Council approves 130‑unit Sweeten Creek conditional rezoning amid neighbor concerns

Council approved a conditional rezoning for the Ardmore Apartments at 3862 Sweeten Creek Road after a lengthy public hearing in which neighbors raised infrastructure concerns.

Planning staff described the 12.06‑acre proposal as five buildings and 130 units with all units designated affordable at 80% AMI for a minimum of 20 years; the applicant indicated they are pursuing NCHFA (LIHTC) funding and that project financing normally supports long‑term ownership by nonprofits. Staff noted technical modifications (sidewalk widths, tree‑canopy spacing) and originally estimated about 200 parking spaces; the applicant later proposed a reduced parking plan (roughly 1.25 spaces per unit, ~163 spaces) and council adopted a condition capping total parking at 180 spaces.

Nearby residents and neighborhood groups voiced repeated concerns about Sweeten Creek Road’s capacity, stormwater runoff, safety for pedestrians (no sidewalks along sections of the corridor) and cumulative development on the corridor; several speakers urged denial or a smaller project. The applicant’s representative said the project would expand affordable supply and that Atlantic Housing Foundation typically holds affordability for multiple decades. After deliberation council approved the conditional rezoning with the amended parking condition.