The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment for Grove 98 (RZ 18-15) to allow a roughly 0.75-acre addition of about 30 angled employee parking spaces at the Wegmans store and a related driveway modification.

Town staff and Wegmans representatives told the board the additional parking responds to sustained store growth since 2019 and weekend capacity constraints. Art Pierce, representing Wegmans Food Markets, said the company has added employees over the years and sometimes rents nearby spaces during peak holiday periods. Jordan Peterson of Bolton & Mank, the project's consultant, described the design as a one-way loop with permeable paving, enhanced landscaping and bioretention for stormwater control.

The amendment modifies PUD language on driveway channelization requirements and adds green infrastructure commitments, including permeable pavers and bioretention areas. Peterson said the added parking is less than a 6% increase in overall campus parking and that the access point will be exit-only onto Forbes Grove Way, with the parking area restricted to employees.

Several commissioners praised the environmental measures and the employee parking benefit. Margaret Watkins, a member of the public who spoke during the hearing, urged additional canopy trees and questioned whether more parking encourages driving; she thanked the applicant for the permeable pavers but suggested three more canopy trees.

The board voted to approve the RZ 18-15 Grove 98 PUD amendment. The motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to approve RZ 18-15 Grove 98 PUD amendment: passed unanimously.

The amendment is recorded as part of the Grove 98 PUD updates and its implementation will follow the town's permitting and site plan review process.