Business

Planners recommend quarter-acre lots at Sylvan Terrace project

Landowner Chuck Anderson is seeking rezoning to allow six single-family homes on Sylvan Boulevard.

By Bill Moss, Published: February 17, 2018

Neighbors are concerned that a rezoning to allow up to six single-family homes would add traffic to the winding and narrow Sylvan Boulevard.

Property owner Chuck Anderson requested the rezoning from R-15 to R-10 for 1.67 acres on Sylvan Boulevard east of Orleans Avenue and north of Knollwood Drive. Anderson, a home builder, wanted the change to a higher density not to add more homes but to gain the flexibility on where the houses can be built, landscape architect Scott Bolyard told the Planning Board. The current R-15 zone requires residential lots to be at least 15,000 square feet. The requested to change to R-10 zoning would allow 10,000-square-foot lots, or a quarter acre, and smaller setbacks and buffers.
Neighbors told the Planning Board they opposed the higher density because it would add traffic on Sylvan, which is already used as cut-through from N.C. 191 to Justice Street for motorists driving to and from the Pardee Hospital area, and result in clear-cutting of the woods. Surrounding property is zoned R-15 and includes single-family dwellings and vacant property, much of it wooded. Anderson’s company, CLA Builders Inc., bought the property in October for $160,000, land records show. It’s valued on the tax rolls at $76,100.
City Planner Matt Champion said the rezoning would not change the maximum density of six units.
Bolyard said a small development close to Pardee and other workplaces is an opportunity for lower-cost housing.
“With the (R-10) zoning, it does allow us to get our construction a little more affordable and able to keep our price point lower,” he said. “It’s a nice piece of property, it has a good location.”
Susan Frady, director of the city Department of Development Assistance, said the developer would be required to cut roads on the steep grade that allow a fire truck to make corners and get in and out. The R-10 zoning enables the builder to cluster the houses closer together near the road on the high side of the property.
“It’s really a lot more about the setbacks than it is density,” Frady said.

The Planning Board voted 4-2 to recommend that the City Council OK the rezoning. Voting yes were John Coker, Robert Hogan, Ray Mundy and Aaron Black. Jon Blatt and Ben Pace voted no.
The rezoning request goes to the City Council on March 1.