Council reviews Bennett Commercial rezoning preview near Exchange at 401

The Town of Garner’s council on July 28 reviewed a developer preview for CZ 26004, a tier‑1 conditional rezoning that would change roughly 7 acres in the Bennett assemblage from Multifamily B (conditional) to Commercial Mixed Use (CMX) conditional. Assistant Planning Director Erin Joseph introduced the application and said it came after prior council discussions about including commercial uses in the Bennett project.

Beth Blackman of Timmons Group, the applicant’s representative, told council the site sits next to the existing Bennett subdivision and “is across the street from Exchange at 401, just north of the Costco” and that no tenants have been committed. She said the proposal focuses on neighborhood‑scale commercial uses and that staff had asked the applicant to add conditions that would, among other things, prohibit certain retail types: “we talked about adjusting the retail allowable to prohibit, like, tobacco stores, vape shops, smoke shops,” Blackman said. Planning staff recommended conditions on building entrance orientation, a 1‑ to 3‑story height range, enhanced native landscaping, and maintaining a transit easement along 401.

Council members asked about traffic, buffering next to townhomes, and stormwater. Blackman said driveway access would be from interior subdivision streets and that stormwater was accounted for in the subdivision design; she added that if impervious area changed, “they could do some underground intention if needed.” Council members generally endorsed the project moving forward for formal public hearing but emphasized careful wording of use restrictions and conditions.

The developer, Bennett Land NC LLC, and staff will return with the formal hearing items and refined conditions. Council did not take a formal vote tonight; this meeting was a preview to gather direction and identify issues staff and the applicant should address before public hearing.