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Council tables proposed 46‑unit senior housing rezoning pending traffic study and special call meeting
Summary
A developer seeking a conditional rezoning for a 46‑unit independent senior apartment project at '0 Tanglewood Drive' presented site plans and financing plans tied to Low‑Income Housing Tax Credits; council postponed action to a special call meeting after residents and council members raised traffic, access and infrastructure concerns and asked staff for DOT input and a traffic study.
Fairfield Homes presented plans for a 46‑unit independent senior multifamily development on a 9.37‑acre parcel currently zoned Highway Business, asking to rezone it to a conditional Planned Development Residential district with one‑ and two‑bedroom units and a small commercial farmers market retained on site.
"We chose Lewisburg for two reasons — growth potential and connectivity to community amenities," said Joe Wickham, director of development for Fairfield Homes, describing unit sizes (about 664 sq ft for one‑bedrooms, 920 sq ft for two‑bedrooms), proposed buffers, and an intended financing strategy relying on Low‑Income Housing Tax Credits with a 30‑year restrictive covenant.
Residents and several council members raised concerns about traffic backup at the Wade/401 corridor, emergency vehicle access and nearby parking constraints at the adjacent shopping center. "We still have our concerns about density, infrastructure, traffic concerns," said Kathy Mullen, citing an earlier rezoning that increased unit counts and the community's online comments about traffic and density.
Planning staff said the project as presented would likely qualify as a conditional district and noted that by‑right development could produce equal or higher unit counts; staff recommended placing conditions — limiting uses to the senior housing and farmers market and recording protective covenants.
Given outstanding items — a developer‑commissioned traffic study was not yet available and DOT input was requested — council agreed to hold a special called meeting for this item on March 30 to allow staff and the applicant to provide the traffic analysis and DOT recommendations. The motion to table passed.
Next steps: The applicant will continue DOT coordination and provide a traffic study; planning staff will circulate materials in advance of the March 30 special meeting for public review.
