The Mebane planning board has voted unanimously to recommend rezoning two parcels totaling 0.48 acres at 421 West Holt Street, beside the city’s Holt Street Park and across from the public library, from R-12 to R-8 to allow for the construction of a multi-family rental property.
Both parcels are located on the Alamance County side of the city.
Alan Thompson, of 2219 Setter Lane in Efland, who owns AMM Properties with his wife, told the planning board last week that rezoning the two parcels to R-8 would “improve density” of the property.
Preliminary renderings presented to Mebane’s planning board show what appears to be one multi-family dwelling, such as condominiums or patio-style homes, with three units.
“There’s a lot of active adults that maybe move out of bigger houses in Mill Creek and are very involved in downtown – we’ve looked at options like that,” Thompson told the planning board last Monday night. “We’ve looked at options [such as] possibly, if we’re able to fit it on the lot, two duplexes – single-story or two [stories], possibly with garages.”
Thompson told the planning board that whatever is built on the property would be marketed as rentals.
Surrounding land uses include single-family and multi-family residential, a public park, and heavy manufacturing for a warehouse located across West Holt Street, according to Mebane’s planning department.
Currently vacant, the property is located across West Holt Street from a used car lot, Mebane Auto Sales at 420B West Holt Street.
A 75-unit apartment building is also within walking distance, based on materials that Mebane’s planning staff provided for the planning board’s discussion.
Thompson, the applicant, acknowledged that there’s a stream along one edge of Holt Street Park, but said that his future plans for construction would likely have very little impact in terms of runoff. The property has a “good amount of elevation running to the rear [of the property],” he said.
“Something else we’ve heard is there’s a lot of working professionals downtown that would maybe appreciate a somewhat reasonable rent and [being in] close proximity to downtown,” Thompson added. “A lot of the properties we own are kind of on the outskirts of Mebane. We feel like the walkability, with being so close to downtown, increasing the density of it would be a good missing middle housing project we could put together.”
The term “missing middle” refers to types of housing such as duplexes and other multi-family dwellings that target prospective tenants who are seeking affordable housing that is similar in scale to single-family homes and is typically located within walking distance of retail shops and other commercial amenities, according to the Urban Land Institute.
“When I was looking at this, where it is, the thing that leapt instantly to my mind is families with young kids, or a family with a really, really young kid because you’re right next to the park; you’re right across from the library,” said planning board member Colin Cannell. “It would give that family almost like a micro-walkable neighborhood. If I had my kids back at that stroller age, I might pay a little more to be right next to the park and the library.”
Thompson responded, “We are definitely going to try to incorporate something that’s perfect for small families, something like a ‘Master on the Main’ that would allow that active adult to come in. Really the only rental supply that we see near downtown is the Lofts at White Furniture, which you might have to carry your groceries 500 feet and then climb up a couple flights of steps.
“Obviously, we’ll work with the city on any kind of parking requirement,” he added. “We might look at parking in the rear to keep a nice, clean professional look. Like I said, we’re very young in getting the property recombined, but we’re very confident we can come up with something with [the builder] we’re working with; he’s done a lot of similar projects.”
The city’s planning department reviewed the rezoning request and concluded that the property “supports a variety of housing types meant to complement the nonresidential uses and ensure a vibrant center with a 24/7 population,” based on materials provided for the planning board’s discussion.
There were no members of the public present who spoke for or against the rezoning request during last week’s meeting.
The planning board voted 7-0 to recommend approval when the rezoning request goes before Mebane’s city council on April 6.
