The Growth Rate

Update Aug. 29, 2018

Wake Forest Community Library on East Holding Avenue was expected to open in September after an addition and extensive renovations, but Mark Forestieri, the director of facilities design and construction for Wake County, said last week he hopes for a November opening.

While the construction problems for the Wake Forest Aquatic Center centered on rain and mud, the library’s problems were the steel tariffs and late delivery of construction materials. The library is being expanded from 5,000 to 9,000 square feet.

Future projects–Technical Review Committee

When the Technical Review Committee met on July 19, the members reviewed the following plans:

*Horvath Associates re-submitted a master plan for a veterinary office at 3240 Rogers Road, PIN 1840-20-8842. The building will be 5,300 square feet on 2.11 acres.

*FLM submitted plans for a 16,000-square-foot retail/restaurant building on 2.18 acres on 1021 Forestville Road, PIN 1749-68-0097.

*Nau Company submitted a major subdivision plan – a revision of the plan rejected by the Wake Forest commissioners – called Glen Oaks. It will be for 298 dwelling units – 225 single-family lots, 73 townhouses and 15 acres of road frontage retained by the owner – on 69 acres . The Franklin County PINs are 1842-25-9091 and 1842-35-7153.

* * * *

When the Technical Review Committee met on June 21, 2018, they reviewed the following plans:

*Stonewater greenway alignment about a proposed greenway in the new Stonewater subdivision.

*Downtown Streetscape Improvements Phase III. Kimley-Horn submitted plans for the proposed streetscape on South White Street from Elm Avenue to East Holding Avenue and East Owen Avenue.

*Durham Road operational improvements. Summit submitted 65 percent plans for the improvements from Retail Drive to Tyler Run Drive.

*Ligon Mill Road. Sepi submitted 100 percent design plans for the changes to Ligon Mill Road from South Main Street to the Wal-Mart driveway.

*Flaherty Park Dam Improvements. Freese & Nichols submitted 90 percent plans for a dam improvement project at Flaherty Park.

* * * *

When the Technical Review Committee met on May 17, 2018, they reviewed the following plans:

*Plans for a Tru Hotel located on Wake Union Church Road and Hampton Way Drive that was approved by the Wake Forest Planning Board and Town Board during their June meetings.

*Plans for Heartland Dental, a 4,280 square foot office at 1070 Forestville Road in the Shoppes at Heritage Village (Publix).

*Plans for the Ailey Young Park Dam Removal and Stream Restoration and Richland Creek Stream Restoration.

* * * *

When the technical review committee met on April 19, members reviewed the following plans:

*An additional five units at The Townes at Gateway Commons in which Wetherill Engineering proposes to add 0.84 acres to the project off Friendship Chapel Road and Gateway Commons Circle.

*Plans for a Bank of America submitted by H&T Consultants for a 3,951-square-foot bank with drive-through at 919 Gateway Commons Circle.

When the technical review committee met on March 8, 2018, the members reviewed the following plans:

*Powerhouse Row, two- and three-story buildings on the west side of South White Street next to Elm Avenue combining retail on the first floor with residential on the upper floors. The request was filed by JDavis Architects.

*A commercial building to be located at 907 Gateway Commons Circle. The request was filed by Gateway Forest LLC.

* * * *

When the technical review committee met on Feb. 15, the members reviewed the following plans:

*Capital Sportsplex: A major master site plan submitted by Calyx, a Raleigh engineering firm, for a sports complex on Star Road with a 250,000 square foot building, one multi-use field, five soccer fields, two outdoor tennis courts, six sand volleyball courts and four baseball fields. This will be a quasi-judicial hearing. This is still under review.

*Foundation Drive subdivision is a master plan submitted by WithersRavenel for a 34-lot single-family subdivision off Foundation Drive. There are three parcels included in the plan. One runs along Foundation Drive from Forestville Road to a deadend at a creek and an open space owned by the town. The other two are adjacent and tucked in behind the Shoppes at Heritage Village which is anchored by Publix. This is still under review.

*The Flynn Property subdivision was submitted by Priest Craven for a 69-lot single-family plan on three properties all in the same ownership with frontage on Averette Road. It is south of Oak Grove Church Road and next to Tryon subdivision but does not abut either. This is still under review.

*DataTek Building is a master plan submitted by FLM to construct a 14,800-square-foot building for office and retail and a 4,000-square-foot church, all at 112231 Wake Union Church Road. This is still under review.

Streets, Roads, Greenways and Transportation

*Preliminary work by the contractor, Fred Smith Company, began March 5 on the Stadium Drive Complete Street project. The town board approved the $6,789,876 contract with the Fred Smith Company in December. Utilities have been moved. The project should be complete in the fall of 2019.

The project includes resurfacing North Avenue. There will be a roundabout at the intersection of Stadium, North Avenue and Wingate Street. A center turn lane will be added to Stadium along with turn lanes at intersections and driveways and bump-outs for buses. From Glencoe Drive to the Richland Creek bridge there will be a 10-foot multi-use path on the south and a 5-foot sidewalk on the north. From the bridge to Wingate Street there will be sidewalks on both sides.

*Ligon Mill Road Operational Improvements is also listed as being in construction but Director of Engineering Eric Keravuori said Monday, June 18, he is “waiting on final approvals and utility relocates.”

The project for the section of Ligon Mill Road west from South Main Street to a new section built for an apartment project will provide a center turn lane and turn lanes for driveways and entrances. Acquiring the right-of-way from several owners has been one reason the project has appeared to be stalled at times.

Public Facilities

*Work on the Northern Wake Senior Center additions and renovations is well underway with clearing for the expanded parking lot and tarps draped over much of the existing building. Focus Design Builders has the contract worth $3.9 million to do the work in a promised 269 days or nine months. The cost will be paid from the general obligation bonds voters approved in 2014.

