Tuesday night the Wake Forest Planning Board approved Forest Pines Retirement Community, a 130-unit, three-story building on Royall Cotton Road just south of Sam’s Club.
When Weingarten Investments in Houston, Texas sells the 21 acres for the project, that will be the last piece of land once planned for the Shoppes at Caveness Farms, a large shopping center fronting on Capital Boulevard between Caveness Farms Apartments to the north and the Walmart to the south. It was defeated in September of 2004 because the town’s zoning ordinance called for shopping center of more than 10 acres shall have access from two or more major thoroughfares or minor thoroughfares.
At that time the site was on 80 acres with the front 40 acres zoned for highway business and the back 40, across a steep ravine with two streams, zoned for residential use. Now the back 40 is an apartment complex served by Ligon Mill Road and Caveness Farms Avenue, the ravine and streams are untouched, and the front 40 acres has Sam’s Club and small restaurants, businesses and the Wake County ABC Store, served by Royall Cotton Road. And at that time the state Department of Transportation refused to add a traffic signal at the shopping center entrance.
Cameron General Contractors is the developer, and Richard Sanders said that company and RLC build, own and manage luxury independent living communities across the country. There now are 35 operating communities, 15 being constructed. They provide valet parking, three meals, transportation by a van, free classes and a theater plus spaces for independent beauty shops, spas and other services.
Although the Unified Development Ordinance calls for 234 parking spaces, Planner Courtney Jenkins said the applicant had requested only 159 parking spaces, some of those in a garage.
Sanders explained that 40 percent of those who move into their assisted living do not drive. They are about 80 years old, have lost the ability to drive, lost a spouse. “We’re actually overparked.” There will be 15 people on the staff, and two of them, a couple, will live there and manage the facility.
The decision now goes to the Wake Forest Town Board who will consider during its July 21 meeting.
Monica Sarna, a stormwater engineer, and Carrie Mitchell, an environmental engineer, both town employees, described the changes about the treatment of stormwater, flood plain, and erosion and sediment control made necessary by changes in state regulation as it affects the UDO. After they spoke, two men with concerns about the changes and the continuing regulations spoke.
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2 Responses
I am assuing this will be extremely high end and not affordable for many of Wake Forest’s seniors. Can we get something that is more affordable.
The Planning Board did not approve anything. They recommended the Town Board approve.