The Sanford Planning Board has voted to recommend approval of a rezoning request covering 112 acres, advancing plans for a large mixed-use community while leaving the final decision to the town’s council at a future meeting. Urban Design Partners is listed as the applicant for the proposal, and no vertical developer has been disclosed at this stage.
According to reporting from the Triangle Business Journal, the master-planned project is envisioned as a mix of residential, commercial and recreational uses. The residential program calls for a total of 473 units, split between 300 apartments and 173 single-family homes built on a variety of lot sizes. This blend is intended to provide different housing formats within the same community framework.
The commercial component is designed with enough flexibility to support several uses. Plans indicate space that could accommodate a hotel, as well as retail space and a restaurant with a drive-thru. Specific tenants for these commercial elements have not yet been identified and are expected to be determined at a later stage as the project advances through approvals and into marketing.
Open space is a central feature of the concept plan. More than 49 acres, or roughly 45% of the total site, are designated as open space. The design envisions an internal network of trails, multiple parks, a dog park, pickleball courts and playgrounds, creating a range of recreational options for residents and visitors. A clubhouse and pool are also contemplated, reinforcing the community-oriented positioning of the development.
Site access and circulation are planned around multiple entry points and internal connections. The project would feature two primary entrances from Colon Road, supported by new sidewalks, internal trails and a system of internal streets to link the residential, commercial and amenity areas. This layout is intended to provide both vehicular and pedestrian connectivity across the 112-acre tract.
The development is expected to roll out in four distinct phases. The first phase would focus on the commercial component, establishing the nonresidential uses before building out the bulk of the housing. Subsequent phases would add single-family homes, followed by the apartment portion, with a final phase of additional single-family home construction. This phasing approach allows the project to introduce services and amenities early while staging the residential absorption over time.
With the planning board’s recommendation now in place, the rezoning proposal moves to the town council, which will decide whether to approve the land-use change that underpins the mixed-use plan. The outcome of that vote will determine whether the 112-acre site can proceed under the proposed mixed-use framework and amenity-rich community vision described in the application.