*Wake Forest Community Library on East Holding Avenue was expected to open in September after an addition and extensive renovations, but Mark Forestieri, the director of facilities design and construction for Wake County, said last week he hopes for a November opening.

While the construction problems for the Wake Forest Aquatic Center centered on rain and mud, the library’s problems were the steel tariffs and late delivery of construction materials. The work will expand the library from 5,500 square feet to 9,000. *Operations Center Expansion is now unnecessary with the purchase of a building and lot on Unicon Drive which will become the home of Wake Power’s trucks, equipment and personnel. See article in the Gazette, Wake Forest Power move will save town millions, in the June 27, 2018 issue

*If you were unhappy with the rain and cold weather, imagine how it affected the Holding Park Aquatic Center construction first planned to be opened on May 15. There is still no firm date for the opening.

The 1975 pool, which was deteriorated, was demolished and removed late last year. After the construction contract of $2,929,000 was awarded to Harrod & Associates, construction began on Dec. 4. The opening date for the pool center was first set as May 15.

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department wants funding in the Capital Improvements Plan for 2019-2020 to improve the playground, make it more accessible and improve the drainage system.

*Barnhill Construction Company has the contract to build the Joyner Park Community Center. Barnhill has guaranteed the cost will be $11.7 million. The 32,000 square foot, two-story building will have a full size gum with an elevated walking track along with a multi-purpose room, restrooms, a classroom, a studio, offices and storage space. Construction should take 13 months.

Commercial plans under review by the Planning Department

*Forestville Development Building at 1704 South Main Street will replace the large gray house which has stood there for years and has been razed. The replacement will be  an 8,000-square-foot building that could hold four businesses, including a small restaurant or catering service.

*Wake Forest Crossing Outparcel 10 at 1005 Stadium Drive will be a hotel.

*Heritage Branch Daycare at 3200 Rogers Road, 1.5 acres in the southeast corner where Heritage Branch Road meets Rogers Road, is owned by R E D P LLC, a Wake Forest. It will sit in front of another daycare.

*425 and 435 Wait Avenue is planned for mixed use.

*Lily’s Garden at 9606 Ligon Mill Road will be a recreation facility.

*Richland Creek Community Church Parking Lot at 3329 Burlington Mills Road.

*Heritage Veterinary Clinic will be built at 3240 Rogers Road, a 2.11-acre lot north of Capital Creek Apartments and near the new daycare listed above.

*Texas Roadhouse Addition at 11440 Capital Boulevard.

*Datatek is a general commercial project at 12231 Wake Union Church Road which includes a large commercial building and a church.

*Capital Powersports at 10920 Star Road will be vehicle sales.

*Heartland Dental will be at 1070 Forestville Road.

*Bank of America is planned at 919 Gateway Commons Circle.

*Tru Hotel will be built on Hampton Way Drive with frontage on Wake Union Church Road.

*1021 Forestville Road will include retail and a restaurant.

*Envision Science Academy Athletic Fields on Oak Grove Church Road.

 June residential projects under review by the Planning Department

*Stonemill Falls Phases 2-3 on Rogers Road for 71 single-family house lots. The master plan has been approved.

*Kitchin Farms Phase 2 on Burlington Mills and Ligon Mill roads for 123 single-family lots. The master plan has been approved.

*Willows at Traditions for 97 townhouses on Royal Mill Avenue and Traditions Grande Boulevard. The master plan has been approved.

*Glen Oaks with 68 townhouses and 228 single-family homes on land along US 1 (Capital Boulevard) just north of Wall Road and the Richland Hills subdivision and south of the Rolling Acres subdivision. The Wake Forest commissioners voted against the project in May but agreed in June to waive the six-month waiting period before the owners can submit a changed plan.

*Wake Union Place Phase 3 for 84 townhouses and 288 apartments on Wake Union Church Road, Kearney Road and Capital Boulevard. This was not recommended by the planning board but it is now being “substantially” changed and would need another public hearing and planning board and town board approval.

*Townes at Gateway Commons for 70 townhouses on Gateway Commons Circle was approved in October of 2017.

*Forestville Towns for 95 units on the deadend section of Forestville Road behind the Real McCoys sports bar was approved by the town board in March.

*Wake Forest Goldston is for 76 single-family lots along Traditions Grande Boulevard.

*Austin Creek Phase 5B is for 13 single-family lots. The master plan has been approved.

*Caddell Street Subdivison on Caddell Street for six single-family lots was approved in January 2018 and is now named Hargrove’s Corner. The town has sold the lots to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County.

*Regency at Heritage is for 67 single-family lots on Forestville Road. It was approved in January 2014. It will be linked to Heritage South by a bridge over Sanford Creek that will extend Marshall Farm Road.

*Austin Creek Phases 6 and 7 on Wait Avenue are for 67 single-family lots. The master plan has been approved.

*Foundation Drive subdivision would be 34 lots along Foundation Drive between Heritage High School and the shopping center anchored by Publix.

*Flynn Property is a plan for a single-family house subdivision of 69 lots on Averette Road.

*Townes at Gateway Commons Amendment is a change in six lots for the townhouse plan on Gateway Commons Circle.

*Townhouses on Main will be 40 townhouses on North Main Street.

*Tryon Phases 6 & 8 will be 74 single-family lots on Averette Road.

*Holding Corners, 190 duplex units planned by David Smoot at the corner of East Holding Avenue and South White Street, is being removed from the list of projects under review because the project has been inactive for about 10 months, Jennifer Currin, the development services manager, said on Sept. 4.