March 14, 2007

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            The study of the town’s electric rates was undertaken to assure they are fair and equitable and meet today’s needs.

            The town has had a special tax district in downtown since 1988, when it was created to fund downtown revitalization projects and build the parking lot between South White and Brooks streets. The bonds for the parking lot will be paid off in fiscal 2009-10. The tax rate is 10 cents per $100 valuation.

            The proposal is to extend the district’s boundaries south and east to include all the Renaissance Plan area, leaving out the apartments on Franklin Street, Heath Ridge Village subdivision and the Avondale townhouses.

            There are a number of annexations on the agenda, including an annexation agreement with the Town of Rolesville. This would change an existing agreement about the towns’ urban service areas, and the change is based on the towns’ ability to serve the areas with water and sewer.

            There will be a public hearing about the Rolesville agreement.

            There will also be a public hearing and action on William and Lisa Ann Way’s request for the town to annex 8 acres in the 10300 block of Star Road. The land, just before the railroad bridge on Capital Boulevard, abuts the CSX rail line on the east and faces Capital. The town has annexed scattered parcels in the area, and a burst of development is expected along Star Road. (See Road Roundup.)

            There are five petitions for annexation which the board will accept in its consent agenda and set for public hearings in April. They are:

·         A petition from Heritage Wake Forest for 12 acres in the northeast corner of Heritage Hills Way and Dimock Way in the Heritage North subdivision. It is an approved subdivision, The Landing at Heritage North.

·         A petition from Star South LLC for 7.5 acres in the 10600 block of Star Road. This is an approved five-lot commercial subdivision to be called Capital Pines Development planned by Jeff Looper and Allen Massey.

·         A petition from FMD Inc. for 23 acres in the northwest corner of Unicon Drive and One World Way. There is an approved 15-lot industrial subdivision, Neuse Industrial Park Development, on the land.

·         A petition from Joel Keith for 4 acres on Forestville and Trailing Rose Court. The land is abuts the Thornrose subdivision to the south and is the proposed site for one of three new fire stations planned by the Wake Forest Fire Department.

·         A petition from Larry Seibel to annex 40 acres in Franklin County, part of the former Triangle Metro Zoo. The land is just to the east of the Richland Hills subdivision (also in Franklin County) and north of the Olde Mill Stream subdivision. It could be accessed by Houndsditch Street or, in Franklin County, off Stephen Taylor Road.

           A contentious rezoning, that requested by Jim Adams to rezone 3.39 acres at the intersection of Burlington Mills Road and Ligon Mill Road, will be considered. Four of the five commissioners will have to vote to approve the rezoning because the planning board recommended last week it be denied.

           Another possibly contentious question will be a request for a water allocation by Rhein Interests of Greensboro, the developer. The firm wants to build 494 townhouses on 66 acres at the current stub of Heritage Branch Road, which runs south from Rogers Road. The Comprehensive Planning Committee turned down the proposal in December because of the single access, but the developer returned to the CPC in February with a plan to pay $500,000 toward a second road to the south and east that would connect with one next to the future Heritage High School. Rhein is asking for 100 water taps a year; the standard allotment is 40 taps. The CPC split 2-2 about recommending the project go forward in the planning process.

           The other agenda items are:

·         A request from the Occoneechee Boy Scout Council, which is planning a cub scout day camp in June, to be allowed to shoot B-B guns.

·         A proposed memorandum of understanding for the U.S. 1 (Capital Boulevard) Corridor Plan. The plan was described during last week’s planning board meeting.

·         A discussion about vehicles that allow litter to fall. Commissioner Frank Drake has a proposed ordinance.

·         Approval of the Wake County Emergency Operations Plan.