On June 17, town commissioners approved a proposed townhouse development off Alcove Road. Despite initial reservations about the 52-acre commercially zoned land near I-77 and Williamson Road, they unanimously approved the project, which will include 350 townhomes and at least 10,000 square feet of commercial space. Initially, the plan called for 600 townhomes! North State Development also agreed to allocate 5% of the housing as affordable for those earning between 80% and 120% of the area’s median income. The project will also include public open spaces, greenway-standard sidewalks, and an emergency-only connection to Pauls Lane in Templeton Bay.

In addition to the usual concerns about traffic congestion and quality of life, the project faced specific challenges. These included planned NCDOT projects like the repositioning and widening of Alcove Road and the long-discussed Fairview Road Flyover connecting Fairview Road and Alcove Road. North State agreed to delay “vertical construction” for up to two years while the town secures property for a new fire station near Langtree. They also agreed to postpone work on the Phase II portion closest to Alcove Road for up to five years, allowing NCDOT time to start work on the flyover. We just keep growing!