ROCKINGHAM — A pair of public hearings has been scheduled for next month’s city council meeting regarding a proposed housing development.
City Planner and Assistant City Manager John Massey, at the April 8 meeting of the Rockingham City Council, brought forward a petition for voluntary annexation and a request for the rezoning of property just outside the city limits.
According to city documents, both requests were made by Randy and Susan Clontz for 69.23 acres on Old Cheraw Highway, just north of the U.S. 74 Bypass, for a single-family residential subdivision by Sage Equity.
The rezoning request, submitted on March 14, is to change the property from rural residential to high density residential.
Rural residential is “generally intended to be applied to sparsely developed areas outside the city limits where municipal services are not available …,” where as high-density regulations provide for the growth of single-family homes (both detached and attached), two-family homes and multi-family developments “with a dense character in order to create quiet, liveable neighborhoods.” Manufactured homes are excluded.
Massey said gravity sewer service is currently available along the road adjacent to the property, however the topography may require the developer to install a pump station.
City water service is also available at the northeast corner of the property, Massey said, adding that an extension to the main on Southwood Drive may be required to provide adequate service.
The property also falls within the city’s fire service district.
Massey said both measures were unanimously approved by the city planning board on April 1.
The most recent voluntary annexation was in 2022, for Goshen Medical Center’s facility east of Clemmer Road.
The city council also voted to: appoint Ryan Bass to fill the spot vacated by Marty Goodman on the Historic Preservation Board; and approve an audit contract with Anderson Smith and Wike, PLLC.
