By Nicole Bowman-Layton

EDENTON — Edenton’s effort to create more housing and homeownership opportunities could soon put new houses on the market in the low $200,000s.

The Edenton Town Council unanimously approved a rezoning and Major Special Use Permit Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, clearing the way for the first phase of a new single-family development on Coke Avenue.

The initial phase will include a maximum of 17 residential lots along Coke Avenue, near the intersection with Freemason Street. A second phase is planned with additional homes and construction of a new internal street.

Josh Rivenbark, one of the owners of Rivenbark Ventures LLC, told council the anticipated price point for the homes is in the “low $200,000s.”

That drew a positive response from council members, who have discussed the need for additional housing and homeownership opportunities in Edenton.

“We’ve been wanting more houses,” Councilman Sam Dixon (2nd Ward) said during the discussion. “This is a good place to put it. It’s not sprawling out; it’s building from the end.”

Councilman Elton Bond (4th Ward) connected the project directly to the town’s housing goals.

“It’s really what we’ve been looking to do to bring affordable housing options into Edenton and give folks a chance to own their own homes and stuff like that,” Bond said. “I like what’s going on with that.”

The town’s 2018 Edenton-Chowan Land Use Plan identifies fostering housing choice as a development concern and calls for policies and programs to promote increased homeownership.

Rivenbark said work could begin quickly.

“As soon as you tell me yes,” he told council when asked when construction could begin.

His personal goal, he said, is to complete the first phase and sell all of its lots before Christmas.

“Some hammers are going to be swinging,” Rivenbark said.

He said people have already expressed interest in the lots, although he acknowledged that interest still has to translate into purchases.

Two phases

The development is proposed for 7.69 acres of vacant farmland at 201 Coke Ave., near East Freemason Street. The property is owned by Access Point Church, which decided it has enough space at its current location. Rivenbark Ventures requested that the property be rezoned from R-20 Residential to R-5 Residential to accommodate the proposed single-family development.

The development is planned in two phases.

Phase I will include no more than 17 lots, with the homes facing Coke Avenue. The Major Special Use Permit approved Monday was for that first phase.

Phase II would extend development farther into the property and include construction of a new internal street, with additional homes facing the new roadway. The second phase will require further town review.

Rivenbark told council he is financing the project himself and intends to develop it sequentially.

“Once we do Phase I, we would move to Phase II with my site work company,” he said.

The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval Aug. 3.

The property is currently identified as Low Density Residential on Edenton’s Future Land Use Map, making the R-5 zoning inconsistent with the existing map designation. Town staff nevertheless recommended approval, noting that municipal water and sewer are available and R-5 residential development already exists nearby. Jackson Dairy is located to the south and Colonial Village to the east.

Staff found the rezoning reasonable and in the public interest because the area can accommodate higher-density residential development, the project would provide additional housing opportunities and the change represents a logical extension of existing residential development patterns.

Council first unanimously approved changing the property from R-20 to R-5. Members then considered and unanimously approved the Major Special Use Permit for the first phase.

Open space

Council members also spent time discussing the western portion of the property, which borders an electrical substation, and how that area could be incorporated into the subdivision.

Rivenbark told council he had already looked into the proximity of the substation and said electrical readings were taken along the property line. He said the results did not raise concerns for him about proceeding with the development.

“We’ve already checked into that, and we’re good,” Rivenbark said.

The subdivision’s layout would also leave additional separation between the substation and much of the residential development. The narrower portion of the property near that side of the tract is envisioned primarily for stormwater management and open space.

Rivenbark said the shape of that portion of the property was one reason he did not want to try to maximize the number of homes that could be placed there.

“I mean, you could force a lot on there, but I like things to look a certain way when I do it,” Rivenbark said.

He said engineering plans will likely require a retention pond in the area. If the remaining space allows, Rivenbark said he would like to add recreational amenities, including a dog park and possibly a playground.

“I think it’s something that’s needed and will help sell lots if there’s a dog park and a park and everything of that nature,” he said.

Council members responded favorably to the idea of recreational space but questioned whether the town should specifically require a dog park as a condition of the permit. Councilman Patrick Sellers (at-large) cautioned that additional site review could uncover a reason why that particular use would not work.

“I’m concerned, if we say dog park and then something comes out later, and for some reason, it can’t be a dog park, we’ve got to come back to it,” Sellers said.

