Gardens on 11th Rezoning

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: conditional rezoning of a 13.96-acre South 11th Street property from R-8 CD (51 townhomes approved in 2021, then called Oakgrove Trails, by Meritage Homes) to a new R-8 CD for 120 apartments in five three-story buildings.
Where it stands: denied by council on 2026-10-20 for lack of consistency with the Mebane 2045 comprehensive plan.
Next: none scheduled; the applicant could return with a different plan.

Owner Toledo Builders, represented by Robin McAdoo of TMTLA Associates, with Earth Centric Engineering. Ashley Ombi presented for staff.
About 3.5 acres of private open space (protected creek), about 2.5 acres of private recreation (community building, pocket park, playground, dog park, fitness area, volleyball court, multi-use field, nature trail).
Requested a payment in lieu of public recreation of just over $112,000, and permission to permit sewer for all 120 units in one year rather than the city's 72-units-per-year policy (see Water and Sewer Capacity).
No traffic impact analysis was required.

Doubling density from 51 townhomes in an already dense area; some members preferred townhomes or smaller buildings.
Parking lots away from buildings (24 spaces per building near each; 13 spaces over the UDO minimum).
Applicant's reasons: poor soils on the east side, keeping the creek area wooded, and the builder's earlier 48-unit apartments to the north.

2026-10-20 - City Council - Public hearing (about 14:18-43:18); no public comment; council voted to deny.