Garner annexes 8401 Oldstage Road and approves conditional rezoning to R4

Garner’s Town Council voted Feb. 17 to annex a small parcel at 8401 Oldstage Road and to approve a related tier‑1 conditional rezoning to the town’s R4 residential district.

Town staff explained the annexation (ANX‑25‑016) was requested because the property owners want to connect to municipal water; annexation is required when private connections to public lines are requested. The property in question is roughly 0.74 acres and sits across Old Stage Road from an existing Garner satellite area. Planning staff and senior planner Julian Griffey described how the parcel had previously appeared as a general rezoning and was modified to a tier‑1 conditional request that limits permitted uses; staff found the request consistent with the Garner comprehensive plan. The council heard an objection from resident Bob King, who said he chose a rural lifestyle and urged caution over annexation’s cumulative effects on rural character.

Staff and council also discussed watershed protections under the Swift Creek Land Management Plan. Griffey and planning director Jeff Trezenberg explained that some properties east of Old Stage are capped by the watershed plan, which can prohibit sewer connections and limit density; those watershed restrictions persist after annexation. Council asked whether the county’s and town’s rules would remain applicable; staff said the watershed plan supersedes local density allowances in the affected parcels.

Council first voted by voice to approve the annexation petition ANX‑25‑016, then separately accepted the planning commission’s consistency statement and adopted ordinance 20265376 to approve CZ26001 as reasonable and in the public interest; both motions passed unanimously.