The Spring Lake Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning of land along North Main Street in a 3-1 vote to allow for the development of an apartment complex near the town’s downtown district.
Over nine acres of land in an undeveloped and wooded area were changed from heavy commercial and planned commercial district zoning to residential district conditional zoning. Once developed, the space will host six residential buildings, with an estimated 204 apartment units.
The zoning request was made by the property owners Lorenzo McLean Jr., Gwendolyn McLean, and BBC Enterprises.
Several residents and community members of Spring Lake spoke in favor of the rezoning and construction of the complex. Community member Harold Belton said the town’s downtown district is underdeveloped, and that action was needed to promote revitalization efforts in the area.
“If we don’t do something now, you’re not going to have anything to do in the future,” he said. “There’s no commercial [developments] on Main Street anymore.”
Jami McLaughlin, a Spring Lake resident and member of the Cumberland County Joint Planning Board, spoke against the rezoning. She said the planning board and board of commissioners denied the rezoning request over a year ago because the development did not adhere to requirements of the Main Street Overlay District and land use plans for “first floor commercial development.”
Spring Lake’s Main Street Overlay District plan was first adopted in 2014. Overlay districting creates additional zoning conditions for traditional downtown areas and aims to create pedestrian-friendly commercial districts.
Commissioner Marvin Lackman was the only vote against the rezoning.
“To build apartments on Main Street so that we can build businesses elsewhere, just doesn’t make too much sense to me, ” Lackman said. “Main Street should be thriving with businesses. Main Street should be the focus point.”
Commissioners Robyn Chadwick and Raul Palacios, and Mayor Pro Tem Soña Cooper voted in favor of the motion.
“I am for this, because I think it’s going to add the necessary foot traffic we need for downtown and Main Street,” Chadwick said. She said that the overlay district plan has not worked to help the development of downtown since its implementation.
“This is the start of something new,” Chadwick said.
(Editor’s Note: Jami McLaughlin is a freelance contributor for CityView.)
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify Jami McLaughlin’s statement to commissioners regarding the rezoning.
The next Spring Lake Board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25 at Spring Lake Town Hall, 300 Ruth St.
