Commissioners ask Holly Springs to limit annexation to 120 units or add required second entrance

County planning staff presented an annexation and rezoning request from PR Land Investments, LLC for a 5.54-acre parcel at 294 Old Pioneer Trail that would be annexed to the City of Holly Springs and rezoned to TND.

Ms. Long said the parcel adjoins the Owen Preserve neighborhood and includes a pond believed to be about 50 years old that the city and developer plan to breach and convert to 0.6 acres of open space while enlarging stormwater management areas. She also noted the county and city are coordinating review comments, including concerns from the county fire marshal.

"Per fire code, once you have over 120 dwelling units, there must be two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads," Ms. Long said, describing the marshal's review and the possibility that the developer would need to provide a second entrance or reduce unit counts.

Commissioners asked whether the county should recommend the developer reduce the annex portion to under 120 units or provide the second entrance. On a motion by Commissioner Wetherbee, seconded by Commissioner Carter, the board voted unanimously to reply to the City of Holly Springs requesting that the number of units be reduced to 120 or fewer, or that any alternative provide the two separate entrances required by the fire code. Chairman Harry Johnston said staff should "sort out what we just said and provide" the requested guidance in writing to Holly Springs and the developer.

The board's action is a recommendation from Cherokee County to the city and does not constitute final city approval of the annexation; the City of Holly Springs will consider the annexation at upcoming hearings listed by staff.