Roxboro approves phase one of Wesley and Heights subdivision with conditions

Roxboro's City Council voted to approve the preliminary plan for phase one of the Wesley and Heights major subdivision, allowing construction drawings to proceed if the developer meets staff conditions. The approved phase covers 71 lots of a planned 212-lot development on roughly 88 acres; the council left phase two (141 lots) for future review.

Planning Director Miss Johnson summarized the application and staff findings, noting the project will connect to existing water and sewer lines, requires a development agreement to fund upgrades to the city's 49 Pump Station, and must meet standard stormwater and construction-drawing requirements. "The required development agreement for the 49 Pump Station improvements should be executed prior to approval of construction drawings," Miss Johnson told the council.

During public comment, resident Albert Day urged extra scrutiny of traffic and safety near Western Heights Road and Christian Academy, warning that "if you add 70 more cars to that street it's going to be a huge impact" during peak school and Sportsplex activity. Developer representative Andy Oakley of Thomas & Hutton said the North Carolina DOT's trip-generation thresholds did not trigger a traffic-impact analysis for phase one and described driveway sight-distance and hammerhead-turnaround revisions made to address safety concerns.

Council members pressed staff and the developer on transportation and infrastructure assurances. Mr. Baker moved to approve phase one with the staff-recommended conditions and an added requirement that a traffic-impact analysis be completed before the city will consider approving phase two; Mr. Chandler seconded the motion. After discussion and confirmation that the developer must sign to accept any council-imposed conditions, the motion carried on a voice vote.

What this means: Phase one approval lets the developer move to construction drawings once plan revisions and the development agreement for sewer upgrades are finalized. The council's addition that a traffic-impact study be required prior to any phase-two approval creates a formal gating condition for future expansion of the subdivision.

Next steps: Staff will prepare a revised conditions sheet for the developer to sign, and construction drawings will be administratively reviewed once all required items are submitted. If the developer refuses a council condition, the council will reconsider the approval at a later meeting.