A letter from a lawyer representing the Radford Glen developer, Russell Gay, arrived at the Wake Forest Town Hall Tuesday afternoon, shortly before the Wake Forest Town Board would meet to vote on that development, which was unanimously disapproved by the Wake Forest Planning Board.
The letter asked that the commissioners, who would reasonably be expected to vote against the subdivision, instead remand the rezoning and master plan case back to the planning board because the developer plans to “make substantial, material changes to the Master Plan.”
This was the same course the Tryon developers chose for the large Averette subdivision, asking to be allowed to make changes after a 7 to 1 vote by the planning board last October, finally winning a 5 to 4 favorable vote in the planning board and a 3 to 2 vote for approval by the town board in March.
The alternative noted by the attorney was a public hearing held by the town board which might not result in any changes to the plan. The town commissioners voted unanimously to refer the case to the planning board, which will not hold a public hearing until the town planning staff thoroughly reviews those changes and approves them.
The commissioners faced a heavy agenda during their second virtual meeting and worked through it efficiently.
Some highlights:
*No one had signed up to make comments about the proposed town budget for 2020-2021. People now have five days after the hearing on any subject to make comments that will be added to the record, meaning the board will not act on this or the annexations or other matters until they meet in early June.
*The board did split 3 to 2 with Commissioners Jim Dyer and Chad Sary voting no on the second reading (vote) on changes to the Code of Ordinances to allow for public consumption of alcohol on town streets and allowing for sidewalk dining on some town streets.
*Commissioner Liz Simpers voted no on the rezoning of 28 acres along the east side of Capital Boulevard where Moffatt Pipe proposes a building of some type. The Fuller family heirs have sold the land adjacent to the historic Jesse Powell house. A 50-foot landscaped buffer with a 6-foot opaque wooden fence in a neutral color will shield the house from the commercial property.
*The board approved the plan to update the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use map, and gave the town manager the ability to enter into a contract. Planning Director Courtney Tanner said the committee chose the top ten firms to compete for the project and has chosen a winner. The work will begin in June although given the pandemic is may take longer than the 18 months planned.
*Senior Planner Michelle Michael urged the commissioners to approve the contract for an update of the Northeast area plan, which will also take 18 months.
*The board approved the new residential traffic calming policy which requires neighborhood participation in asking for any procedures to slow down speeders. The town will not install traffic bumps.
*Four of the commissioners agreed that Sary could recuse himself on two agenda items involving the firm where he works.
*The board has seen the results of the Wake Forest-Rolesville bus study. The consultant found three ways in which additional people could find transportation: an expansion of the current Loop Bus from Wake Forest to Rolesville, a delineation of an area in which residents could call for transport from GoWake Access or the same area where transport would be by Uber and GoWake Access. A decision may be made in June.
*At the end of the agenda the board went into closed session with town attorney Eric Vernon, but Mayor Vivian Jones announced no action would be taken after that closed session.
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