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Southern Pines Council approves Carropines phase‑1 preliminary plat with road, wildlife and tree protections
Summary
The council approved a 35‑lot Carropines phase‑1 preliminary development plan and preliminary plat, conditioning final plat approval on completion of Avenue of the Carolinas, requiring an updated Red‑cockaded Woodpecker safe‑harbor verification and strict tree‑protection measures.
The Southern Pines Town Council on June 9 approved a preliminary development plan and preliminary plat for Carropines Phase 1, a roughly 25‑acre subdivision that would create 35 single‑family lots and about 10 acres of open space.
Staff recommended the council approve the plan with three conditions intended to protect public infrastructure, federally protected species habitat and specimen trees. James Broadwell, principal planner, told the council the project includes five open‑space parcels, a 25‑foot buffer along Airport Road, a mulch trail routed around wetlands and a storm‑water pond that may be unnecessary after further engineering review. Broadwell said staff recommended approval “with the Avenue of the Carolinas fully completed prior to any final plat approval, an updated safe‑harbor verification for the Red‑cockaded Woodpecker, and installation and maintenance of tree‑protection fencing meeting UDO standards.”
The council pressed staff and the applicant on how the town will verify compliance with the road completion condition. Broadwell said engineering inspections and a final sign‑off by the town engineer will be the mechanism that triggers final‑plat approval. The council also asked about the age of the traffic impact analysis (2018); staff said the TIA was prepared for full buildout and that NC‑DOT commented there were no additional turn‑lane improvements required for the phase under review.
Applicant Colleen Webster of Grovener Land said the developer “loves trees” and will make an effort to preserve specimen trees where feasible. Webster told council the Avenue of the Carolinas site plan received town approval in March and that construction on the roadway is expected to commence shortly, though she said the roadway is being built by the master‑developer and not by her firm. On wildlife protections, Webster agreed to a deadline for updating the Red‑cockaded Woodpecker safe‑harbor agreement and related verification: the applicant committed to provide documentation of compliance no later than December 31, 2026.
Council members then adopted staff findings and voted to approve PD03‑26 (preliminary development plan) and MAP‑01‑26 (preliminary plat) with the three staff conditions. The approvals require the Avenue of the Carolinas to be paved, completed and approved by the town engineer before any final plats will be recorded or vertical construction may proceed; they also require verification of US Fish & Wildlife Service guidance compliance for the safe‑harbor agreement and installation of tree‑protection fencing (no removal of trees 12 inches or greater DBH for the proposed trail and a minimum six‑foot standoff for protection fencing).
The council’s motions carried, and staff will track the conditions through the town’s engineering inspection and site‑plan review processes.
