Mebane Planning Board Backs Rezoning for Multifamily Housing on West Holt Street

Two vacant parcels totaling 0.48 acres at 421 West Holt Street, wedged beside Holt Street Park and directly across from Mebane's public library, moved a step closer to becoming a small rental housing complex after the city's planning board voted unanimously on March 26 to recommend rezoning the site from R-12 to R-8.

The rezoning would allow construction of what applicant Alan Thompson described as "a single multi-family building or a pair of duplex-style units." Preliminary renderings included in the planning packet showed either a three-unit dwelling or two duplexes, potentially one or two stories with garages depending on final site configuration.

Thompson, who owns AMM Properties with his wife and lists an address of 2219 Setter Lane in Efland, told the board the rezoning would "improve density" on a site he envisions targeting "active adults" and working professionals seeking walkable access to downtown Mebane. The units would be "most likely marketed as rentals," he said.

The project has been framed by both Thompson and planning staff as an example of "missing-middle" housing, the term planners use for residential types that fall between detached single-family homes and large apartment complexes. Municipal leaders and planners across the region have increasingly prioritized those mid-scale solutions to address affordability and provide options for residents who want to live near services without the scale of a major apartment development.

The location drew an enthusiastic response from planning board member Colin Cannell, who cited the park and library as a natural draw for young families. "When I was looking at this, where it is, the thing that leapt instantly to my mind is families with young kids, or a family with a really, really young kid because you're right next to the park; you're right across from the library," Cannell said. "It would give that family almost like a micro-walkable neighborhood. If I had my kids back at that stroller age, I might pay a little more to be right next to the park and the library."

The parcels sit on the Alamance County side of the municipal boundary but fall within Mebane's city limits. Surrounding uses include single-family homes, other multifamily residential buildings, and a 75-unit apartment complex within walking distance. Across West Holt Street sits Mebane Auto Sales at 420B West Holt Street, alongside light industrial and warehouse operations.

Thompson acknowledged a stream running along one edge of Holt Street Park and argued the site's topography should limit stormwater concerns. The property carries "a good amount of elevation running to the rear [of the property]," he said, predicting minimal runoff impact. Planning staff flagged tree cover and stream buffers as constraints that will need to be resolved during permitting.

The board's recommendation is advisory. The rezoning must still be approved by the Mebane City Council, and any approved site plan would require additional county-level permitting before construction could begin. The planning packet and public comments gathered through the process will be included in the record when the City Council takes up the question.