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Board approves rezoning around Morrisville Motorsports despite neighbors’ traffic and notice complaints
Summary
After a resumed public hearing, the board approved a conditional rezoning/industrial node allocation tied to the Morrisville Motorsports property; nearby Wilkinson Road residents argued the land‑use plan and notice process failed to inform affected homeowners and warned of cumulative traffic impacts.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners voted April 20 to approve a rezoning request (Z01‑26) and an industrial subarea allocation (SNIA01‑26) for portions of the Morrisville Motorsports site after a resumed public hearing and a unanimous planning‑board recommendation.
What was requested: The applicant sought to rezone roughly 13 acres from Rural Agricultural to CBI (commercial/industrial) and to approve a 15.85‑acre SNIA allocation for a proposed motorsports campus that includes private enclosed "garage suites," a racing school and associated parking and buildings.
Neighbors’ concerns: Wilkinson Road residents urged denial. Ethan Smith, who said he lives directly across from the drag strip, told commissioners the application represents "more than small adjustments" and warned the proposed uses, combined with approved commercial projects already under construction on Wilkinson Road, would create a continuous commercial corridor and unsafe traffic conditions. Leah Robinson and other neighbors said they received minimal advance notice, that the county’s adopted 2025 land‑use plan places their long‑time homes in a CBI corridor without meaningful outreach, and that traffic counts used in staff materials did not reflect recent construction and truck volumes.
Staff and applicant response: Planning staff said the parcels proposed for rezoning are contiguous with existing CBI zoning to the north and east and that the requested change is consistent with the county’s adopted land‑use plan. Lisa Valdis, counsel for the applicant, noted the rezoned area is separate from the drag strip and asserted the planning board found the change appropriate. Planning staff recommended approval and noted traffic‑impact requirements will be considered through subsequent permitting where required.
Board action: After deliberation, the board approved the rezoning and SNIA allocation; planning staff recorded the planning‑board consistency statement and the motion passed on the board floor. Commissioners noted the need to monitor cumulative corridor impacts and instructed staff to review traffic concerns raised by residents.
Context: Several residents said the county’s public‑notice process should be reviewed: many homeowners on Wilkinson Road said they were unaware of the land‑use plan process and did not receive timely mail notifications about proposed changes to the corridor. Commissioners and staff said they would follow up on those notification protocols.
What’s next: Approval of the rezoning and SNIA allocation allows the applicant to advance site plans and building permits consistent with CBI zoning; any future expansion of the motorsports complex would require separate conditional approvals and additional public review.
