Garner council refers Oldstage rezoning and zoning text amendments to Planning Commission

On Nov. 18 the Garner Town Council unanimously voted to forward two planning items to the Planning Commission for more detailed review: a general rezoning petition for property on Oldstage Road (GZ25001) and a zoning text amendment intended to implement elements of the Garner Forward comprehensive plan into the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

Senior planner Julian Griffith presented GZ25001, a request to rezone about 0.74 acres from Wake County’s R40W watershed district to the Town’s R4 district. Staff noted the rezoning is tied to an upcoming annexation and that utilities (water/sewer) and septic considerations motivated the request. Council discussion focused on septic versus public utilities, potential access points, and whether the petition’s broad list of permitted uses should be narrowed; staff and the town attorney confirmed a general rezoning cannot be conditioned in the same way a conditional rezoning can and that narrowing would require applicant consent or a resubmission as conditional zoning.

Planning director Jeff Trezenberg separately presented updates to a proposed UDO text amendment to implement comp‑plan recommendations. Changes highlighted since prior briefings included limits on the number of townhomes strung together, the introduction of a paired‑house building type, adjustments to R8/R4 district uses and multifamily standards, and clarifications around private streets and upper‑story dimensional standards. Staff noted legal constraints from session law 2024‑57 related to downzoning. Council asked a range of technical questions about multifamily definitions, tiny homes and accessory dwelling units, and the interplay with building code limitations.

Both items were referred to the Planning Commission for a more in‑depth review and recommendation to council; staff said the text amendment will likely be broken into two phases for Planning Commission review and may take multiple meetings to digest.