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Durham commissioners approve rezoning for two East Geer Street parcels
Summary
The Board adopted an ordinance rezoning 3107 and 3117 East Geer Street to Industrial Light with Falls/Jordan Watershed Overlay District B and I-85 Major Transportation Corridor; the applicant committed to allowing a trail easement that will be included in the voluntary site plan.
The Durham County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted an ordinance to rezone two parcels at 3107 and 3117 East Geer Street from Residential Rural and Residential Suburban-10 to Industrial Light with the Falls/Jordan Watershed Overlay District B and Major Transportation Corridor I-85.
Aaron Cain, Senior Planning Manager, presented staff materials including maps, community input, and the Planning Commission recommendation. Board members questioned buffer requirements adjacent to residential areas and whether an easement for a planned trail was reflected in the staff report.
Chris Seamster, regional manager for McKim and Creed representing the applicant, told the Board the applicant had applied for a general rezoning and confirmed that the applicant "would allow an easement to the trail and the easement would be included in the site plan." The presentation also noted that submission of a site plan is voluntary; there is no required timeline for submittal and the rezoning cannot be re-opened simply because the site plan is later submitted.
Commissioner Wendy Jacobs moved to adopt the ordinance amending the Unified Development Ordinance to rezone the properties; the motion was seconded by Vice Chair Nimasheena Burns and carried unanimously. Vice Chair Burns then moved, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs, to adopt the consistency statement required under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-605; that motion carried.
The Board requested staff clarity about buffers and emergency-services impacts; staff stated Unified Development Ordinance requirements call for a 50-foot buffer adjacent to residential areas and a 20–30-foot buffer adjacent to commercial properties. The record shows the applicant agreed to include the trail easement in the voluntary site plan, but ownership of the railroad right-of-way and related easement mechanics were noted as constraints.
The rezoning ordinance and the consistency statement were adopted at the Oct. 28 meeting; any future site plan or easement documentation will be processed through standard planning and permitting channels.
