Packin 'em in...That's the deal according to plans for the lot at 611 Olive Street in the historic overlay district of Apex. Sarah Potter bought a small lot a couple of years back and tried to get the Town Planners to change the building ordinances to let her split the lot into two parts - but narrower than current rules permit. And to change the rules to let her move the old house already on the lot to the back just five feet from the edge of the lot.
Saving the old house is required under Town ordinances and tearing it down would force the builder to wait four years to build on the lot. In order to comply with the ordinance and move on with building on the lot, Mrs. Potter has devised a plan to build three more homes on the lot and slip around the Town's building rules.
The plan files with the Town would leave her room to build three more houses on the half-acre lot. Two "main" houses and two "accessory apartments". The accessory apartments would in essence be so called "mother-in-law" apartments or small residences under the control of the main residence owners. The idea of "accessory houses" came from an old concept of having servants quarters or small guest homes on a homeowners property from long ago.
The big issue is that Mrs. Potter has taken advantage of a little known North Carolina law that allows a builder to sub-divide a lot under two acres and cram relatively small houses onto it.
An even bigger issue is that this can and will totally change the look and feel of the lot in one of the town's older historic overlay areas and change the character of the neighborhood.
Town officials have long claimed that the character of these older neighborhoods will be protected and preserved but the Planning Department has refused to stop the builder from packing four homes onto this small lot. The department claims this is being done under a state law that lets a lot owner subdivide small lots and build homes and that the department can't stop the builder.
Take a drive by 611 Olive Street and see how one builder has decided to alter a neighborhood with no concern for the views of the neighbors and the character of the area. Voice your concerns to the Apex Town Council to stop this blatant abuse of the Town's stated objectives of preserving the character of older neighborhoods...
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2 comments:
There is quite a bit more to this story. The plan is no longer "4 houses" and the builder withdrew an revised her plan. The UDO change request was withdrawn, as the Council did NOT approve it, and the Council and Planning staff ARE actively working to "fill gaps" where needed to protect this area. Since there is a link here to contact the Council, feel free to contact them find out more about what has been done and IS being done.
Also these issues are discussed at public hearings. Those who are concerned can attend them to get the facts and voice opinions (in fact, that is why the plan changed! Because neighbors took action, showed up, and voiced their concerns in open forum, and they were 'heard')
This is good! And signals that some of the Council members listen and input from residents can make a difference. Now if we can get more folks to go to Town Council and Planning Board meetings maybe the end product for all neighborhoods can be better...
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