of Commissioners on June 2 approved a preliminary plat for a 92‑home residential development near Holt Pond Road, granting an exemption from the town rule that normally requires two subdivision entrances for plats larger than 30 lots and approving a single entrance with a left‑turn lane recommended by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The motion passed 4-0.

Planning staff and the planning board recommended the preliminary-plat approval with conditions. The developer’s materials describe the project as approximately 54 acres with 92 lots zoned R‑3 (10,000‑square‑foot minimum lots). Staff said the developer will provide roughly 25 acres of open space — “more than 10 times” the ordinance minimum — in part to preserve wetlands and tree cover. The board approved the preliminary plat contingent on the developer submitting detailed construction plans for town review and approval within 120 days.

Town staff and the developer’s engineer told the board the NCDOT preferred a single entrance because sight‑distance constraints on the adjacent hill make a second conventional entrance unsafe. The board discussed emergency access options, including a gated emergency access (Knox box) or gravel emergency drive, and asked staff to require features needed by fire and emergency personnel. The town’s fire chief and the town engineer indicated support for the plan with the DOT‑recommended left‑turn lane into the site.

Commissioners also discussed the town’s ordinance threshold, noting nearby counties generally require a second entrance only after about 100 lots; planning staff said they will present amended ordinance language for future consideration but recommended approving this plat without changing the ordinance tonight. The motion to approve the preliminary plat with contingencies and to allow one entrance passed by a 4-0 vote.