Planning board recommends mixed-use building

Tuesday night the Wake Forest Planning Board recommended the Wake Forest Town Board approve a conditional rezoning for 3.93 acres on North White Street owned by Thales Academy from neighborhood business to Neighborhood Mixed-Use Conditional Use.

Member Michael Almquist pointed out one problem. While Wake Forest Power plans to have most if not all power lines underground in the near future, the northern end of North White Street is served by Wake Electric, and there is a transmission line and a feeder line on or near the project. Wake Electric has said it would take their crews a year to bury the lines.

Almquist also asked Senior Planner Tim Richards about affordable apartments in the planned four-story building without a real answer. Member Matt Davis asked about a traffic signal at the Royall Mill Avenue and North White Street intersection, and Member Adam Redlar questioned the number of parking spaces which are proposed at fewer than required.

Then David Phillips of Tall Pines Custom Homes in Raleigh, the developer and soon to be owner, went to the podium and answered questions, though sometimes with two or three answers.

Phillips first promised to protect the root balls of several mature deciduous trees that are outside his soon-to-be property. He said he planned 65 apartments on the three floors above the commercial first floor and said the mixture would heavily favor one- and two-bedroom apartments because that is what most renters are looking for.

He talked extensively about the mix of possible uses in the first floor, favoring a sit-down restaurant, rejecting a drive-thru and suggesting a pharmacy and/or small grocery store as other possibilities.

Phillips also praised Flaherty Park with all its amenities — tennis and pickleball courts, baseball and softball fields, dog park — and somewhat gloated that his project is next door. The 3.39 acres are directly north also of the future home for a church.

The motion to approve by Almquist said the owner promised to protect the root balls of the trees and consider including affordable housing in his mix of apartments. The vote was unanimous.

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