Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves rezoning and site plan for 386‑unit PUD‑CD along Market Street
Summary
The Council rezoned 91.32 acres to a PUD‑CD and approved a site‑specific plan proposing 386 residential units (152 townhomes, 162 single‑family lots and 72 duplexes); supporters cited workforce housing needs while neighbors raised concerns about traffic, parking and density.
The Washington City Council adopted an ordinance on Sept. 9 to rezone 91.32 acres between Highland Drive and Market Street from O&I to Planned Unit Development‑Conditional District (PUD‑CD), approving a site‑specific plan that proposes 386 residential units.
Community and Cultural Services Director Mike Dail told Council the Comprehensive/CAMA Future Land Use Map recommends office, institutional and multi‑family development for the area and that the PUD‑CD zoning is generally consistent because it allows multi‑family uses. The developer’s site plan calls for 152 townhomes, 162 single‑family lots and 72 duplex units; the project is expected to be built in four to five phases, according to a representative from O’Kane & Associates.
Developer representative Chris Respess said the plan anticipates selling single‑family units and renting remaining units, and said the duplexes are planned as two‑bedroom, two‑bath homes aimed at teachers, medical personnel and emergency staff. John Jesso, a member of the county workforce task force, told Council: "There are 8,000 people that commute to Washington because there aren’t available homes here." Supporters framed the project as addressing starter and workforce housing needs.
Opponents cited concerns about density, parking, traffic and infrastructure. Barbara Buckaloo said she worried about too many residential units on a single parcel, and Lisa Barnhill presented signatures from Kingswoods residents opposing the development. Staff noted that NCDOT review and a Technical Review Committee (TRC) site‑plan approval are required; the developer is responsible for required infrastructure per the application materials.
By motion of Mayor Pro tem Anthony Tyre, seconded by Councilmember Richard Brooks, Council adopted the rezoning and associated site plan with conditions. The vote recorded four yes votes and one absence (Councilmember Antwan Horton). Council noted that a preliminary plat must be approved by Council and that TRC site‑plan approval is required before development proceeds.
The site previously had been rezoned from RA20 to O&I in June 2023; the Comprehensive/CAMA plan was updated to reflect that change prior to this request.
