Council sends Mann Farm Lot 1 annexation back for more review after traffic and tree concerns

Greenville City Council postponed action on an annexation request for a 4.697-acre parcel at the northwest corner of East Tenth Street and Evolve Way on March 13, voting to table the matter to the April 10 meeting.

City planners told council the property, currently zoned CG (General Commercial) in Pitt County, is in the Hardy Creek watershed and is expected to connect to city sewer after annexation. Staff estimated the site could yield about 30,000 square feet of commercial space and an assessed value near $4 million. Council and residents focused the discussion on traffic impacts along East Tenth Street, site access design and preserving existing trees on the parcel.

Why it mattered: Several council members and a string of neighborhood speakers said the section of East Tenth between Lowe’s and Walmart is already busy, includes a blind curve and has limited infrastructure for additional commercial traffic. Neighbors and public commenters pressed for traffic-calming measures, medians or delineators and asked whether developer plans would force more left turns into traffic. Citizens also urged protection of mature trees and consideration of heritage trees on the site.

Staff presentation and council questions - City Planner Chris Kelly said the lot is in the city’s primary service area and is part of a larger subdivision that had engineering and DOT preliminary approvals; he said Evolve Way is designed as a right-in/right-out driveway and that DOT/city engineering-reviewed access measures such as a “pork chop” island to prevent left turns into Evolve Way. - Council members pressed staff for detail on medians on Tenth Street, enforcement of right-in/right-out operations and whether the area’s conditions have changed since the parcel was rezoned commercial in 2008. - Director of Engineering told council there were no DOT plans to add medians on Tenth Street but said the driveway would include a dual “pork chop” island at the site to prevent left-turn movements. Staff said the roadway cross-section can carry current average daily traffic but intersections are the first place capacity is lost.

Public testimony - Residents from River Hills and surrounding neighborhoods, including Rebecca Powers, Mark Parker, Pedro Coronel and Yoshi Newman, urged council to deny or delay the annexation, citing traffic, safety at a blind curve, funeral processions passing nearby, and potential loss of mature trees. Several speakers noted a large apartment complex wrapping around the parcel and asked how its residents would safely access adjacent uses. - Speakers asked whether annexation was being pursued primarily to extend sewer service; staff confirmed annexation would permit a sewer connection that is otherwise not allowed outside city limits.

Outcome and next steps - Council member Blackburn moved to deny the annexation after summarizing traffic and tree concerns; that motion was seconded and debated. Council member Scully moved to postpone for additional information, a motion seconded by another member; the motion to postpone prevailed. - The council voted to table the annexation and requested additional staff information on trees (including whether any heritage trees are present), whether delineators or medians are planned on Tenth Street, the site plan and apartment access details. Staff said the site plan is under review by city engineering and DOT and that council does not routinely see final site plans. - Tabling vote: motion to postpone to April 10 passed 4-3.

What to watch next - Council asked staff to return April 10 with details on tree preservation options, confirmation of access management measures at the driveway and any DOT plans for Tenth Street. Citizens asked the council to consider delaying annexation until traffic management improvements are in place.

Sources: Staff presentation by city planner Chris Kelly, remarks from engineering staff and public testimony at the March 13 council meeting.