Developers seek rezoning at 1101 Averitt Road for 76 townhomes and small retail; board delays decision

The Rolesville Board of Commissioners on July 21 heard a multi‑hour public hearing on REZ26‑0002, a rezoning application for 1101 Averitt Road that would allow up to 76 single‑family attached units (paired villas) and a roughly 1.5‑acre commercial parcel. Assistant Planning Director Mike Ellerbarger said the proposal would rezone the 16.5‑acre site to Residential High and General Commercial and that staff and the planning board recommended approval in part because the town’s comprehensive plan designates the site as a mixed residential community. "The proposed use is described as being for single family attached housing," Ellerbarger told the board during the staff presentation.

Developer Lock 7 principal David Gorman and Garmin Homes representative Emily Bosman described the housing product as two‑unit paired villas with a primary bedroom on the first floor and said the builder plans to sell each unit individually. Gorman said the team would grade and stub utilities for the retail pad and donate $25,000 to Rolesville’s affordable housing fund as part of the proposal. "We will donate a 25,000 sum to Roseville for a future affordable housing fund," staff noted during the presentation (staff language used in the packet). Commissioners asked for more binding language on the commercial build‑out, timing and access connections.

Neighbors at the hearing, including Randy Kerr and Sarah Owen, urged the board to slow the process, citing cut‑through traffic, pedestrian safety on local private easements and the potential loss of established tree buffers. Kerr said driveways and private easements behind the site already are used as shortcuts and worried commercial traffic would worsen the problem. The developer and staff discussed options such as dedicating an easement but deferring construction, installing bollards or requiring a fee in lieu to cover the final 60‑foot connection to an adjacent neighborhood. After prolonged deliberation about connectivity and enforceable HOA or zoning conditions, the board voted 3–2 to continue the rezoning to the Sept. 1 meeting so the applicant and staff could negotiate specific commitments. The board asked the applicant to return with proposed enforceable conditions addressing the last‑mile connection, a plan for the commercial pad (grade/utility stubs vs. building commitment) and initial HOA controls on leasing terms that would be included in the declaration at turnover.