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Wendell annexes Pleasant Grove parcels to enable Carver School redevelopment; MOA with SHPO approved
Summary
The Wendell Town Board voted to annex roughly 9.44 acres that include the former Carver School and approved a memorandum of agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office to mitigate impacts of a federally funded redevelopment into a community center.
The Wendell Town Board on Monday approved the contiguous annexation of about 9.44 acres—parcels at 948 and 952 Morphis Bridge Road—and authorized a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Wendell to address historic-preservation mitigation tied to redevelopment of the Carver School site.
Town Planning staff presented the annexation request and said the town has received federal funding from Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Wake County funds, and will use town bond funds for the community-center project. Because the properties sit outside town limits today but are connected to utilities, staff said annexation is required so town funds can be used and to prevent those properties from continuing to pay higher, out-of-town utility rates.
The board’s action adopted the annexation ordinance and separately approved an MOA tying the use of federal funds to mitigation measures required under federal review. Planning staff described the MOA as documenting a permanent photographic record of the current Carver School condition, creating a virtual story map of local school history, coordinating with the Wendell Historical Society and Capital Area Preservation, and installing a historic display within the rehabilitated community center. The town manager was authorized to sign the final MOA, with major substantive edits to return to the board.
Pastor Asa Bell of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, who identified himself as the church’s pastor for the past 18 years, spoke in favor: “This project has been a blessing and ... I think a benefit, not just to parts of Wendell, but to the entirety of Wendell.” A local church deacon, James Pamm, described earlier dreams to build a facility “across the street” from the church and thanked the board for enabling the project.
Board members repeatedly described the vote as the culmination of long-standing community efforts. The town manager and staff said the planning and historic-review steps are required by HUD reporting tied to the allocated federal funds.
The annexation and the MOA passed after motions from board members; the board voiced assent with the verbal “Aye” when asked. The approved MOA will require the town to ensure the mitigation items are completed and to coordinate final wording with SHPO and local preservation partners.
The town will continue right-of-way and construction planning steps with property owners and the selected architect and consultant team as the rehabilitation moves toward design and construction.
