Board votes 4-1 to continue contested development plan and rezoning to Sept. 24 after neighbors press for full notice

At the July 8 meeting the Kernersville Board of Aldermen voted 4-1 to continue two companion items — a development-plan request (identified in the meeting as KDP 76) and a related rezoning (referred to as K791A1) — to the Sept. 24 board meeting.

Town staff said the developer requested the continuance to obtain additional information from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and other agencies about drainage and roadway impacts. Raymond D. Thomas, an attorney who spoke on behalf of the applicant, told the board the petitioner was waiting for responses from DOT and other agencies and needed more time to assemble the information for the board’s consideration.

Several neighbors urged the board to hear the case that night instead of continuing it. Eric Compton, who identified himself from 1590 Slate Road and said he had been active in the hearings, told the board the matter had been before the community repeatedly over two years and that “nothing new has been brought up.” Compton said some residents had not come to the meeting because they believed the case had been continued and that a continuance could reduce attendance and public opposition.

Town Manager and staff described the options for a continuance, including reposting signs, re-advertising in the paper, and sending letters to adjoining property owners if the board chose to continue the cases. Staff said state rules require the matter be placed before the elected board within a statutory window after planning-board review; staff and the applicant said scheduling for August or September would be within acceptable practice and that reposting and additional notice could be provided.

After public remarks the board approved a motion to continue the items to the Sept. 24 meeting; the motion passed 4-1. The board instructed staff to re-advertise and to send notice to adjoining property owners. The record at the meeting did not indicate the petitioner withdrew the application; town staff said a withdrawal would restart statutory waiting periods under the town’s Unified Development Ordinance.

The transcript records the continuance motion and the vote tally but does not show changes to the underlying application or new technical materials being accepted at the time of the vote. The Sept. 24 agenda will include the items as a public hearing with new notice to neighbors per staff guidance.