Neighbors, developer spar over Sheffield Farms rezoning; council opens public hearing

The Durham City Council opened a public hearing April 7 on a proposal known as Sheffield Farms, a rezoning and annexation request covering about 219 acres near Farrington Mill Road.

Daniel Lester, planning department staff, told the council the proposal seeks annexation and rezoning of 219 acres to allow a planned development with 702 residential units including single-family homes, townhomes and apartments, and commercial/retail space. The presented plan calls for a minimum of 315 townhome units and no more than 350 single‑family homes; it also showed retail space and no minimum required number of apartment units. Lester told the council that the proposal is inconsistent in places with the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and that staff recommended modifications to the southern portion of the site to better reflect recreation and open-space protections.

Attorney Neil Gosh, representing the applicant (EMI Homes), said the project includes substantial infrastructure commitments the developer will pay for directly. Gosh said the developer proposes more than $2 million in water and sewer infrastructure paid by the private developer and additional…