Planning Board recommends denial of Oak Grove Hill Phase 3 rezoning after residents warn of traffic, staff notes trade-offs

Summary

After extensive public comment about cut-through traffic and notice failures, the Huntersville Planning Board recommended denial of petition R25-12 to revise Oak Grove Hill Phase 3, citing concerns about reduced connectivity and neighborhood impacts despite applicant claims that cost and environmental mitigation drove plan changes.

The Huntersville Planning Board on Jan. 27 recommended denial of a developer request to revise the rezoning for Oak Grove Hill Phase 3, following public testimony about traffic impacts and extensive debate over connectivity, tree preservation and project economics.

Staff presented petition R25-12 and explained the proposed changes to the previously approved rezoning, including removal of the Carver Avenue connection into Phase 3, a small net increase of one unit to 157, identification of 83 specimen trees, and a canopy-save percentage of 13.76% (above the 10% minimum). Senior planner Lauren Speight said the applicant is requesting modifications to survey, canopy preservation and buffer rules and that staff used the same resident mailing list for hearing notices as the applicant. Speight noted the town received four returned notices and that postal receipt evidence was provided by the applicant.

Residents told the board they had not received required notice, would have attended earlier meetings if alerted, and warned that removing the road connection will push cut-through traffic onto Westminster Drive, Pembroke and other neighborhood streets. "It will come…

Planning Board recommends denial of Oak Grove Hill Phase 3 rezoning after residents warn of traffic, staff notes trade-offs

Summary

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