By Laura Crosio
After two hours of soliciting public input, expert advice and deliberations, Clayton ‘s town council decided to push forward with a developer’s plans to build a 38 home subdivision east of Amelia Church Road, between NC 42 West and Breeze Lane.
In a 3-to-2 vote, Dalton Engineering won approval after council members and residents from a surrounding neighborhood disputed how construction traffic and possible future traffic flow would be handled.
Town Planner David DeYoung recommended the developer seek NCDOT approval for a temporary construction entrance on Highway 42 for up to two years. If denied, construction traffic would then be permitted to use an existing public right of way.
Once construction is complete, the Highway 42 access point would be closed off leaving the new subdivision with one access point, Satinwood Drive, in the Wynston subdivision. Plans also call for two stub-out roads within the development for future access to the west.
Satinwood Drive resident Michael Orlowski spoke before the council in opposition to the traffic flow citing concerns for an increase in vehicles and safety concerns for neighborhood children. According to Town of Clayton ordinances, subdivisions do not need secondary road access unless it contains more than 75 homes.
“We believe the new subdivision will be detrimental to Wynton due to safety,” said Orlowski. “These new homes are going to be utilizing roads our HOA spends money to maintain and landscape.
Councilmen Art Holder and Michael Grannis agreed with the concerns.
“There should be a direct access to 42 rather than go directly through that subdivision,” said Holder.
“Construction traffic is the mitigating danger,” said Grannis. “It endangers the public and is a health and safety issues.”
Developer Jerry Dalton said he has worked hard to appease both the town and neighboring residents on this project. “We have done everything possible to make this a good situation,” he said.
