There is a proposal to annex the 401 Par Golf Area, re-zone it from Recreational to Mixed Use, bulldoze the surrounding forest, and turn it into 800 rental units plus stores. You can see the plan here. 

During the meeting the goal of this rezoning was announced, which is to turn Par Golf and the wooded areas across from St. Patrick Dr. into a high-density rental apartment complex with a strip mall along the US-401 frontage. Included in this development will be a road that will extend from Simpkins Rd to a 4-way stop at Malibu and St. Patrick in Colonial Heights. Additionally, an alley with a vehicular entrance will be added to Woodcrest and connect to this new road and service the back of the strip mall.

While the development will not consist totally of high-rise apartments, the total expected increase in residential units on this property is expected to be between 700 and 800 units, all rental, mix of town houses, apartment buildings, cottages, and commercial stores.

Now folks, I’m sure a lot of you are like me and not opposed to development, if it is reasonable and within the character of our existing neighborhoods. The current zoning (R-40W) allows for no more than 1 dwelling per acre and a maximum of 30% impervious surfaces (concrete, driveways, roads—places that won’t allow water to absorb into the earth naturally). This rezoning, if it is allowed to occur will be nearly a 10-fold increase in the current allowable development level. Adding to our difficulties, the authority with jurisdiction over the rezoning is the Town of Garner, whose officials are not answerable to us at the ballot box because we’re all in unincorporated Wake County. This development does not incorporate 100-year flood risk models. It states it will allow for 35% "open space" when really that means yoga studios, playgrounds, and storm water retention ponds. There is NO known precedent for having something 70% impervious surface in the delicate Swift Creek Watershed.

That this fight will not be easy is absolutely an understatement. We’re facing one of the state’s largest real estate developers and a town council that isn’t accountable to us whatsoever. That said, I feel we have a path forward to challenge this rezoning. It will take organization and determination. That all said, we can win this fight. And we will.

The purpose of this petition is to convince the Town of Garner to maintain the current R-40W zoning in the area affected by this rezoning proposal.

Now folks, I’m sure a lot of you are like me and not opposed to development, if it is reasonable and within the character of our existing neighborhoods. The current zoning (R-40W) allows for no more than 1 dwelling per acre and a maximum of 30% impervious surfaces (concrete, driveways, roads—places that won’t allow water to absorb into the earth naturally). This rezoning, if it is allowed to occur will be nearly a 10-fold increase in the current allowable development level. Adding to our difficulties, the authority with jurisdiction over the rezoning is the Town of Garner, whose officials are not answerable to us at the ballot box because we’re all in unincorporated Wake County. 

That this fight will not be easy is absolutely an understatement. We’re facing one of the state’s largest real estate developers and a town council that isn’t accountable to us whatsoever. That said, I feel we have a path forward to challenge this rezoning. It will take organization and determination. That all said, we can win this fight. And we will.

The purpose of this petition is to convince the Town of Garner to maintain the current R-40W zoning in the area affected by this rezoning proposal.