Council approves rezoning for 1850 NC Highway 68 North; staff flags scenic-corridor overlay and future traffic review

The Town Council approved rezoning case RZ25-02, changing a 29.6-acre property at 1850 NC Highway 68 North from AG to RS-40. Planning staff told the council the property is largely forested, includes small perennial streams but no floodplain, and sits partly across from RS-40 neighborhoods including River Oaks.

Staff noted the parcel falls within the towns Scenic Corridor overlay and asked that the staff report be amended to reflect that detail. Traffic along NC 68 near River Oaks had a 2024 annual average daily traffic count of 11,323; the towns code does not require a traffic-impact study for the rezoning, but NCDOT could require one during subdivision or access review and the Scenic Corridor overlay could prompt additional analysis.

Bill Grieco of Land Solutions spoke in favor and said the developer intends to align the proposed entrance with River Oaks southernmost entrance to create a perpendicular intersection; he said preliminary discussions with NCDOT indicate there will likely be a required right-turn lane and possibly additional improvements.

A River Oaks resident, Beth Schall, spoke about traffic and safety concerns at the northern exit and asked the council to ensure access and safety are addressed.

Council action adopted staff and Planning and Zoning Board findings of consistency with the future land use plan and approved the rezoning by voice vote.

Why it matters: The rezoning enables future single-family development along a major thoroughfare; access, NCDOT requirements and Scenic Corridor standards will shape final design, and neighbors raised traffic-safety concerns that the subdivision and DOT processes will need to address.