May 2, 2007

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            Before Tuesday’s meeting, Bradley Rice with Starmount Company, the developer, said the anchor grocery store will be Lowe’s Foods. He said he had just been given permission to announce the name.

            At least two banks, four restaurants, a pharmacy, a hardware and paint store and assorted retail stores are planned for the shopping strip and the 12 or 14 out-parcels.

            Most of the planning board questions were about traffic and entrances to the center, although planner Ann Ayers said the town may not have the final decision. “This is going to be one where DOT is going to be in the driver’s seat.”

            For instance, the site has state Department of Transportation approval for a right-in, right-out entrance/exit off of and onto the bypass east of its major intersection with Heritage Lake Road. “It’s a done deal,” Chairman Bob Hill said.

            “I think DOT is going to want them to have that right-in, right-out,” Ayers said, referring to the now expired plan for an Eckerd’s drug store in the corner across Jones Dairy Road where DOT insisted on the right-in, right-out although the town had specified no access to the bypass. “DOT said they wanted an entrance to take the pressure off the intersection at Jones Dairy Road.”

            Starmount and the town will have to negotiate with DOT about the opening of Friendship Chapel Road onto Jones Dairy Road because of questions about the reconstruction of two bridges on Jones Dairy in 2009. Friendship Chapel Road will not become a through street from South Main to Jones Dairy until a short section east of the planned Holding Village is developed.

            Mayor Vivian Jones and others questioned the appearance of the stores. Rice said they plan to use design them to echo the downtown and the seminary architecture as much as possible.

            “Will the company expressly maintain architectural control over the outlying parcels?” Commissioner Frank Drake asked.

            “We will have approval. It is our intent,” Rice said.

            There will be administrative review of the appearance of all the buildings.

            The planning board also reviewed the plans for the Mellow Mushroom at the corner of Wake Drive and South Main Street, a pizza restaurant.

            “One of the conditions was they everything they can to preserve the landmark and large trees on site. They’ve done a very good job,” Ayers said.

            To accommodate saving the trees, the buffer at the rear of the site adjacent to a private home was reduced from the required 20 feet to 10 but the plantings are to be the same amount as in a 20-foot buffer and a visually-pleasing fence will be built.

            The vote to recommend approval was unanimous.

            The town board will take up both recommendations at its May 15 meeting.

            See Road Roundup for more particulars about the roads around Gateway Commons.