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Council approves rezoning for 22 townhomes on East Geer Street with environmental and housing commitments
Summary
Durham City Council unanimously approved a rezoning to allow up to 22 townhomes at 1911 and 1915 East Geer Street, with developer commitments including a $20,000 contribution to the dedicated housing fund, a $5,000 DPS payment, 20% tree coverage, a 10-foot multiuse path and limiting wetland impacts to infrastructure needs.
Durham’s city council voted unanimously Dec. 1 to rezone two parcels at 1911 and 1915 East Geer Street from Residential Rural / Residential Suburban-20 to Planned Development Residential 6.573, allowing up to 22 townhome units on 3.35 acres.
Planning staff opened the public hearing and confirmed statutory notice requirements had been met. Attorney Neil Ghosh, representing the property owners, described the proposal as a small-scale infill project and outlined commitments the applicant offered to address planning commission concerns: a minimum of 20% tree coverage, a 10-foot-wide multiuse path along the frontage, EV chargers and Energy Star specifications, three accessible first-floor units, a $20,000 lump-sum contribution to the city’s dedicated housing fund and a $5,000 contribution to Durham Public Schools to offset the project’s estimated impact of approximately one student.
Ghosh also said wetlands and a riparian buffer along the site’s East Geer Street frontage mean some infrastructure (driveway, multiuse path, bus stop) could affect wetlands, and the applicant committed to minimizing those impacts and placing open space and tree save areas around wetlands not directly impacted. Planning staff and council members discussed access, NCDOT involvement for any state-right-of-way access, possible traffic-calming referrals to the city’s street services group and the absence of a final price point for units.
During public comment Jen Wickman (who also used her married name) spoke in favor of the proposal and delivered remarks about market-rate housing and gentrification.
After questions about proffers and environmental protections, Council member(s) moved and seconded an ordinance to amend the Unified Development Ordinance. The motion passed unanimously; the council also approved the required consistency statement under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-605 by a recorded 7-0 vote.
What passed: an ordinance rezoning the two parcels to Planned Development Residential 6.573 with the applicant’s written commitments recorded in the development conditions; additional final language and technical zoning commitments will be finalized with staff.
Next steps: staff and the applicant will finalize zoning commitment language and site design details prior to permitting.
