Davidson approves Westmoreland rezoning

The Davidson Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a map amendment to a small section of the Westmoreland property slated for development.

Property owner R.Y. Westmoreland & Sons Inc. sought to rezone 7 of 12 acres north and south of Robert Walker Drive that are included in Lennar Carolinas’ proposed WestBranch subdivision. That project would feature 107 townhomes and 199 single-family homes on 170 acres west of Davidson-Concord Road.

The rezoning effectively reduces the commercial component of the 12 acres, which had been zoned neighborhood services, to 5 acres. The petition sought to rezone the remaining 7 acres to neighborhood general, which permits single-family residences and townhomes.

Commissioner Brian Jenest was excused from the vote Tuesday evening after citing a financial interest in the project.

The 12 acres were included in the town’s Neighborhood Services Planning Area last May as part of the Davidson planning ordinance rewrite. That process sought to fulfill a recommendation in the town’s comprehensive plan that the intersection of Robert Walker Drive and Davidson-Concord Road serve as a future site for walkable, small-scale commercial development positioned within a residential setting.

Davidson’s planning staff recommended approval of the rezoning. It said the 12 acres currently designated for neighborhood services far exceeds the amount of nonresidential development envisioned at the intersection. However, the Planning Board earlier this month voted unanimously not to recommend the rezoning, saying that it was inconsistent with Davidson’s comprehensive plan and its planning ordinance.

Lennar’s project does not require a rezoning, and must be approved administratively by the town’s planning staff. Lennar has said it hopes to begin construction late this year. The commercial component, which would be built by a separate developer, is proposed for a later phase of project.