More residential growth is coming to Gibsonville, but exactly what kind seems a bit uncertain.
Gibsonville’s aldermen agreed this week to set a public hearing for February 7, to consider a rezoning request for 75 acres next to the town’s cemetery.
According to the materials provided by the town’s planner, Brandon Parker, the developer is requesting a rezoning for multi-family housing, specifically townhouses, according to the information provided to the aldermen.
That proposal is scheduled to go before the town’s planning board at its Thursday night meeting.
But when The Alamance News contacted the developer, Matt Kirkpatrick of Reliant Partners in Raleigh, Kirkpatrick said that the plans for the land beside the cemetery were for an “age targeted,” single-story, patio-style, single-family homes.
Kirkpatrick elaborated on the target market for the future development. “The community is planned to offer a collection of upscale ranch or patio style homes ranging in size from 1,600-2,600 square feet. All homes offer two-car garages, high-ceilings, and open floor plans.
“The community and product are geared towards an active-adult buyer,” Kirkpatrick continued, “which is a demographic with lower impacts on traffic and schools, who are looking for a lower maintenance lifestyle.”
As such, yard and exterior maintenance of the homes are included as part of the HOA dues, he explained. “Technically the zoning is for ‘townhomes’,” he said, “but these are in fact detached homes with about 20 feet of separation between homes.” He characterized the new homes as “very similar to the Ashley Woods subdivision to the south.”
Planned amenities include a social pavilion with fireplace, bocci ball and horse-shoes courts as well as a dog park. The site will offer roughly 30 percent open space, Kirkpatrick estimates.
The builder, Elevate Homes, is currently building this product in multiple communities in the Triangle and Triad markets. The homebuilder is a sister company of Fielding Homes, which is currently building in Mackintosh on the Lake, and Dan Ryan Builders, which is building in Havenstone in Mebane.
Kirkpatrick hedged on the number of homes planned for the 75-acre site, speculating at one point on around 150, but then redefining the number based on 2.5 units per “net acre” of land.
For his part, alderman Clarence Owen voted against setting the public hearing for February 7, arguing that the town should not allow the cemetery to be “closed in,” such that “they’ll be no place to bury people,” he warned.
