Planning board recommends rezoning for Fuquay-Varina food pantry site at 220 West Academy Street

The Fuquay-Varina Planning Board voted to recommend approval of Rezoning REZ-2025-16 for a nearly 1-acre parcel at 220 West Academy Street, moving the site from Downtown Center-1 to the Office and Institutional Conditional Zoning District.

Planning staff told the board the requested zoning map amendment is consistent with the town's 2040 land use plan and supports policies to encourage infill development and downtown growth; staff recommended approval as reasonable and in the public interest. The staff presentation identified the parcel by PIN 0656879758 and staff noted the rezoning aligns with the town's land-use policies.

Wayne Malden, the applicant, said the rezoning request is on behalf of a local food pantry that purchased property adjacent to its current rental location and plans to build a permanent on-site facility. "They have purchased a piece of property... What they are planning on doing is building their own building on-site over there," Malden said. A volunteer at the pantry, Sharon Bruley, spoke in support and said the pantry operates a drive-through and that the location is "crucial" to its operations.

After closing the public hearing and with no board questions, a member moved to recommend approval of REZ-2025-16 "as it is reasonable and in the best interest of the public for the reasons identified by staff," the motion was seconded, and the board voiced its approval; the chair announced the motion carries.

Next steps: The Planning Board's recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Board of Commissioners for final action. The record for the application includes the petition materials submitted by the applicant and the staff report entered into the official record.