Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Weddington residents press council to block Bonner Drive link; Toll Brothers subdivision removed from tonight’s agenda
Summary
Residents urged council to reject a planned Bonner Drive connection tied to a 39‑lot Toll Brothers subdivision, citing traffic, safety and tree‑loss concerns. Council removed the conditional‑zoning item from the agenda after planning‑board and engineering concerns and a procedural notice issue; the applicant agreed to take the proposal back to staff and the planning board for technical fixes.
Kurt Vores, a Bonner Drive resident, told the Weddington Town Council on April 13 that neighbors ‘‘do not want Bonner Drive, again, a nine‑home cul‑de‑sac street, being used as a cut‑through’’ for traffic tied to the proposed Morris Farm development. Vores said a new connection would raise vehicle speeds, increase safety risks for children and require removal of mature oak trees that line the cul‑de‑sac.
The appeal from Bonner Drive residents was echoed by several long‑time neighbors who described decades of local investment in their streets and said small, 17–18‑foot roads cannot safely absorb volumes from new subdivisions. ‘‘We have 16 kids just on Bonner Drive,’’ Scott Burns told the council, urging elected officials to ‘‘go on record’’ against the proposed cut‑through.
Why it matters: The Bonner Drive connection is tied to a conditional‑zoning application (CZ 2026‑2) by Toll Brothers for a 39‑lot subdivision at 5017 Weddington‑Matthews Road. Planning‑board chairman Chris Faul sent a written letter, read into the record by staff, stating that outstanding stormwater and NCDEQ compliance issues — including use of vegetated conveyances, impervious surface limits and an incomplete runoff‑management strategy — had not been satisfied and that the planning board recommended remand for further technical revisions.
Council action: The council disclosed a public‑notice error on the file and noted unresolved technical questions flagged by staff and the planning board. Councilmembers agreed not to consider the application tonight; staff reported that Toll Brothers had requested to withdraw the item voluntarily and to work with staff and the planning board to resolve the issues. The council then voted to remove CZ 2026‑2 from tonight’s agenda; the motion passed unanimously.
What council members said: Staff told the council the applicant ‘‘has agreed to take it back through the process’’ to address the planning‑board conditions. Councilmembers emphasized they want a ‘‘bow‑tie’’ package — a fully completed submission showing planning‑board conditions satisfied — before any future council vote so that technical issues (notably stormwater) are resolved before a public hearing and final deliberation.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate with Toll Brothers and the planning board on the resubmittal timetable and technical revisions. Council members asked staff to ensure forthcoming packets include full engineering responses and NCDEQ documentation so Planning Board and the council have clear, verifiable recommendations before any vote.
Ending: The council’s action put the subdivision on hold pending revisions and a fresh planning‑board review. Residents who spoke urged the council to preserve neighborhood character and infrastructure safety when the application returns to public consideration.
