Commissioners approve RK Investments PD2025-3 after developer agrees to housing set‑asides, sewer rehab and $125,000 contribution

Lincoln County commissioners approved a rezoning request known as PD2025‑3 from RK Investment Charlotte LLC on the morning of the May 2026 meeting, adopting a site plan and development agreement that attach several infrastructure and public-benefit commitments to the project.

Jeremiah, a county planner, summarized the applicant’s request as “a request to rezone 30.4 acres to plan development … to permit a 324‑unit apartment complex, a 12,000‑square‑foot childcare center, and a 6,500‑square‑foot medical office building.” He told the board the planning board had met and—in a unanimous vote—recommended disapproval at its earlier hearing but that staff and county counsel had since worked with the applicant on a development agreement to secure additional commitments.

County Attorney (speaker 8) read the development‑agreement provisions into the record. “The developer has agreed to set aside 10 multifamily dwelling units for employees of either Lincoln County, Lincoln County Schools, or a 501(c)(3) serving Lincoln County… The rent rate will be 80% of the rate offered in the other units,” the attorney said. The applicant also agreed to complete specified Carrington Phase 3 off‑site road improvements before issuance of the first building permit, and the development agreement defines “substantially completed” to mean improvements must be open to traffic and public use even if punch‑list items (final asphalt course, landscaping, signage) remain.

Additional commitments listed in the agreement include rehabilitation of a gravity sewer trunk line east of NC‑16 to provide an additional 84,400 gallons per day of capacity and a one‑time payment of $125,000 to the county to help fund a planned Phase 2 rehabilitation of a 1673 waterline. The agreement also includes a provision to name an internal street in the development in honor of a Lincoln County fallen firefighter, with the final name chosen by the county and fire department.

Commissioner Mullen moved to approve the staff’s consistency statement and the rezoning; the motion passed on a roll‑call voice tally of 4–1, with Commissioner Cecena recorded as the lone no vote. The board approved the PD2025‑3 site plan and the associated development agreement by the same tally.

Why it matters: The development will add substantial multi‑family housing and associated nonresidential space to the county’s inventory. The negotiated conditions attempt to mitigate impacts on transportation and utilities by requiring the developer to construct off‑site road improvements and to contribute to waterline rehabilitation and sewer capacity improvements prior to build‑out.

What’s next: The approvals allow the developer to proceed under the adopted site plan and development agreement; the county manager and county attorney will be responsible for monitoring required pre‑permit infrastructure deliverables and executing any agreements arising from the approvals.