Fuquay-Varina Board Approves Three Zoning Requests at June Meeting
Townhome development on Jones Road prompts discussion over density, traffic, and neighborhood fit
Fuquay-Varina, June 12, 2025 — At its June 2 meeting, the Fuquay-Varina Board of Commissioners approved three zoning and land-use changes, setting the stage for new residential and commercial development. The board’s unanimous decisions followed staff recommendations and support from the Planning Board. The most extensive discussion centered on a proposed 41-unit townhome project on Jones Road, which generated public comment and prompted questions about how higher-density housing fits into established neighborhoods.
Town Approves 41 Townhomes Near Judd Parkway Despite Neighborhood Pushback
Commissioners approved a rezoning and land-use plan amendment for 305 Jones Road, a 4.42-acre vacant site that will be developed into 41 townhomes by Concept 8 Holdings, LLC. The site, located within the Judd Parkway loop, was reclassified from low-density residential to high-density conditional zoning and from Town Center Residential to Multi-Family Neighborhood in the town’s long-range land-use plan.
The project includes sidewalk connectivity, benches, a shaded gathering space, and either picnic seating or a dog park. A 20-foot landscaped buffer will line the western edge of the property, adjacent to the Southern Oaks subdivision. To address design compatibility, the town imposed architectural standards requiring varied façades, decorative front porches, and masonry detailing. Each unit must include vibrant door colors and a minimum of two-color paint schemes, and it cannot share identical elevations with adjacent homes.
While planning staff noted the site’s compatibility with town growth policies, particularly within a Tier 1 priority infrastructure investment area, several residents expressed concerns during the public hearing. Key issues raised included traffic volumes along Jones Road, which is currently a narrow local street, as well as stormwater runoff, emergency vehicle access, and potential strain on schools and utilities.
A traffic count from the NCDOT indicated that Judd Parkway carries between 9,500 and 14,500 vehicles per day, which is below its designed capacity of 21,500. Staff confirmed that public utilities are available, and the developer has agreed to preserve trees where feasible and limit the number of units per townhome block to six, thereby reducing massing.
Commercial Zoning Approved for Historic Utility Site
The board also approved a zoning and land-use change for 207 Railroad Street, converting the 0.38-acre site from medium-density residential to general commercial conditional zoning. The land was once home to the town’s old water filtration plant and had been acquired by a nearby business.
The applicant sought to align the zoning with existing and proposed business use. Town staff noted that the current residential zoning was a legacy classification that no longer accurately reflected the site's function. The board placed restrictions on high-impact uses and emphasized the site's compatibility with surrounding mixed-use areas.
Single-Family Redevelopment Clears Final Hurdle
The third approved item involved 834 Wilbon Road, where a single-family home will be rebuilt on a 1.3-acre lot that had previously burned down. The site was rezoned from residential agricultural to medium-density conditional zoning, with architectural standards that include no vinyl siding, covered porches, decorative garage doors, and a minimum requirement for masonry treatments.
Planning documents highlighted the site’s location between existing neighborhoods and classified it as consistent with the Single-Family Neighborhood category in the town’s 2040 Land Use Plan. A required neighborhood meeting yielded no attendance, and no public comments were submitted during the hearing.
For additional information on planning and zoning cases in Fuquay-Varina, contact the Town of Fuquay-Varina Planning Department at:
Phone: (919) 552-1429
Email: planning@fuquay-varina.org
Website: fuquay-varina.org/planning