By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@Salisburypost
A revised conservation subdivision on N.C. 150 has won approval from the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Yorkshire Farms, the first conservation subdivision approved for the western area of the county, will cluster 147 lots on approximately 102 acres. The remaining 94 acres of the tract will be woodlands and open space.
Yorkshire Farms will be located on the south side of N.C. 150 between Patterson and Goodnight roads. It’s north of Davis Farms and south of Correll Farms, two existing subdivisions.
Arnold Chamberlain, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, spoke out in favor of the conservation subdivision concept. “I love the idea of a conservation subdivision,” Chamberlain said.
The county Land Use Steering Committee heavily favored use of conservation subdivisions in much of western Rowan to allow development while preserving open space and keeping the rural character of the area.
Under the county’s current zoning ordinance, commissioners must approve a conditional-use permit since the lot size is less than the minimum required.
Yorkshire Farms is located on the south side of N.C. 150 between Patterson and Goodnight Roads. It’s north of Davis Farms and south of Correll Farms.
Plantation Ridge Partnership, which includes Lee Wallace, initially submitted the subdivision plan in March. Commissioners questioned some aspects of the plan, which at the time had 170 lots proposed.
County Planner Andy Goodall commended the partnership Monday night for its work on the project, including creating some green-space areas in the housing portion instead of having houses jammed back-to-back.
Bobby Harrison, a retired Salisbury police officer, raised concerns about safety.
Harrison cited figures showing an elevated number of accidents in the area already. He warned the proposed subdivision entrance will create a hazard to motorists, including school buses.
Harrison, who also spoke against the development at the March session, asked commissioners to delay action and get more information on traffic accidents.
Planners noted the N.C. Department of Transportation already has approved a subdivision entrance and will require the addition of turn lanes on N.C. 150.