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Cramerton denies 175‑unit 'Towns at Cramerton' rezoning, approves Riverlink greenway design contract and parking budget amendment
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Summary
The board voted 5‑0 to deny a 175‑unit Towns at Cramerton rezoning; it approved a $317,000 design contract for the Riverlink Greenway extension (part of a $440,000 CMAQ grant) 4‑1 and unanimously approved Budget Amendment #20 for the downtown parking lot project.
The Cramerton Board of Commissioners denied a proposed 175‑unit townhome rezoning and approved a greenway design contract and a downtown parking budget amendment at its Nov. 17 meeting.
RZ22‑03 — the "Towns at Cramerton" proposal — would have rezoned roughly 37.97 acres on South New Hope Road to allow 175 townhomes (about 4.6 units per acre). Staff outlined multiple recommended conditions including annexation before preliminary plat approval, masonry or cementitious façades, required traffic improvements or a fee in lieu tied to NCDOT project U‑5821, and a cap limiting rental units to 60% of the development. The board voted 5‑0 to deny the rezoning and the statement of consistency, finding the plan inconsistent with the town’s Land Use Plan and vision for the area.
On transportation and recreation, the board approved a design and permitting contract with WithersRavenel for the Riverlink Greenway extension (project C5704). Staff said the town previously entered a municipal agreement with NCDOT that included a $440,000 federal CMAQ grant; WithersRavenel’s proposal is $317,000. Ashton Lamb of the Carolina Thread Trail said the Riverlink Greenway is one of the region’s most visited trails and that the extension "will provide connectivity to the Towns of Cramerton and McAdenville." Commissioners discussed potential naming opportunities, differing trail cross‑sections through McAdenville, and the risk that changing the project scope could jeopardize the CMAQ funding. The design contract passed 4‑1, with Commissioner Atkinson the lone vote against the award.
The board also approved Budget Amendment #20 for the downtown parking lot project 5‑0. Staff briefed commissioners on other small capital items — including sidewalk proposals for the Timberlake neighborhood using Powell Bill funds, potential monument signage affected by the South New Hope Road widening, and timing for an electronic marquee sign once staffing is in place.
Why it matters: denying the Towns at Cramerton rezoning maintains the town’s current land‑use guidance for that corridor. Approving the Riverlink design contract keeps the town on track for a federally supported greenway connection that regional planners say will boost recreation and nonmotorized connectivity. The downtown parking amendment funds a local infrastructure project tied to the board’s stated goals for downtown improvements.
Votes at a glance RZ22‑03 (Towns at Cramerton) — Denied 5‑0; statement of consistency denied 5‑0. Riverlink Greenway design contract (WithersRavenel) — Approved 4‑1 (Atkinson opposed); proposal $317,000; tied to $440,000 CMAQ grant. Budget Amendment #20 (Downtown Parking Lot Project) — Approved 5‑0.
Next steps: WithersRavenel will proceed with design and permitting; staff noted that altering the project scope could require reapplication for the CMAQ grant.