Plan commission recommends travel‑center rezoning with stoplight contribution required

The Pittsboro Plan Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to town council for the proposed Pittsboro Travel Center, a rezoning request for roughly 15 acres at the northeast corner of I‑74 and Jeff Gordon Boulevard that would allow a fuel station, convenience store and truck wash.

Cynthia (town staff) told commissioners the site is within the Interstate Overlay District and staff recommends approval with conditions including site development plan approval, an updated traffic study and compliance with buffer yard and landscape requirements. “They are proposing a fuel station, a convenience store, and a truck wash,” Cynthia said during the staff presentation.

Commission discussion focused on traffic and safety. Members repeatedly requested an updated traffic study, said INDOT must be engaged for interchange issues, and pressed for a signal at Burrow and Jeff Gordon if warranted. Commissioners and TAC members said the developer’s preliminary site plan was unacceptable and would require redesign during site plan review. Staff and TAC also noted police requested Opticom equipment on any new signal to assist emergency responders.

After discussion the chair moved that the commission provide a favorable recommendation with staff conditions and require contributions toward a future stoplight at Burrow and Jeff Gordon; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The commission’s recommendation and conditions will now be forwarded to the Pittsboro Town Council for final action.

Next steps: the rezoning recommendation goes to town council and the developer must return with updated traffic analysis and a revised site plan as conditions of approval.