Supervisors approve four rezones; Alder Lane rezoning limited to larger lots after resident concerns

Graham County supervisors voted to approve four rezoning requests at a public hearing, including a rezoning of a 2.5-acre tract on South Alder Lane that drew multiple resident objections over flooding, drainage and traffic.

Planning and Zoning Director Steve McGaughy introduced four items the commission had forwarded with recommendations: (1) APN 105-45-087A (approx. 1.7 acres, owner: Mr. Green) to RR (single‑family residential) to allow a half‑acre split; (2) APN 1628-081 (approx. 12 acres, applicant Donovan Kerr) to AR (3‑acre minimum); (3) a multi‑parcel rezone requested by Peter Vlasas totaling about 224 acres from general to commercial-manufacturing; and (4) APN 105-35-180 (Tom Palmer, approx. 2.5 acres along South Alder Lane) from general land use to RSB (single-family residential). All four items were approved by the board.

Tom Palmer, who said he was seeking a modest, affordable lot for his daughter, told supervisors he intended to split the 2.5‑acre parcel into roughly five lots around a half‑acre each and that he would ensure any lots and homes meet flood and elevation requirements. "As I started to draw that up, half acres made a lot of sense," Palmer said. Board members and staff discussed neighborhood concerns and the site’s location within an AO floodplain.

Several Alder Lane residents spoke in opposition to Palmer’s rezoning. Peter Hansen, who lives at 650 South Alder Lane, said the tract historically soaks and diverts overflow and warned that adding multiple homes would require more engineered drainage and could alter flows onto nearby properties. "If numerous homes were built in the proposed area... this could easily change the direction of the water flow back west across Alder Lane and place our property and other properties on Alder in greater jeopardy from flooding than they already are," Hansen said.

Resident Jody Clayman raised access and road-width concerns, noting parts of Alder Lane are a 16‑foot easement and expressing worry about increased traffic. Longtime resident Scott Alder said vehicle speeds currently up and down Alder Lane average 45 to 55 mph and described safety concerns at the skewed intersection with the highway.

Supervisors discussed options to limit density. Planning staff noted a "buildable half‑acre" in county zoning terms typically equates to 20,000 square feet to allow required setbacks, septic and other infrastructure. The board voted to approve Palmer’s rezoning to RSB with a stipulation limiting lots to a minimum of 20,000 square feet (about a buildable half‑acre) so the parcel could not later be subdivided into smaller 10,000‑square‑foot lots without a future hearing. Palmer confirmed on the record that a 20,000‑square‑foot minimum would be acceptable.

Other rezoning votes: the Green property rezone to RR (half‑acre split) passed without public opposition; Kerr’s request to AR (3‑acre minimum) passed with board discussion about precedent and infrastructure; Vlasas’s large parcel rezone to commercial‑manufacturing passed after the applicant said the northern portion adjoins floodplain and the rezoning aims to allow commercial frontage nearer the highway.

Supervisors and staff said any future construction will be reviewed through permitting and engineering requirements; lots in flood‑prone areas must meet county elevation and drainage standards and each building permit will require demonstration that downstream properties will not be adversely affected. The board also asked staff to follow up on right‑of‑way and easement records for Alder Lane noted by residents.

Ending: The board closed the public hearing after taking the four votes. Staff noted additional work remains for engineering review, permit-level flood mitigation and potential traffic-control measures on Alder Lane.