They said they would listen to what Wake Forest people say — and in the first vote to test that promise, they did indeed listen to the neighbors and others who protested the rezoning of a Farm Road property to build 25 townhouses.
The reasons for the protests is the heavy traffic on South Main Street with the complication of a left-turn lane for Rogers Road near the outlet from Farm Road. A study of South Main traffic and problems is underway and some urged waiting to see what solutions the study proposes.
All five Wake Forest town commissioners voted Tuesday evening to deny the request by Dr. Kevin Neshat to rezone the three acres he owns on South Main Street and the west side of Farm Road, which include business along South Main and six rental houses on Farm Road. The three commissioners who won election in November are Ben Clapsaddle, Faith Cross and Adam Wright, who won a second term. The other two are Keith Shackleford and Nick Sliwinski.
The people they heard from included Tomm Bennekin, a Farm Road resident, and Brian Aiken, whose family has owned a home on Farm Road for three generations, as well as Jimmy Broadway, a close neighbor whose wife has been rearended three times in South Main traffic. Others, all urging denial, were Loretta Towsley, Margaret Watkins, Janice Davis, Christine Zankey and Staycie Kirkendall. Two of the men who prepared the design of the proposed townhouse plan, Jon Frazier and Joshua Reinke, also testified, which is unusual.
Town residents spoke forcefully two more times during the meeting. Speaking about the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, Angela DiPaolo led off, urging more park space and green space in the town’s plans, followed by Johnhenry Praught, Julia Sommer, Martha Gruber and Margaret Watkins urging the same. Then during the time for public comment, DiPaolo, Sommer and Gruber, speaking for the Joyner-Harris Forest Conservation Group, led the commissioners through a slideshow urging conservation of green spaces and mature trees with possible plans for cottage communities on small individual lots.
And of course the evening began with a proclamation read by Mayor Vivian Jones honoring the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Wake Forest Garden Club, responsible for much of the greenery and gardens in town since Susie Cameron Lanneau Powell walked out of her newly-built mansion on Faculty Row and organized her neighbors in the first meeting of the garden club in 1924.
The proclamation reads in part: WHEREAS, this organization serves as a community leader to make a lasting impact on the beauty of our town through tree plantings, bird sanctuaries, “Seeds for Peace” and “Flower Cart” programs, patio garden containers to fight hunger, numerous beautification projects, and dedicated partnerships and collaboration throughout the Wake Forest community; and
WHEREAS, this organization was instrumental in saving the Calvin Jones House and continues to provide funding to, and maintain the gardens of the Calvin Jones House and Wake Forest Historical Museum; and
WHEREAS, the volunteers of this organization have served unselfishly for 100 years as evidenced by their commitment to making lives better throughout our community – one flower, tree, vegetable garden, and kindness at a time; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Wake Forest, North Carolina, that the Wake Forest Garden Club is hereby officially commended by this Board on behalf of the citizens of Wake Forest for valuable service rendered for over 100 years to the Town of Wake Forest.
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12 Responses
Enough with the backslapping and kudos, folks, this was a three acre lot! The WF BOC did not listen to or support the hundreds of constituents who signed petitions and spoke in public hearings against the CPA 23 03 rezoning of the 584 Smith Creek Watershed which is the main source of water for the Wake Forest Reservoir. This section of undisturbed forest and creeks is outside the town limits and along with the Wake Forest reservoir is our largest and most significant wildlife corridor remaining in Wake Forest. The zoning plans for this area, adjacent to Del Webb Development, Envisions Science Academy and the new 275 Hawthorne apartment complex on Royal Mill Road, Traditions Grande Blvd and Oak Grove church road were approved just last November 2023 and will promote R3 zoning, three houses per acre to R10, townhouses. This zoning opens the door and clearly signals that WF is open to and promoting even more residential over-development of this area extending into Wake county. The message and master plan actions of WF BOC is very clear, continue this ridiculous residential expansion of apartments, condos, town houses and homes on tiny lots on every parcel available to even include a watershed on our last remaining forest. Do not over state a small victory of preventing 25 more town homes being constructed on South Main when the watershed zoning was decided just two months ago. We are far from being heard that Wake Forest has reached its tipping point and we don’t need to continue to build homes for people fleeing New York, California and Florida. The Gazette covered this action very effectively, look it up.
I continue to be far from satisfied with the amendment to the community plan, CPA-23-03, voted on by the previous BOC on November 21, 2023. There is a problem whenever the BOC makes a decision contrary to almost unanimous residents. The problem is significantly compounded when residents provide a better solution and there is no explanation given about why the better solution is no chosen.
Specifically, there was NO REASON GIVEN about why the Wake Forest UDO and community plan cannot adopt R-80W as a zoning code. Likewise, no building whatsoever should be allowed within a specified distance of the watershed and no building whatsoever should be allowed within a specified distance of the reservoir.
I will sign up to make the suggestion (again) for WF to adopt R-80W zoning code at the next BOC meeting. Might you, and perhaps others, join me? I will send my email address and phone number directly to Debra via Nextdoor.
I think it’s reasonable for people to express satisfaction with a decision made by the new BOC when the old BOC made decisions like you gave as example. Celebrate the small victories and continue fighting for the right direction. This is just the first month, so hopefully they are moving in that direction with a different voting makeup.
I appreciate all who braved the cold to attend the meeting, all who spoke, and decisions made for all the right reasons by the BOC. This year, Wake Forest will face some major challenges. If the meeting last Tuesday is any indication, the right people are in position to make the right decisions and 2024 will be a great year.
A primary concern I have is, the town has a community plan and UDO that was previously adopted in order to promote high density population development which many residents do not want. When approving or denying developments, the planning board and commissioners are compelled to base decisions on whether or not rezoning requests and development plans are consistent or inconsistent with the previously adopted community plan, even when the plan is not suitable. Hopefully, we will get past this, adopt a suitable UDO that favors existing residents over developers, and have a future with renewed optimism.
While some people enjoy apartment or townhome life, many residents moved here to single family homes, years ago, because we prefer relaxed rural or suburban living rather than the hassles and drama of urban lifestyles. Many of us consider the problems associated with traffic congestion, noise, light pollution, and loss of tree canopy due to excessive development to be an unnecessary reduction in our quality of life.
Thank you Wake Forest BoC for finally saying NO to more strip clearing of the towns forested areas. In the years I have lived here I have seen nothing but large tracts of forested lands being stripped clear of trees and habitats for animals, not to mention the increase in water runoff causing flooding.
My feeling for some time is that Wake Forest is no longer entitled to that name. It will soon have to be changed to the “Town of Wake”. The forests are almost gone.
I’m genuinely shocked that it was a unanimous vote! Thanks to the commissioners for listening to the people of Wake Forest.
Power to the people!! The WF BoC listened and considered what the affected residents had to say.
Pinch me, I must be dreaming. “No” to development rezoning in Wake Forest? Thank you BOC.
Thank you WF BOC for listening and acting on your constituents wishes. Thanks to all the people who showed up and spoke. I had no part in this but I fully support their opposition.
Thank god a board that will finally put an end to the nonstop out of control growth enough already. We have enough forever actually.
Thank you WF BoC for not only listening to the citizens of your community, but acting in a way that benefits them. Trust the voice of your constituents.