The Carrboro Board of Aldermen approved Tuesday night a development that will bring residential housing and commercial space to the heart of downtown.
The board unanimously approved the conditional use permit for the Shelton Station mixed-use development — which will allow developers to begin construction on the project at 402 N. Greensboro St.
The development— which will contain a four-story multi-family residential building and a two-story commercial building — will cost roughly $15 million. Of the development’s 94 dwellings, 20 percent will now be designated as affordable housing in response to concerns that the project would attract students — and higher rents — to the area.
Aldermen voiced concerns that students might cause property values in the development to rise — hurting efforts to maintain affordable housing in Carrboro.
Prior to the approval of the permit, the town’s zoning development specialist, Jeff Kleaveland, said the town will require that affordable housing units only go to low-income families.
The public hearing for the development initially began on March 21, but after several aldermen criticized the project’s construction timeline, the board was forced to postpone the hearing.
And during Tuesday’s meeting, aldermen again asked for more details about the construction process.
Alderman Jacquelyn Gist said she worried construction vehicles will go through residential streets.
“We still need to protect our neighborhoods,” she said.
