But they are not reveling in the victory. They know the ultimate
decision is in the hands of the town's Board of Commissioners, which will
meet March 1.
"I'm hopeful they will listen to this community and these two boards,"
said Robin Oke, a resident of nearby Surrey Meadows.
Last month, developer Michael D. Whitehead asked the town's Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Commission to allow him to pay
a one-time $150,000 fee instead of creating a public town park on the
65-acre farm at 1617 Ten Ten Road. Whitehead plans to create Seagrove's
Farm, which could have 58 attached townhouses and 114 single family lots.
Some residents prefer that the property remain as is, with rolling
hills, meadows and a pond. But if the property is developed, the town
should require a park, residents say, especially considering the town has
been trying to get its hands on the land for a decade.
The parks commission denied Whitehead's request for an exception,
citing the town's long-range parks plan that in 1996 designated the area
as a future park. Though Whitehead submitted several options for a park
Monday, the Planning Board voted not to recommend the project.
Terry Rowe, the planning board's chairman, noted several reasons why he
couldn't vote for the project, including multiple options for a park and
no clarity on the preservation of a farmhouse on the property.
"I would recommend that you have some of these issues worked out before
you go before commissioners," Rowe said.
Tommy Craven, a land-use consultant representing Whitehead, said they
will "tweak" the plan before addressing the Board of Commissioners.
"The message was made clear," Craven said after Monday's meeting. "We
think it's a good plan and will try to clear it up and carry it forward."
Monday's meeting brought a chamber full of residents who opposed the
project.
Some said it would cause more traffic. Others said the property, a
gateway into the town from the east, should be remain as is so the younger
generation can see how things used to be. The house on the property is on
a list to become a state historic site and, Apex's ordinances require that
it be preserved -- something Whitehead agreed to do.
"It's 100 years old, and as you enter Apex it's quite beautiful," said
Diane Long of the Apex Historic Society and a 40-year resident of the
town. "We should preserve a piece of history. Our children today have no
idea of the life 100 years ago."
John H. Seagroves, a tenant farmer, bought a 92-acre farm for $540 in
1904, according to "The Historic Architecture of Wake County" by Kelly A.
Lally. In 1910, Seagroves and his wife, Nevada, built the one-story house
with a wraparound porch that's still on the property. The house and
several outbuildings are still on the property.
The Ten Ten Road property was passed to Lelia Seagroves Womble, who
died in September 2002. After her death, Whitehead was able to get a
contract on the land. Whitehead was an executor of the the Womble estate
and member of the charitable trust before stepping aside.
Planning Board member Staley Smith had to recuse himself from Monday's
vote because he is a member of the charitable trust that was set up to
handle the proceeds of the estate.
