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Southern Pines council approves Bethesda Road preliminary plat with tree‑preservation condition
Summary
The council approved a preliminary plat to divide a 5.8‑acre tract on Bethesda Road into four residential lots, adding a condition the applicant retain trees 10 inches diameter and larger in the front setback; the applicant consented and staff will include the protection language on the final plat.
Southern Pines council on Feb. 11 approved a preliminary plat to divide a roughly 5.8‑acre tract on Bethesda Road into four residential lots, with a condition to preserve existing trees 10 inches in diameter and greater within the front setback.
Staff planner James Broadwell recommended approval with a single condition tying the subdivision to the town’s comprehensive‑plan goals on preserving natural character. "Our recommendation is approval with that one condition of retaining all of those trees 10 inches diameter and greater within the front setback," Broadwell said during the public hearing.
Broadwell told council the proposal would create three new lots west of an existing house, with each new lot between one and two acres, and that driveway spacing and sight lines on the minor collector had been reviewed by engineering. He said a right‑of‑way dedication on Bethesda Road would clean up deed descriptions that predate the town’s annexation of the area.
Several council members questioned language in the condition that would prevent removal of "all existing trees" in the setback, raising a potential conflict if a future homeowner wanted to build at the setback or cut a driveway. Legal counsel and staff said state law requires applicant consent in writing for such conditions and that the town had corresponded with the applicant about the language.
Tim Carpenter, the agent for the applicant, said the applicant is comfortable with the condition and that the developer will comply with the town’s current tree‑protection standard. "We will comply with the current as of today tree standard ordinance," Carpenter said, and offered to place the exact language on the final plat so the condition is clear and vested at the time of approval.
A council member moved to adopt staff findings and approve preliminary plat MAPP‑05‑24 with the tree‑preservation condition; after a second the motion carried with no recorded opposition. Town staff said it will prepare a written decision reflecting the condition and deliver notice of that decision to the applicant and any interested parties.
