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Wake County adopts Eastern Wake area plan to protect Little River watershed
Summary
After a presentation and public hearing, the Wake County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the Eastern Wake area plan, preserving roughly 72 square miles around the future Little River Reservoir and emphasizing agricultural land use and watershed protections.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 3 to adopt the Eastern Wake area plan as an amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan, Plan Wake, following a staff presentation and a unanimous planning-board recommendation.
Akul Nishiwala of the county Planning, Development and Inspections Department told commissioners the plan covers roughly 72 square miles — about 46,000 acres — and is designed to protect the Little River Reservoir watershed, limit density in critical watershed areas and recognize agricultural land as a formal land-use category. "The Eastern Wake area plan is consistent with the goals and vision set forth in Plan Wake," Nishiwala said, summarizing staff findings that the plan updates land-use designations while preserving low-density and agricultural uses.
Ted Van Dyke, vice chair of the Wake County Planning Board, said the planning board voted unanimously to recommend approval after close review and public meetings. "People showed up and expressed their interest in maintaining the rural character," Van Dyke told the board. The staff presentation noted key statistics: a population of about 15,000 in the area, roughly 270 subdivisions, and limited new housing—about 100 total units built in the last decade.
Commissioners asked staff how engagement was conducted and whether municipal partners had been consulted; staff said they had reached municipal officials in Zebulon, Wendell and Knightdale and emphasized the interlocal agreement that requires multiple jurisdictions to approve major changes affecting the watershed. Commissioner discussion highlighted continued outreach to farmers and residents and the plan’s emphasis on voluntary agricultural districts and conservation easements.
Commissioner Thomas moved to adopt the plan and amend Plan Wake; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote after the public hearing was opened and closed with no in-room speakers. The adoption updates future land-use designations, keeps the county’s lower-density zoning in the critical watershed and sets the frame for any future zoning or UDO changes that would require interlocal agreement.
