Sanford tables “Gateway to the City” 473-home Oakton rezoning & planning board recommends rezoning more Countryside

The proposed Oakton mixed-use project of 473 dwellings and commercial space drew scrutiny for perfection from the Sanford City Council as its “Gateway to the City,” while separate requests for Broadwell and Landmark Towing advanced despite concerns about growth and rural land-use changes at the May 19 Sanford Council meeting.

The applicant will return with renderings to show how Oakton would appear to drivers on the ramp and highway, so the board may discern its attractability on the third Tuesday in June when they hold public hearings.

The proposed development would send students to Deep River Elementary, which is nearing capacity, East Lee Middle School and Lee Senior High School. It is important to note that Lee County School Chairperson introduced a resolution for the county and city to collaborate with the school district to achieve capacity standards. Review the resolution here.

Citizens may want to contact their representatives to request legislation for school capacity and development, such as House Bill 1119.

Applicant for Horton, Brian Richards of Urban Design Partners, PLLC, explained the quality of the proposed 118 “Manor” single-family dwellings with private swimming pools, 24 front-facing single-family dwellings (garage in front), 31 single-family dwellings with driveways connected to the rear of the properties, and 300 apartments as the highest grade. He compared the proposed development to homes in Raleigh selling for $800k.

Member Mark Akinosho asked who would be happy buying an $800,000 home next to a highway and be unable to sleep.

Richards said the existing trees, which, according to Member Charles Taylor, may be felled by the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 20 years or so, and the planned 25-foot buffer with trees, would help with highway sound and light interference.

The 111.67 acres includes a cell tower that Richards said will “get lost” in the development.

Oakton has had commercial interest from retail and restaurants, but they need to have rezoning in place prior to investing in permits and design fees.

The property is zoned Residential Agriculture and Central Carolina Enterprise Park but needs to be rezoned to Oakton Conditional Zoning.

The board heard a request from Mark Lyczkowski of ML Consulting of Sanford, LLC to approve its 2021 Broadwell Conditional Zoning District’s update. “The previously commercial areas along Highway 87 have been converted to residential along with the area reserved for future development; the amenity location has been shifted closer to the entrance; there has been a reduction in the overall number of townhome units along with providing two different townhome widths; and a 42’ single family detached lot has been introduced.”

The planning board met after the public hearing and recommended approval.

The 142.9-acre subdivision will be in the Jonesboro district with J. Glen Edwards Elementary, East Lee Middle School and Lee Senior High School.

Broadwell Conditional Zoning District will have 3.5 dwellings per acre, with 94 townhomes and 387 single-family homes, plus the commercial spaces.

With little discussion, the planning board recommended rezoning 6.10 acres of a 10.63-acre tract on Bounty Lane off Broadway Road in the Countryside after the public hearing for Landmark Towing of Sanford, Inc, with property owner Robert Robichaud, who owns the Landmark One Stop restaurant.

The planning board did not consider the attractability of vehicles stored on the property in the district labeled as Countryside in Plan SanLee.

The only planning board member who questioned the approval of the Countryside rezoning was shut down by a woman sitting next to her.

The planning board said Broadway Road, where the property is located, will become a commercial highway, and that justified their recommendation because the area was growing rapidly. This rationale demonstrates that when municipalities and counties ignore land use plans and rezone one rural property to light industry, it facilitates the spread of light industry until the rural community culture vanishes.

The rezoning of the 6.10 acres from Residential Single Family to Light Industrial would allow the use of any light industry after it is rezoned and does not guarantee the use will be for a towing company. The six acres was a mobile home park, and the property has been cleared of those units.

No citizens spoke in opposition during the public hearing, not even neighboring Countryside property owners.

Both the Broadwell Conditional Zoning District’s and Landmark Towing of Sanford Inc’s requests will be considered at the next council’s regular meeting.

May 20, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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