The Pinehurst Village Council has officially approved a rezoning request that paves the way for a new residential development on Trotter Drive. The project, proposed by Red Pine Investments, LLC, will bring 48 single-family detached cottages to an 8.04-acre parcel near N.C. Highway 5.

The decision follows a months-long process involving multiple public hearings and design modifications to address concerns raised by the Council, Planning and Zoning Board, and Pinehurst residents in the past.

Originally introduced in November 2023, the developer’s initial proposal included a mixed-residential neighborhood with 65 units—31 detached cottages and 34 townhomes. However, this first draft was met with concerns over design deviations.

In response, Red Pine Investments spent two years revising the plan, eliminating townhomes and adjusting the design to better align with Pinehurst’s zoning guidelines.

The updated plan, which was reviewed again at the beginning of March, now plans for exclusively single-family detached cottages with a lower overall density of six units per acre—below the maximum allowable seven per acre. The new layout incorporates rear-loaded homes accessed via private alleys, aligning with the Pinehurst South Small Area Plan’s vision for walkability and aesthetic consistency.

The new plan for the subdivision focuses on open space, aesthetic appeal, and community integration, with approximately 25% of the development dedicated to green areas, which is above the required 15%. These spaces will include pedestrian walkways, a community park, a pavilion, and interconnected green areas, lending themselves well to a walkable environment for residents.

“We have refined our initial plan numerous times and incorporated the feedback from this Council, the Planning Board, Planning staff, Village engineering, the fire marshal, and public utilities,” explained a representative of the Trotter Drive project. “We are here tonight to present to you a site plan that conforms with this feedback and meets the regulations of these underlining planning documents that the Village took so much pride and care in creating. We believe we are presenting you with the vision we all seek for Pinehurst South.”

In the past, locals voiced concerns over a possible influx of traffic in the area. The developers explained that preexisting stoplights will help control the flow of traffic and prevent issues with merging or congestion, and that there would be no significant impacts on traffic.

Parking will be sufficient, with a total of 148 spaces, including 96 garage spaces—two per home—along with 52 additional on-street spaces and parking near the community park. This meets and exceeds the Village’s parking requirements.

During the public comment period, Pinehurst realtor Martha Gentry was among the speakers. Gentry provided handouts regarding the current state of the housing market in Pinehurst. She noted that while interest rates have influenced buying trends, demand for homes in Pinehurst remains strong. However, inventory remains tight, leading to extremely competitive pricing and higher interest rates. According to Gentry, the addition of new homes will help alleviate the strain on the market.

Following the latest revisions, the Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended approval, stating that the proposal now aligns with the Pinehurst South Form-Based Code and broader development goals. The Board’s official recommendation read: “Achieving goals in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted plans of the Village is considered reasonable and in the best interest of the public.”

Further, the 2019 Village of Pinehurst Comprehensive Plan was referenced, specifically the passage stating the Village aims to “seek opportunities to offer a variety of housing types that appeal to a wide range of households and enable residents to live in Pinehurst throughout all stages of life.”

After much discussion and ensuring that the developers would continue to work with the Village and proceed with the best interest of Pinehurst in mind, the Village Council concurred and officially approved the rezoning.

“Change is inevitable,” said Pinehurst Mayor Patrick Pizzella, “but growth can be managed and controlled by the elected representatives, the appointed advisor committee—that is what government is about. That’s what’s happening tonight. That’s what’s happened for the last nineteen months or so that this project has come along.”

The motion passed unanimously as amended, and the development may proceed.

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.