When it met Dec. 17, the Wake Forest Planning Department’s Technical Review Committee reviewed an in-town subdivision, a rarity. The Nau Company wants to build 12 lots on 2.37 acres on East Perry Avenue between Jubilee Court and North Franklin Street. The zoning is urban residential.
For the second time in as many months, the committee reviewed plans for the Kitchin Farm subdivision. The applicant, Mulkey Engineers & Associates, is asking for rezoning to conditional residential GR5 and GR10 and approval of a master plan for 257 single-family lots on the 163.15 acres lying in the northwest intersection of Burlington Mills Road and Ligon Mill Road. The Smith Creek Greenway runs through this tract.
The committee also reviewed plans for Sam’s Express Car Wash at 2900 Rogers Road proposed by Sam’s Real Estate. The parcel is 1.88 acres and is zoned for highway business.
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Jennifer Gaston, who worked on the town’s economic development at the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce when the town contracted with the chamber for that activity, is now the parttime economic development coordinator at the Town of Wake Forest. She started work on Dec. 21. “While I am going to miss my chamber colleagues, this is a great move for the town and our economic development efforts,” Gaston said.
The town is actively recruiting an economic development director, Director of Human Resources Virginia Jones said this week. The decision to move economic development into town government was approved by the town commissioners last year after Town Manager Kip Padgett was hired. He is eager to persuade new businesses and industries to move to Wake Forest.
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Brian Mountcastle, a manager at Weingarten Investments, said this week two businesses, Mattress Firm and The Vitamin Shop, will be the tenants for a new building on the north side of Wake Forest Crossing shopping center. Right now all you can see is dirt being moved. Kohl’s and Lowes Foods anchor the shopping center.
He also said they will start constructing another building on the corner of Stadium Drive and Capital Boulevard (U.S. 1) in the next few months and it will have multiple tenants. The tenant names will be released soon.
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Last week the Gazette noted a new interest in cleaning up litter along town streets, and Tuesday night Mayor Vivian Jones thanked the town employees who turned out on a Saturday to clean both sides of the Dr. Calvin Jones Highway (the N.C. 98 Bypass). However, she said, she noted litter already the next day.
Jack Kemeny with the Lions Club is heading up the organization needed for a town wide effort some time this spring. If you as an individual or your group is interested in being a part of the effort, email Kemeny at jkemeny1@nc.rr.com.
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Due to renovations around the Community House, the Feb. 4 and March 3 meetings of the Wake Forest Woman’s Club will be held in the Parish Hall of St. John’s Episcopal Church, 834 Durham Road.
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The annual membership meeting of the Wake Forest Historical Association will be held Sunday, Jan. 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Wake Forest Historical Museum on North Main Street. Members will elect a new board member to replace Alice Adams, who resigned.
Michelle Michael, a senior planner with the Wake Forest Planning Department will provide an update about the rehabilitation/renovation of the Ailey Young House. President Sanford Bailey will talk about the association’s activities during 2015, and Museum Director Ed Morris will speak about the museum and associated Wake Forest College Birthplace, the Dr. Calvin Jones House.
There will be refreshments, and this is the time for membership renewals. Annual dues are $10.
