Yates Mill Pond County Park meeting about environmental concerns

Hi Everyone.                                                                                                  January 27, 2024

For those of you who enjoy birding and the nature along Mid-Pines Road and at Yates Mill Pond County Park in Raleigh there is some worrying news about a proposed townhome development being built along that road. Currently every property except one on Mid-Pines Road has an R-1 zoning which helps maintain the rural setting adjacent to the NCSU agricultural fields. The one exception is a 13-acre property formerly owned by the Raleigh Police Benevolent Association, Lodge 41. They had it upgraded to R-6 after they purchased it in 1997, a zoning which would allow for higher density development along with office-type buildings. They purportedly had plans to build some sort of recreation center there- but this never happened.

In 2014 the property was sold to the Islamic Association of Raleigh and they are looking to sell it now. The Blue Hill Development Company is proposing to build upwards of 60 townhomes on the site which would more than double the residential population living along Mid-Pines Road.

There are other concerns beyond increased traffic.

One boundary of the property is Miery Creek which flows directly into Yates Mill Pond. The development plans show dramatic earth-moving and the construction of a retention pond to try to stem the flow of pollutants into that stream, but the amount of impervious surface will make that nearly impossible. There is no city water or sewer on this property, or at any dwelling on Mid-Pines, so septic is a problem. They will use a pump to transport sewage to the city sewer lines along Tryon Road. As you may know the University has just finished construction of the Fresh Water Mussel production facility at Yates Mill Pond- where they plan to use the waters to raise endangered species of FW Mussel for reintroduction into the wild.

Another boundary of the property are the NCSU agricultural fields- those along the paved portion of Mid-Pines. The property is outside the city limits of Raleigh but inside the ETJ (extra-territorial jurisdiction), and the Raleigh Board of Adjustment has already reviewed and approved the variances for the plan. But neighbors were not notified properly, and objections from many with concerns were not heard.

A meeting has been scheduled with the Developer for Tuesday, January 30 from 4:30 -6:30 pm at the Beef Barn Classroom, 4505 Mid-Pines Road to discuss concerns. Dr. Bridget Lassiter, Superintendent of the NCSU Lake Wheeler Road Field Lab, will host the meeting.

Hope you can attend. The future of the tranquil birding-friendly experience along Mid-Pines, and the water quality of Yates Mill Pond, are at stake. Make your voices heard.

John Connors

Wake Audubon Society

919-841-8206