Commission backs annexation zoning for Enola Road and Pete Britton Road parcels owned by Madcap Adventures LLC

MORGANTON — On March 13 the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the City Council apply Medium Intensity District (MID) zoning with corridor, watershed protection and airport/heliport safety overlays to portions of three parcels at 0 Enola Road and 757 Pete Britton Road should the parcels be annexed into the city.

Planning staff explained that the three parcels are partly inside the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and partly in Burke County. The county’s current zoning for the out-of-city portions is R-1; the applicants have asked to annex all parcels into Morganton and to apply MID so the entire assemblage would be governed under the city’s zoning rules if annexation is approved.

Wendy, city planning staff, noted practical consequences to future development: while the properties have city water and power, sewer does not run to the properties and would require an extension of roughly 1,000 feet along Fiddlers Run Creek to connect; absent sewer access, properties can continue to use septic systems where allowed. Staff also pointed out a small rental dwelling on a 0.07-acre remnant that likely depends on a leach field and may require a subdivision recombination or easement so the septic system is not compromised by future development.

Commissioners asked about any county objections and were told no objections were known; the annexation process requires coordination with local fire districts regarding debt-service reimbursement if applicable. Commissioners also confirmed for the record that all three parcels are owned by Madcap Adventures LLC.

The commission voted to recommend that the City Council support the proposed zoning application should the April 7 annexation be approved. The annexation itself will be the subject of a separate public hearing at the City Council meeting on April 7.