The Wake Forest Planning Board recommended Tuesday night that the town commissioners approve the plan for the Jane Harris Pate property on Harris Road. It was the only item on the agenda.
The Church Street Company of Raleigh, represented by Michael Burch and George DeLoache, have been presenting a plan that lacks a master plan, which would show where the roads, building lots and utilities would be placed. When asked why it was not provided, Burch said that “given the uncertainty on this property the company did not have that ability that without the certainty of the zoning.”
The plan as presented, however, indicates a wide swath at the back of the 56 acres would be reserved or dedicated in some way to be forever untouched because of the unusual bluffs, the large trees, the plants and the clear stream there.
Burch also said that, because of other constraints such as the commercial area on the west side of the tract, Church Street had the ability to only build 300 dwelling units. “We have already given the most that we can. We are not able to provide affordable housing.”
At that point, there was a public hearing for people to give their opinions.
Loretta Humphrey, and four of the five people after her, complained of poor planning across the town. “More people are planning to move out of Wake Forest because of the poor planning.”
Ronald Novoa, a new resident, said he had heard about the poor planning and the objections to this project because of the traffic. He said what is built today is the town’s legacy and “.. . three hundred units is not any great legacy.”
Margaret Watkins talked about stormwater and retention walls.
Dennis Calabrese kept asking “Where is it going to end?” and questioned the zoning.
Martha Gruber said the project on that night’s agenda “is something the town does not want.”
Alex Stover spoke about traffic and suburban sprawl, “more pointless shops” and said the plan under discussion “isn’t something we need.”
After that came the discussion about the Pate property, but it was difficult to identify who said what because the town hall camera did not focus on the speakers and often “froze,” having no action. Nearing the end of the meeting the television picture disappeared, leaving a blank screen for almost two minutes.
The six board members appeared to agree that they wanted a conservation district for land like that at the back of the Pate property and they also wanted affordable housing in the plan. The vote to recommend was unanimous.
It was difficult to determine, but it appeared all six members agreed on a motion that projects over a certain size must include a master plan.
At the beginning of the meeting, Jennifer Currin, the acting planning director, thanked Sheila Bishop for her service on the planning board and gave her a plaque.
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