BY ELENA MARSH
Staff Writer
A proposed subdivision on Holly Grove School Road in West End is now set to be heard before the Moore County Board of Commissioners later this month.
A hearing for the subdivision was first presented to the county commissioners in late November. The original plan consisted of 68 lots on 111 acres, but now will see a significant drop, to 25 lots on about 50 acres.
The property is located west of the Seven Lakes North subdivision, east of the McLendon Hills subdivision and north of N.C. 211. The 111 acres owned by the developer has an elongated shape with a large chunk of property toward the back. The proposal now entails that the back half of the property farthest from Holly Grove School Road will be sold by the developer, along with about 6 acres at the front of the property. The subdivision is also designed to have 3 acres of open space.
At the Jan. 6 meeting of the Board of Commissioners, developer Greg Stewart, who lives in Sanford, briefly explained that he had been meeting with property owners adjacent to the planned subdivision.
“After we submitted to the subdivision review board and the application became public record, people from McLendon Hills and from Seven Lakes reached out to us,” Stewart said. “We have met with groups from McLendon Hills throughout this process.”
Stewart told the board at the Jan. 6 meeting that changes had been made to the plan following conversations with nearby property owners. Under the guidance of the planning staff, he and his team were advised to resubmit all plans before they are presented to the board.
The hearing for the project is not the same as a public hearing for other projects. This subdivision will be left up to what’s known as a quasi-judicial decision in which evidence is presented, witnesses may testify under oath, and the final decision must be based on the evidence and applied standards, not on public opinion.
The public hearing for the new subdivision plan is set for Feb. 17, at 5:30 p.m., at the historic courthouse in Carthage.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners commended the work of county staff during the back-to-back weekends of winter storms. Commissioners noted that those staffing the emergency shelter at Hillcrest Park did so voluntarily.
“These folks could have just as easily chosen to be home with their families, but voluntarily gave their time to help those Moore County citizens who had nowhere else to turn,” said Commissioner Tom Adams. “All of us thank them for their contributions.”
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
