Aberdeen board approves annexation and R-20 rezoning for 35.5-acre McKee Homes site over one dissent

Aberdeen commissioners approved the voluntary annexation of roughly 35.5 acres along U.S. Highway 15-501 and adopted a zoning map amendment to R-20 for the parcel (ZA-25-03) during their Oct. 27 meeting, with a 4-1 vote. The parcel, filed under Moore County PID #00049872 and submitted for annexation on behalf of the Gordon Welborn Heirs, had no public speakers at the hearing. Planning Director Pam Graham presented the application and staff analysis before the Board took action.

Graham told the board the petition is for contiguous annexation of a 35.5-acre parcel currently zoned Rural Agricultural in Moore County; the applicant seeks R-20 to allow single-family residential development. She summarized staff findings that water and sewer appear available in the area for potential connection, that staff found no evidence the annexation would create debt obligations beyond anticipated revenues, and that there was no indication the annexation would threaten the health, safety or welfare of existing residents. The Planning Board reviewed the request June 19, 2025, and recommended approval unanimously.

Developer representative Bob Koontz said the team intends to pursue a conservation subdivision option. "The intention is to do a conservation subdivision," Koontz said, adding that the plan calls for amenities that protect sensitive environmental features and for lot sizes and house styles similar to neighboring Legacy Lakes. Graham described two illustrative yields: approximately 56 lots under a straightforward R-20 calculation (after standard open-space and infrastructure deductions) or roughly 76 lots if the developer uses the conservation-subdivision option and preserves more than 32% open space. Either scenario, she noted, falls below the 150 peak-hour trip threshold that would require a traffic-impact analysis.

Commissioners asked several clarifying questions during the hearing. Commissioner Tim Helms asked about lot sizes in adjoining Legacy Lakes; Graham said lots there typically average 10,000–15,000 square feet while some recent lots are around 7,500 square feet. Commissioner Teressa Beavers questioned who attended an earlier citizen information meeting and expressed concern that nearby Pinebluff residents — not Aberdeen residents — had been the primary attendees; Graham replied the meeting was open to the public and that adjoining property owners had been notified. Mayor Robert Farrell asked about wetlands on the property; Graham said she did not have a percentage available in the meeting packet and reminded the board that wetland protections are state-managed.

Board votes reflected a split on local impacts. Commissioner Teressa Beavers moved to deny the annexation petition; that motion, seconded by Commissioner Tim Helms, failed 2-3. Later a motion to approve the annexation (moved by Commissioner Wilma Laney and seconded by Commissioner Elease Goodwin) passed 4-1 with only Commissioner Beavers voting no. The subsequent zoning motions — finding the rezoning consistent with adopted plans, finding it reasonable and in the public interest, and approving the ordinance — all passed 4-1 with the same dissent.

What happens next: the developer will proceed with site design and, if annexation and rezoning stay in place, the town will require detailed site plans, required open-space protections, utilities analysis for water and sewer connections, and any required NCDOT approvals for driveways or turn lanes. Planning Director Graham said if a conservation-subdivision layout proceeds, the town will review open-space and resource protection at the site-plan stage. The board recorded the formal annexation ordinance and zoning ordinance adoption as part of the meeting minutes.