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Council approves Morganton Park South preliminary plat with tree‑preservation buffers and road extension plan
Summary
Council approved a major subdivision preliminary plat to create four commercial outparcels and a roadway (Old Morganton Road extension) in the Morganton Park South CDP, directing preservation of trees six inches and larger in key corridor and linear‑park buffers while allowing limited understory clearing and grading within drip lines.
The Town Council approved the preliminary plat for the Morganton Park South north lots and the Old Morganton Road extension, authorizing the subdivision of a 32‑acre parent tract into four commercial outparcels plus remaining developable acreage and the right‑of‑way for a new road that will connect into the Carolina Green Parkway area.
Planning staff emphasized that the parcels lie within the Morganton Park South conceptual development plan and the Urban Village/Highway Corridor overlay, which together require a 40‑foot highway‑corridor buffer and a 40‑foot linear park. Staff recommended conditions to preserve trees six inches in diameter and greater in those buffers, while allowing understory clearing and limited grading; the town arborist advised that selective understory removal can improve the health of the remaining longleaf pines and native stand.
Applicant Midland Atlantic’s representative said the owner intends to acquire the property and build the extension road as committed in the CDP, providing easements so the road can connect farther east to Patriot Boulevard in the future. Traffic consultant representatives updated the traffic impact analysis to reflect recent counts and concluded the new connections and partial access controls (right‑in/right‑out/left‑in) would operate acceptably when built out.
Council adopted the staff findings and approved the preliminary plat with the two staff conditions (highway corridor overlay buffer and Carolina Green Parkway linear‑park buffer protections). Staff noted that subsequent PDP or site‑plan reviews for individual outparcels will include detailed design, planting and stormwater plans and that the road construction will trigger grading and construction sequencing.
