Fuquay Varina approves $305,731 roadway and greenway fee for Harvest District subdivision

The Fuquay Varina Board of Commissioners on Oct. 21 approved a $305,731.43 fee-in-lieu payment tied to the Harvest District subdivision, authorizing the town to use the funds for roadway and greenway improvements the developer could not build on site.

Planning Director Pamela Davidson told the board the required improvements include full half-median sections along Old Honeycutt Road and Purfoy Road (per the town’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan) that could not be constructed by the developer because a developer may only build improvements on its side of the road. Davidson said the master plan had committed to a public greenway but, once engineered, the trail would have been inaccessible from the new development because of steep slopes, wetlands and the location of a proposed stormwater facility.

"The suggested motion tonight is to approve a total of $305,731.43 as fee and lieu payment for roadway and greenway improvements associated with the Harvest District subdivision project as presented and recommended," Davidson said.

Mayor Blake Massingale noted the town would collect the fee at 125% of the certified cost so the town would have funds available to construct the complementary improvements on the opposite side of the road. "They're going to pay... at a rate at 125% of that cost that's been certified," the mayor said, describing the mechanism that allows the town to fund the other half of medians and related work.

Commissioner Eckhart asked whether residents of the Harvest District would have a practical connection to the town greenway. Davidson and other staff said steep slopes and wetlands along the western edge of the property would require substantial retaining walls and would leave no direct, walkable access from the neighborhood; residents likely would have to reach the greenway by walking to Old Honeycutt Road. The discussion also noted that any creek crossing would require approval from the corps, and the corps historically will not approve a crossing unless there is a constructed connection on both sides.

The engineering director reviewed the developer's cost estimate and contingency and confirmed it is consistent with the identified improvements, Davidson said. The board moved, seconded and the motion carried with the town recording "motion carries"; no roll-call tally was given in the meeting record.

The fee will be held by the town for roadway and greenway improvements associated with the Harvest District subdivision project; staff said the town can explore relocating the greenway alignment or using the funds to complete the complementary half-section across the road when conditions allow.

The board approved the fee during the meeting's administrative items; no further public hearing on the item was recorded.