Shawn Daley
Editor
The Apex
Planning Board left little doubt as to how it felt about plans for the
proposed Seagroves Farm development on Ten-Ten Road.
In a
packed boardroom at town hall, board members voted 6-0 Monday night not to
recommend approval of the development.
Citing concerns about increased traffic, quality development, the
preservation of an historic farmhouse and lingering questions about a
park, the board reached its unanimous decision after spending 2 ½ hours on
the matter.
The
town commissioners will get the chance to settle the issue at their March
1 meeting.
Bill
Sutton was the most outspoken of the planning board members as he cited a
litany of reasons for voting against the development.
The
former town manager said he believed the new development would not be
compatible with existing development. He was also concerned with potential
traffic problems, storm runoff issues and the protection of natural
resources.
“If
there was ever a piece of property in Apex that doesn’t need to be
developed it is this piece of property,” said Sutton.
Developer Mike Whitehead is seeking to have nearly 66 acres of land at
1617 Ten-Ten Road rezoned from residential agricultural to a planned unit
development district.
That
rezoning would open the door for Whitehead to turn the rural setting and
former tobacco farm into a large development containing 58 townhouses and
114 single-family lots.
Another factor that didn’t help Whitehead’s proposal was his request in
January to the Apex Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory
Commission to pay a $150,000 fee rather than creating a public park on the
property. That request was denied.
In
1996, the town included the property in its long-range plans for a park.
The town, however, was never given the chance to purchase the property.
After
former property owner Lelia Seagroves Womble died in 2002, Whitehead got a
contract on the land. Whitehead was an executor of the Womble estate and a
member of the charitable trust that was formed to handle the estate’s
proceeds.
Residents from the surrounding neighborhoods of Waterford Green, Surrey
Meadows, Vintage Grove and Buckingham shared their disapproval of the
development with the board.
Their
concerns were the same as those expressed by board members – traffic
congestion, storm water runoff, the need for a park, and the preservation
of a historic site.
“This
issue has served as a uniting event for our four communities,” said Surrey
Meadow resident Robin Oke. “It all comes down to preserving quality of
life.”
Diane
Long, of the Apex Historical Society, said the farmhouse and additional
buildings on the property are over 100 years old and should be preserved
as an educational tool.
“Children have no idea of the lifestyle of people from this area 100 years
ago,” said Long. “Apex has the reputation in Wake County of preserving
history and I hope we can continue that.”
Planning board member Staley Smith did not take part in the meeting
because he is a member of the Womble charitable trust.
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