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Durham commissioners approve rezoning of East Geer Street parcels to industrial light
Summary
The board voted to rezone roughly 9 acres at 3107 and 3111 East Geer Street from residential classifications to Industrial Light after staff said the request aligns with the county's place-type plan; commissioners pressed for trail easement, buffers, and impact data before approving.
The Durham Board of County Commissioners voted Oct. 28 to rezone about nine acres at 3107 and 3111 East Geer Street from residential rural and residential suburban-10 to an Industrial Light zoning district, adopting staff recommendations that the change is consistent with the county's place‑type map.
Planning staff told the board the site is “just under 9 acres” and that the requested zoning aligns with a general industrial place type and nearby commercial uses. Aaron Cain of the planning department summarized neighborhood outreach—two meetings with small attendance—and said the planning commission recommended approval by a 10–1 vote. Cain told the board that because the applicant submitted a general rezoning rather than a development plan, there is no binding site plan at this stage.
Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on connections to a future rail‑trail and required buffers. Commissioner Jacobs asked why BPAC trail comments were not more prominent in the staff report and noted concerns about how the county will implement adopted plans in the absence of a development plan. Aaron Cain said the applicant does not own the railroad right of way and cannot commit to improvements on property it doesn't own, but that an access easement from the applicant’s land to the future trail could be volunteered at site‑plan stage. "I think that's what that's saying in the staff report," Commissioner Carter said of the planning commission guidance, urging the board to seek sufficient buffers and easements when possible.
Chris Seamster, representing the applicant, said the client applied for a general rezoning to the IL category and that, when the site plan is later filed, applicable buffer and access requirements will be addressed. "I'm confident that they would allow that easement to connect across their property," Seamster said, referring to potential access to the rail corridor. After discussion, the board passed the ordinance to amend the Unified Development Ordinance and then adopted the consistency statement required by North Carolina General Statute 160D‑605. Both motions passed with the board voting "aye" unanimously for each motion.
