The Wendell Town Board voted to annex and rezone roughly 304.06 acres to create Haven at Wendell, a 55-and-older residential community, and approved a companion development agreement that binds the developer to park, stormwater and transportation improvements.

Planning staff described the reheard proposal as a substantial redesign from a previously denied plan. Collier Marsh, the applicant's attorney, said the project was reduced from 931 units to 793 and that open space was increased to about 44% of the site. "We went from 931 units to 793," Marsh told the board during the applicant presentation. The applicant also added an age restriction intended to qualify for the Housing for Older Persons Act exemption so at least 80% of occupied units will be held for households with at least one resident age 55 or older.

Lennar representatives highlighted several technical commitments intended to reduce downstream impacts. Josh Shin of McAdams, the stormwater practice lead, described site design and detention upgrades and said the project will "meet and exceed the DEQ and town requirements for stormwater treatment," including constructed-wetland measures and a sitewide increase in detention design to the 50-year storm; a pond near several neighbors will be designed as a constructed wetland and the applicant committed to a 15% reduction in 100‑year peak flow at a specified downstream analysis point.

Traffic consultants told the board that converting the project to age-restricted housing significantly reduced projected trips relative to the original plan; the applicant reported a daily trip reduction of roughly 56.9% and steep reductions in AM and PM peak trips compared with the earlier 900‑plus‑unit study. The developer said it will still construct previously committed off-site transportation improvements and will run signal-warrant analyses at agreed thresholds, with some improvements to be evaluated before the first certificate of occupancy on portions of the project.

Public comment was mixed. Several nearby residents and farmers objected to loss of farmland, long-term connectivity to town, and remaining traffic and school-crossing concerns. Neighbors who participated in multiple meetings and negotiated changes with the applicant said many of their requests were addressed; David Cozart, a nearby resident, told the board "they have sat and they have listened to a lot of criticism." Several speakers who supported the project noted enhancements including larger buffers, additional open space and stronger stormwater measures.

After deliberation, the board approved the annexation and rezoning motion (voice vote, 4–1). The board then held the required public hearing and approved the development agreement that secures utility-allocation assurances to the developer and details for the town park, greenway, and off-site transportation and utility improvements. The agreement also provides flexibility on some park features given the age-restricted nature of the neighborhood.

The development agreement and zoning conditions include specific commitments: at least 80% of occupied dwellings must meet the 55+ occupancy test consistent with federal and state rules; a minimum 10‑acre public park to be dedicated and constructed by the developer; enhanced perimeter buffers (including 30–50 foot buffers in identified locations); multiple stormwater measures (detention up to 50 years sitewide, a constructed wetland at a key outlet and performance commitments at neighbor-sensitive points); and off-site transportation work estimated by the applicant at several million dollars. Planning staff recommended approval and the planning board had previously recommended approval following the applicant’s revisions.

What’s next: the development agreement authorizes the town manager to sign and requires continued coordination on engineering plans, final stormwater designs and signal‑warrant analyses before certain certificates of occupancy. The developer must also file federal verification documentation to qualify the project for the Housing for Older Persons Act exemption.

Votes at a glance: Annexation and rezoning to R‑7 Conditional for Haven at Wendell — approved, voice vote 4–1. Development agreement between Lennar Carolinas LLC and Town of Wendell — approved (voice vote).