After another public hearing on Tuesday, January 18, 2025, the Wake Forest Town Board unanimously approved the Church Street Company plan for the Harris tract on Harris Road across from Joyner Park. The plan for the 68 acres includes preserving 30 acres for conservation to protect the pristine bluffs, plants and stream at the back of the tract. It is an agreement reached between Angela DiPaolo’s Joyner-Harris group and Church Street.
The plan does not include a master plan for the 400 or so dwelling units. They and the streets, utilities and other large details will have to meet the requirements in the Uniform Development Ordinance.
Earlier, during the public hearings, one man said the town was giving the developers “a blank check” and other speakers questioned the number of dwelling units and the increase in traffic congestion on a two-lane road.
A large part of the meeting was taken up by a further discussion of the proposed social district which would only be in effect on Thursdays through Saturdays in a designated area downtown. Downtown Director Jennifer Herbert will return to the board meeting in March for a vote on the district.
Commissioner Nick Sliwinski said he would prefer the same footprint as Friday Night on White for the social district plus all on South Brooks and down to Freddy’s.
Commissioner Ben Clapsaddle said his concern was public safety. “We want everyone to come downtown,” but there will be a need for public restrooms.
Commissioner Faith Cross said she has concerns about the social district in a town centered by a Baptist seminary. “We need more open spaces” downtown and places for people to sit. She said she was concerned about the cost and trash on the weekends.
Mayor Vivian Jones asked how many want a social district and the vote was three and a half – the half being Sliwinski. She said there will be a vote on it at the next meeting, which will be in March.
At 8:25 p.m. the board adjourned to the conference room on the third floor where they had three different closed sessions with one about court cases involving the town and one about the qualifications for a police officer or employee. They returned at 10:15 and took no action.
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2 Responses
I think this decision really came down to preserving forest/trees/nature vs. less people in Wake Forest.
The proponents of this rezoning saw that the developer and landowner made concessions and compromises to preserve nearly 30 acres of natural land. Regardless of the proposed density and lack of a master plan, the conservation value of the land was worth it to them.
The opponents to this rezoning brought up the usual grievances for any development in the town–more traffic, more people, town resources, views from Joyner Park, etc. They would rather every inch of forest be razed to the ground to have families move into 40 McMansions built on 1-acre lots.
In an ideal world, the town or some conservation group could buy up the whole parcel and turn it into Joyner Nature Park or something like that. But we don’t live in an ideal world. The land was going to be developed one way or another. Time will tell how Church Street Company will design its master plan.
Angela, my Rock Star friend, you and active supporters of JHFC are to be highly commended for your tireless efforts to get the very best deal you possibly could regarding the Pate property. I don’t get out much lately and am dealing with problems due to federal cutbacks of VA health care for Doc, but let’s get a coffee or brew sometime soon!