Aldermen deny land-use amendment and rezoning for Macy Grove property after residents object

The Kernersville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday to deny a proposed amendment to the town’s development plan (KDP73) and the linked rezoning request (K826) that would have allowed multifamily development on a 14.74-acre parcel west of Macy Grove Road.

Town staff and the applicant described the proposal as a conversion of the property’s land-use designation from Low Density Residential to Mixed Residential and a rezoning from RS-20 (single-family, 20,000-square-foot minimum lots) to RM-5 (residential multifamily, up to 5 units per acre). Catherine Garner, community development staff, said the RM-5 district accommodates duplexes, townhomes and small multifamily buildings and that planning staff and the planning board recommended approval of both the land-use change and the rezoning if the board adopted KDP73.

The public hearing drew several residents who live adjacent to Triad Park and along Macy Grove Road. Opponents said the parcel is surrounded on several sides by parkland and single-family neighborhoods, expressed concern about traffic and sightlines on a curved section of Macy Grove Road, and questioned notification practices. Billy Broadstreet, a nearby resident, said the area has been single-family for decades and told the board “we feel like there is a better option” than multifamily development. Several speakers asked whether the town or Triad Park could keep the land in public ownership for park use.

Applicant representatives highlighted the site’s transitional character, noted a Duke Energy transmission line bisecting the property and said development could be concentrated outside the line’s easement. Bill Grieco, a consultant for the applicant, said early coordination with N.C. Department of Transportation would be required for any driveway permit. Garner clarified that a general rezoning does not allow the board to adopt site-specific conditions and that specific site plan commitments would instead be part of a conditional rezoning application.

After public comment the board considered motions. Alderman Pinnock moved to deny the KDP73 land-use plan amendment; Alderman Apple seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The board then voted to deny the K826 rezoning; Alderman Apple made the motion to deny and Alderman Barrow seconded. That motion also passed unanimously.

Garner told the board the UDO calculates density on the gross acreage and noted that the presence of easements and wetlands would be evaluated later at site-plan review; she estimated roughly 8.25 acres of the 14.74-acre parcel lie outside the power-line easement but said the precise developable area would be resolved during permitting.

The denials preserve the current Low Density Residential designation and RS-20 zoning for the parcel; the applicants may choose to pursue a conditional rezoning or other options in the future.