Following a two hour public hearing Monday night attended by dozens of concerned citizens, the Clayton Town Council unanimously approved the controversial Wynwood Subdivision near the intersection of Shotwell Road and Covered Bridge Road. The 141 acre tract of land was approved for a 181-lot subdivision.
The development will include a mixed of single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and apartments. A commercial area is planned to be developed as a neighborhood retail shopping center to not only serve the new subdivision but surrounding communities.
Before approving the subdivision, a number of residents from the adjacent Cassadale subdivision spoke in opposition. Residents expressed a number of concerns ranging from the minimum lot size of just 7,000 square feet, devaluing existing nearby homes, traffic, and water runoff issues. The two subdivisions will be joined through a connector street.
Johnston County Commissioner Allen Mims owns a farm adjacent to the 141 tract. He showed Clayton town council members photos of erosion, trespassers, hunters, signs of four wheelers trespassing on his property, and debris illegally dumped on his property. Mims felt the problems were due to a lack of maintenance from Cassadale subdivision. He pointed out the same developer of Cassadale would be developing Wynwood.
Jerry Dalton with Dalton Engineering & Associates PA said the new subdivision would not have a detrimental impact. The average price per square foot of new homes will range from $115-$135 per square foot compared to recent sales in Cassadale at $113 a square foot.
Clayton council members were concerned about a DOT traffic impact study noting a stoplight was needed at the intersection of Shotwell and Covered Bridge Road. But the DOT did not offer to fund the stoplight even though it is a state maintained highway.
Dalton agreed to pay for a new stop light, which could easily cost $50,000, if it would help ease concerns of the council and neighbors.
Even though he expressed concerns about cross-through traffic from Wynwood into the existing Cassadale subdivision, Mayor Pro Tem Michael Grannis made a motion to approve the new subdivision. It was approved unanimously.