Council ultimately opted for broader language requiring the area to remain open or green space without specifying exactly how it must be used.

Members also discussed landscaping and buffering around the development, including the area near the substation. Town staff said street trees are already required under the Unified Development Ordinance and suggested additional buffering could be appropriate along the portion of the property adjoining the substation. The special use permit also requires applicable perimeter buffers and landscaping.

The open-space provision is one of several conditions attached to the first phase of the subdivision. Others address sidewalks, street construction, water and sewer service, stormwater management, lighting, access and construction traffic.

The proposed expansion of the Uptown Edenton extended-stay property is highlighted in red in this image from the Edenton Town Council agenda.

Extended-stay property expansion

Council also unanimously approved a conditional rezoning allowing The Uptown Edenton extended-stay property to expand along Old Hertford Road.

The decision completed a process council tabled at its previous meeting.

Llama Rama LLC requested that approximately 1.19 acres at 431 and 435 Old Hertford Road be changed from R-20 Residential to Conditional Highway Commercial. The property would be used to expand the existing Uptown Edenton extended-stay lodging facility.

Council postponed its decision at the earlier meeting because Bond was absent. Members wanted him to have an opportunity to review the proposal and ask questions before a vote because the property is in his area.

Bond’s questions Monday focused largely on traffic and the property’s location.

He expressed concern about existing truck traffic along Old Hertford Road and the possibility of adding vehicles in a residential area.

“School is closed now, but we’ve got kids playing in the street, and it is a residential area,” Bond said.

Mayor Hack High agreed that the town needs to take a longer-term look at problems involving trucks on Old Hertford Road but clarified that the Uptown expansion is near the North Broad Street end of the road, adjacent to the renovated former Colonial Motor Court property.

Town staff said access would still have to meet town requirements and, where applicable, requirements of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The conditional nature of the rezoning was also important to council’s consideration.

Unlike an unrestricted Highway Commercial rezoning, the approval limits development of the property to expansion of the existing Uptown Edenton operation and customary accessory uses. The two parcels must also be combined before development permits are issued.

Any substantially different use would require another conditional zoning process.

Conceptual plans included with the application show several possible configurations containing approximately 12 to 24 additional one- and two-bedroom units. Those drawings are conceptual, and a detailed site plan must still undergo town review before development permits are issued.

After council approved the rezoning, Bond asked the owner about occupancy at the existing Uptown property. The owner said all of the existing units are occupied.

“We have a waiting list too,” he said.

Bond also asked whether there are plans to reopen the restaurant that once operated at the property.

The owner said he is frequently asked about it and would eventually like to have some type of food operation on the first floor.

“I would like to put some sort of food thing on the first floor, but we still have to pay off everything we did so far,” he said. “We’re self-financed and taking one step at a time.”

Electric property

Council decided to discuss a proposed land acquisition for a potential future Electric Department facility at its next regular meeting.

The property has been discussed previously as a possible solution to the department’s need for additional space, but council members have raised questions about access and the potential impact on nearby residences.

High said Town Manager Corey Gooden recommended continuing the matter until the next full council meeting so staff could provide additional information.

Members particularly want a better understanding of where a facility could be placed and how much room would be available for buffers between the Electric Department operation and neighboring homes.

“I’d like to see lots of room for buffering and all of that because we don’t get the same situation we’re in now where it’s incompatible with what’s around,” Dixon said.

High said staff could use aerial images to illustrate potential buffer areas and investigate whether a survey could more clearly establish how much additional land could be planted with trees.

The discussion at the next meeting may not result in a final decision on purchasing the property. High said council could instead authorize Gooden to continue investigating the site and gathering information before members decide whether to proceed with an acquisition.

Fire donation

Council also accepted a $1,000 contribution from Staplcotn, a cotton marketing cooperative, for the Edenton Fire Department.

The company said in a July 17 letter that its donations are based on the amount of cotton received from its membership during the previous crop year and that it wanted to contribute to the community where one of its warehouses is located.

Town staff said the contribution will be used toward updating personal protective equipment for firefighters.

Council unanimously approved a budget amendment placing the $1,000 contribution in the Fire Department’s capital equipment account.

Delayed start

Monday’s meeting began about 10 minutes late as town officials waited for a council member to arrive so the council would have enough members present to establish a quorum and conduct business.

Councilmembers Bob Turner and Aaron Coston were absent from the meeting.

Once a quorum was established, council proceeded with the scheduled meeting.