Oak Ridge council approves rezoning for 25.4-acre Alcorn Road parcel after hearing traffic, well and floodplain concerns

The Oak Ridge Town Council voted Dec. 4 to rezone a 25.4-acre parcel at 7856 Alcorn Road (Guilford County tax parcel 162804) from agricultural (AG) to RS-40 residential zoning (RZ25-04) after a public hearing that drew residents' concerns about traffic, private wells and floodplain runoff.

Staff presented the application and said the property lies in the Jordan Lake/Greensboro WS-3 watershed and contains floodplain along Beaver Creek. Sean, a town staff member, said public water and sewer are not available at the site and noted the Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval by a 6–0 vote.

Craig Fleming, representing Ferguson Lane LLC (the applicant), told the council the parcel is consistent with surrounding RS-40 zoning and that a private soil scientist found no jurisdictional wetlands outside the identified floodplain. Fleming said NCDOT preliminarily indicated a traffic-impact study would not be required and emphasized that any future subdivision must comply with town ordinances, NCDOT standards and county and state regulations.

Several neighbors urged caution. Terry Moorepainter of 7875 Alcorn Road cited 47 years of residence and said accidents are frequent on the nearby curve, asking the council to require a traffic study and a water-impact study assessing the effect of an estimated 17–21 new wells and septic systems. Don Harder, who lives on Bison Drive, described recurring creek widening and flooding and asked the council to consider runoff risks.

Council members acknowledged safety and hydrology concerns but said many site-specific controls are addressed during the NCDOT driveway-permit process and the later subdivision review, which will determine lot yield, tree-conservation areas and any required stormwater controls. A council member summarizing the staff recommendation noted, "The proposed request is consistent with the recommendations of the Oak Ridge future land use plan." The motion to approve RZ25-04 adopted staff and Planning & Zoning findings of consistency and reasonableness by voice vote.

What happens next: Rezoning approval changes the permitted zoning but does not authorize a subdivision or construction. If the developer proceeds, driveway locations, stormwater controls and lot layouts will be reviewed in a subsequent subdivision application; NCDOT will evaluate any required turn lanes or driveway permits.