Council approves rezoning for Hoover Road assemblage, allowing up to 402 housing units with mixed housing types

The Durham City Council unanimously approved a rezoning and map amendment for a roughly 3.4-acre assemblage near Miami Boulevard and Hoover Road, a move the planning staff said would permit higher-density residential development and, if built to the applicant’s plan, could allow up to 402 housing units.

Mery King of the city planning department presented the staff report, noting the property lies adjacent to city limits and that the applicant proposed a plan that the staff deemed largely consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan but would require a map amendment for the use mix. The applicant indicated at the hearing the proposal would include up to 402 units with at least 25% townhomes, and that at least two thirds of the units would be multifamily with the remainder townhomes (the applicant supplied these proportions during discussion).

Patrick Baker, representing the neighborhood assemblage and several local property owners, told the council the owners have worked on the project since 2019, held two neighborhood meetings in July and November 2024, and negotiated community commitments including a planned contribution to public schools. Baker said the assemblage has a history of illegal dumping that owners have spent money removing and that the owners intend to invest in a mix of housing types to diversify local housing options.

Council members asked about infrastructure, neighborhood services and affordability commitments. Planning staff and the applicant discussed utility connections and confirmed portions of neighborhood-serving land uses would be limited; staff said about 10% of the site currently has neighborhood-service designations and that the proposal would change that mix.

During the hearing several council members praised the project’s local ownership and community engagement. Councilor Bristo noted the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation and called the project a “good example” of local-led development. Councilor Baker asked about the duration of affordability commitments; the applicant said multifamily units would be committed for 20 years while townhome commitments were discussed as more likely to be 30 years for certain units, though the council asked staff to confirm financing feasibility and long-term affordability standards during future review.

The council voted unanimously to approve a zoning map amendment, adopt the related ordinance and adopt a statement of consistency as required by North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-605). Planning staff said they will follow up with the applicant on outstanding details tied to utility connections and formal affordability commitments.