Mebane’s city council approved a 70-unit townhouse development that will be sandwiched on about 10.67 acres between single-family houses near the Tanger outlet, but not before one councilman and the mayor criticized the project as being “awfully dense,” in the words of councilman Tim Bradley.
“Eventually we’ve got to get to the point where we don’t allow developers to stuff every possible unit of development on these properties.”
– Mebane councilman tim Bradley
Two long, narrow lots were put together, in order to allow townhouses on both sides of a new street.
But their relatively bland, regimented appearance didn’t sit well with councilman Tim Bradley.
[Story continues below developer’s graphic of layout for 70-unit townhouse development.]
Bradley was critical of the one long straight street with townhouses lining both sides, and without significant green space (at least as seen from the street). Most of the green space, including a dog park, is behind the townhouses.
“There’s no break [for green space] no opening as you drive along the street.”
– Councilman Tim Bradley
Bradley suggested that the developer could drop three or four or even five units and add some green space. “You have to get behind the homes to see any green space,” he complained.
“There’s no break, no opening as you drive along the street,” he said, terming the development “awfully dense.”
“You could drop five, six, or seven units and be a whole lot better looking.”
– Mebane mayor Ed Hooks
Mayor Ed Hooks also said he felt the townhouses were dense, upping the suggestion for how many townhouses could be eliminated. “You could drop five, six, or seven units and be a whole lot better looking.”
Bradley went on to suggest the city should adopt tighter standards. “Eventually we’ve got to get to the point where we don’t allow developers to stuff every possible unit of development on these properties,” he said.
“There needs to be grass, there needs to be trees, need to see between them occasionally,” Bradley concluded.
The council approved the rezoning for the townhouses on a 4-1 vote, with Bradley dissenting.
