Pittsboro commissioners unanimously deny rezoning for 102 Park Drive after residents cite traffic, flooding concerns

The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners voted unanimously June 13 to deny a conditional rezoning request for 102 Park Drive, concluding a public hearing in which neighbors pressed the town to protect a low‑density neighborhood that they said already struggles with traffic and flooding.

Neighbors including Anna Davidson and Paul Neville told the board the application — which sought conditional zoning from R‑12 (medium‑density residential) to OICZ (office and institutional conditional zoning) — would worsen speeding and flooding on Park Drive and Oakwood Drive. “Traffic’s been a problem for a while,” Anna Davidson said, describing children and pets in the street and a petition she filed with more than 50 signatures. Paul Neville said flooding is common on Park Drive and argued additional impervious surface would increase insurance costs and harm residents’ safety.

Planning staff said the property is currently designated medium‑density residential and that the proposal would be inconsistent with the town’s land use plan; the planning board had requested a reduced list of uses before forwarding the application. The applicant, Brandon Moore of Site Group and representatives of Via Logica, said the development would use the Alpha Center for nonresidential access and that the building and parking would be set back outside the 100‑year floodplain with a substantial vegetated buffer.

Commissioners questioned how the proposed zoning condition that prohibits direct commercial or office access from Park Drive would be enforced. The applicant said the intention is to avoid a new driveway on Park Drive and route nonresidential traffic through the Alpha Center and onto Hillsborough/15501, while preserving trees and stormwater buffers.

After hearing public concerns and staff analysis, Commissioner Shipp moved to find the rezoning inconsistent with the land use plan and adopt a resolution denying the amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance. Mayor Pro Tem Baldwin seconded the motion and the board voted aye; the motion carried unanimously.

The decision leaves in place the R‑12 residential designation for 102 Park Drive. Staff reminded residents and applicants that state and town rules allow resubmission after the statutory waiting period (staff noted a six‑month resubmission prohibition for substantially similar applications in the packet materials). The board also noted the town’s new contract for an updated future land use plan, planned public engagement, and said that document will inform future rezoning decisions.