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The Albemarle City Council approved an annexation petition and two rezoning requests during Monday night’s meeting to make way for a future subdivision.

The council approved a petition to annex roughly 54 acres off Leonard Avenue and Henson Street from the county into the city limits. This tract of land, which was previously split zoned County R-8/Multi-family Residential District and M2/Heaving Manufacturing, was rezoned R-6/Urban Residential District.

Another 4.5-acre parcel that was split zoned R-6/Urban Residential and HID/Heavy Industrial was also rezoned R-6/Urban Residential District.

Albemarle’s Urban Residential District allows for housing types such as singe-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and multi-family.

The Matthews-based company R.D. Harrell requested the rezoning. It plans to develop a subdivision comprised of approximately 727 units.

“The main goal was to go ahead and get the property annexed into the city and to get it properly zoned so when they’re designing their project, they know exactly what that criteria is going to be,” said senior planner Ellie Sheild, who presented the rezoning requests to council.

Project Manager Colton Harrell spoke with council about the plans for the subdivision, which will be called Avion. He said Avion will be a mixed-use 59-acre development that will include multi-family apartments (360 units), townhomes (212 units) and an independent living facility (155 units). There will also be several amenities including pickle ball courts, pools, walking trails, dog parks, a community garden and a cabana.

Harrell estimates it will take between nine and 11 months from now to break ground on the project. The development should be completed within four to five years.

“City staff believes this project will help bring much needed senior housing, market rate apartments and home ownership options to this area and that it should help to support existing businesses along N.C. Highway 24-27 and the City’s future Business Center,” Planning Director Kevin Robinson said.

The developer is working with city staff and NCDOT on improvements to ensure traffic levels remain at acceptable levels. Harrell told council there will be one access point into the development off Leonard Avenue and two access points off Henson Street.

Harrell will be back before council at some point to get approval for the actual subdivision.