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The proposed Hawfields Landing subdivision will be located on roughly 149 acres just south of NC Highway 119, shown here outlined in light blue.

The proposed Hawfields Landing subdivision will be located on roughly 149 acres just south of NC Highway 119, shown here outlined in light blue.

Following a lengthy public hearing during last Monday’s Mebane Planning Board meeting, the board agreed to a request from the developer of the potential Hawfields Landing subdivision to push back their vote on the project to allow time to rework the plans to meet nearby property owners’ requests.

LeoTerra LLC has requested a rezone of roughly 149 acres south of NC Highway 119 and west of Turner Road to allow for the development of Hawfields Landing, a subdivision of 308 single-family homes and 184 townhomes, expected to be priced in the $400,000s. 

The properties were formerly farmland but are currently vacant and wooded. A number of residents who live near the proposed development attended the planning board meeting, voicing their concerns about the project and the impact it will have on them.

In an effort to address the concerns of the potential neighbors of the subdivision, LeoTerra CEO Buddy Lyons asked to push the planning board’s vote on the project to next month, noting changes to be made to the project’s number of units and setback distances. The board agreed.

The rezoning request includes four properties, which are currently zoned a mix of B-2, R-20 and unzoned. LeoTerra’s request is to rezone the properties to R-12(CD), allowing the construction of the subdivision with a site-specific plan. The developer has also requested a special use permit (SUP) to permit the construction of a public sewer pump station near the southeastern corner of the subdivision.

If approved, the subdivision will feature five-foot wide internal sidewalks, a 10-foot wide multi-use path along NC 119 and a number of private amenities such as a swimming pool, playground, dog park, pickleball courts and a picnic area.

A traffic impact analysis (TIA) for the project was performed in February and amended in March, and the assessment calls for the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of NC 119 and Kimrey Road, as well as left and right turn lanes off Kimrey onto 119 and a right turn lane at the intersection of NC 119 and Trollingwood Hawfields/Old Hillsborough Road.

Craig Turner, attorney with Fox Rothchild LLP, who represented LeoTerra at the planning board meeting, noted the demand for housing in Mebane and the surrounding areas is “robust” and that Hawfields Landing’s planned location is ideal because it’s in close proximity to industrial and institutional developments, other homes and subdivisions and multiple highways.

In regards to traffic concerns, Turner said it is expected that the majority of subdivision residents will use the planned entrance and exit located just south of NC 119. He noted the TIA predicted 40 percent of traffic the north will use NC 119, with 25 percent of traffic coming from the south expected to use NC 119 as well. 15 percent is expected to use Trollingwood Hawfields Road.

La-Deidre Matthews, also an attorney with Fox Rothchild LLP who is representing LeoTerra, presented the evidence regarding the SUP for a new pump station to the board.

Matthews said the SUP application met the four criteria for approval, as it will not endanger public health or safety because the pump station has been designed by professional engineers and is proven safe; it will not impact nearby properties, as the stations are common for subdivisions; it will be in harmony with its surroundings, as it won’t be visible to most, has no smell and generates no traffic; and it is consistent with the city’s adopted plans.

Several residents who live near the proposed subdivision attended the meeting and made their voices heard to Lyons, who said he fully understands the neighbors’ concerns and wants to address them wherever possible.

Many of the residents’ concerns centered around increasing traffic, lack of infrastructure to held the development (such as roads, stores and schools), density and the development of farmland from a wooded, natural area into a subdivision. The board cannot assess some factors, such as the development’s impact on schools, when making their decision.

Heather Merritt, of Farrell Road, said she is concerned the new subdivision will exacerbate an already major problem of people speeding down Farrell Road, treating the street as their own “personal race car speedway.”

“My fear is that the five percent of designated traffic will increase the amount of cars that speed on Farrell Road and make it even more unsafe for the children. The solution would be to build sidewalks and stop speed bumps,” Merritt said.

Tara Cole, of Farrell Road, voiced her concerns about the impact the development will have on the nature and wildlife on the properties, as well as its impact on the city’s schools, traffic and stores, which she said are already overcrowded.

Additionally, Cole was concerned about the intersection of Turner Road and NC 119, noting traffic already gets backed up there and that a new housing development, without a traffic light, would make the intersection worse.

Lyons said he is willing to add a condition to install a traffic light at that intersection, as well. Mebane Development Director Cy Stober added that the light would be warranted.

Taking into account the concerns voiced by nearby property owners, Lyons asked the planning board to table the vote on the development until the May meeting. 

In the time between, Lyons said he plans to meet with the residents on-site to further understand their concerns, along with reducing the number of lots by 20, increasing the side setback distance from 10-feet to 14-feet and adding an ADA-compliant trail system. Other changes, such as the adding of a stoplight at the Turner Road/NC 119 intersection, may be made ahead of the May planning board meeting.

This is a developing story. The Mebane Enterprise will provide updates as soon as they are available.

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