Holly Springs (NC) Town Council Approves Courtyards at Holly Grove Subdivision Near Holly Grove Middle School
The 107-home, age-restricted community advances after Council reviews school-area traffic, required Avent Ferry upgrades, and an amended development agreement tied to long-range corridor improvements
Holly Springs, NC, November 28, 2025 — During its November 18th meeting, the Holly Springs Town Council approved the Courtyards at Holly Grove (website), an almost 40-acre major subdivision and accompanying annexation, clearing the way for a 107-home, age-restricted neighborhood on Avent Ferry Road directly across from Holly Grove Middle School.
The decision came after a quasi-judicial hearing that focused heavily on school-area visibility, future congestion along the corridor, and how the project’s required frontage improvements will interact with the NC Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) long-range plans to widen Avent Ferry Road (more information).
Staff opened the discussion by explaining that the subdivision (25-MAS-02) is subject to the conditions established during an earlier approved rezoning process. The plan includes 75 detached homes and 32 attached units restricted to residents 55 and older, arranged around a central amenity area with internal sidewalks and connections throughout the site.
Avent Ferry Road Widening and School-Area Constraints Take Center Stage
Transportation dominated much of the night’s presentation and discussion. Because the site occupies a prominent location directly in front of Holly Grove Middle School and sits near the high-school traffic pattern, the project must integrate with the Town’s and NCDOT’s planned conversion of Avent Ferry Road into a four-lane, median-divided corridor.
Staff outlined a series of required improvements, including widening the project’s entire frontage to match half of the future four-lane cross-section and building a 10-foot sidepath along Avent Ferry Road. The subdivision must also realign Capeside Avenue to form a true intersection with Cass Holt Road, a change intended to correct the offset configuration that currently complicates turning movements in the school zone.
Staff added that the development agreement requires the applicant to fund a larger traffic signal at Cass Holt to accommodate the future lane geometry and to provide substantial fee-in-lieu payments supporting multimodal improvements tied to the Town’s upcoming Avent Ferry Road Phase II project.
Council Questions Frontage Timing, Safety, and Pedestrian Conditions
Before hearing from the applicant, Council pressed staff on the timing of the frontage work and how improvements would affect school drop-off and pickup patterns. Staff said the widened frontage, continuous sidepath, and improved intersection alignment should benefit visibility and circulation near the middle school over the long term. They also reiterated that the neighborhood's age-restricted nature results in fewer peak-hour vehicle trips than in a standard single-family development. However, school-hour conditions remain a key consideration.
Residents Cite Traffic, Sight Distance, and School-Zone Safety
Two residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns shaped by their daily experience navigating the school corridor. They described heavy morning and afternoon congestion, limited sight distance for turning vehicles, and worries about how additional construction and residential traffic might interact with student walkers and drivers.
One resident noted that during peak periods, queues often extend into the active roadway, making it challenging to turn safely or maintain clear visibility. Speakers also questioned the compatibility of the attached-home section with nearby neighborhoods and urged the Town to ensure construction activity does not interfere with school operations.
Council Weighs Comments Against Rezoning Conditions and Required Improvements
After hearing from staff, residents, and the applicant, Council discussed whether the subdivision met the required standards for approval. Members acknowledged the concerns raised during public comment but noted that the proposal adheres to the rezoning conditions approved earlier in the year. They pointed to the corridor improvements required through the development agreement, including the Capeside realignment, the sidepath, and the signal upgrade, as steps that support long-term safety in an area where both school traffic and regional growth continue to strain capacity. Staff reiterated that these improvements are consistent with the Southwest Area Study and the Town’s long-range transportation plan.
Subdivision, Development Agreement Amendment, and Annexation Approved
Council ultimately voted to approve the subdivision by adopting Resolution 25-43, which included the required Findings of Fact. Council members also approved an amendment to the development agreement outlining the project’s roadway responsibilities, fee-in-lieu contributions, and coordination with the Town’s and NCDOT’s future work on Avent Ferry Road. Council then approved the voluntary land annexation, which staff said is necessary to provide utility service and municipal oversight for the project.
Next Steps: Engineering Review and Construction Planning Begin
With approvals secured, Courtyards at Holly Grove now enters the technical review phase. The developer will now prepare detailed engineering, grading, stormwater, utility, and transportation plans; finalize the development-agreement updates; and return those materials to staff for construction-plan approval.