Piedmont Triad Opposes Plans for Apartments

The Piedmont Triad Airport Authority will oppose rezoning for 300 apartments on Regional Road proposed by developer Roy Carroll.

Ted Johnson, the airport executive director, said Tuesday that the apartments, planned for 17.8 acres surrounded by airport land, would be incompatible with the area.

Although the apartments would be built outside the noisiest areas of the airport, Johnson said, future businesses on airport property could produce noise that would bother residents. In addition, the airport prefers to maintain its land and nearby property for businesses, he said, and has a history of opposing residential encroachment.

This is the first time the airport has opposed a residential project since FedEx announced in 1998 that it would build a sorting hub there. Residents of such neighborhoods as the Cardinal put up stiff opposition to the project, saying their quality of life would suffer dramatically from the jet traffic.

Carroll's proposed development, Huntington Village, would comprise about 300 apartments in 15 buildings between Regional Road and Caindale Drive. Plans for the project include a clubhouse.

Carroll, who did not return calls Tuesday, argued in his rezoning application that the apartments are needed to supply homes for the growing pool of workers near the airport.

Dell opened a factory in Winston-Salem in late 2005, and the FedEx hub is to open in 2009. Honda Aircraft Co. recently announced plans to build its light HondaJet at the airport. Honda expects its new plant to create nearly 300 jobs during the next five years.

The city zoning commission is scheduled to review Carroll's rezoning request at its March 12 meeting.

If approved, the proposal will head to the City Council in April.

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