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Two large housing developments proposed for southeast and eastern Durham go before the city’s Planning Commission on Tuesday evening.
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Together, they could bring up to 270 new homes to Durham’s rural areas. Southeast Durham, in particular, has seen multiple new housing developments, raising concerns about traffic, emergency response times, and environmental impact.
The commission’s votes are recommendations to the Durham City Council, which has the final authority on rezoning proposals.
In eastern Durham, developer Bryan Harris of The CSC Group is coming back with a new proposal for the “Reserve at Rocky Ranch.” Located on 52 acres at 618, 702, and 716 Virgil Road, the project seeks a rezoning for up to 190 homes.
The commission previously reviewed the proposal in April and recommended a 10-2 denial of the project. Since then, the CSC Group has scaled back from 225 homes to 190. The revised application also broadens the allowed housing types, committing to at least two styles from a list that includes single-family homes, detached apartments, duplexes and townhomes.
The developer has pledged that 3% of the homes will be income-restricted for 30 years, affordable to households earning 80% of the area median income. That’s about $64,750 for an individual to $92,500 for a four-person home.
Other commitments include capping the site’s impervious surface area at 60%, providing a $19,500 donation to Durham Public Schools and leaving an identified wildlife corridor and floodplain undisturbed.
Advocates from Preserve Rural Durham, a local advocacy group, plan to attend the meeting on Tuesday in opposition to the project. They want the city to first address the pollution and sediment flowing into Lick Creek from nearby development projects.
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“Southeast Durham has been devastated by over 34 developments in a 2.5 mile area, Lick Creek Watershed,” said Pamela Andrews, the president of the group. “Reducing the number of units by 35 parcels and adding a 100-year final sediment basin will not fix the sediment runoff and environmental issues. It still remains 60% impervious when 70% is the max.”
Andrews said Preserve Rural Durham is also concerned the project doesn’t address issues related to blasting, traffic and emergency response delays.
The second proposal on Tuesday’s agenda is “Thompson Village,” a proposed 4.47-acre development on the southeast and eastern area of Durham, near Freeman Road and North Mineral Springs Road. The property is about two miles from Southern High School.
The project spans seven parcels of land with addresses on Mary Martin Road, Flanders Drive and Valmet Drive.
Craig Duerr of Land Alternatives is requesting a rezoning for 80 homes, which could include single-family homes, zero-lot-line houses, townhouses and duplexes, according to city documents. However, based on utility and fiscal assessments, the developer plans to build closer to 42 homes, the documents read.
The proposal doesn’t include affordable housing. Instead, Land Alternatives is offering a $25,000 donation to the Durham Dedicated Housing Fund and a $10,000 donation to Durham Public Schools. They’re also committing to no mass grading, a 5% tree coverage minimum and impervious surface maximum of 60%.
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