The Stanly County Planning Board split in a vote at Monday’s meeting regarding a proposed subdivision on Millingport Road area.

According to Planning Director Bob Remsburg, developer and builder Bonnie Droze looked for renewal of a request to build a subdivision on Millingport Road, northeast of Substation Road.

Board member T.J. Smith moved to deny the request, seconded by Tim Fesperman. The two voted for the motion to deny the renewal, along with board member David Underwood. However, chairman Dr. John Eckman and board members Kevin Brickman, Joel Mauldin and Michael Williams opposed the motion to deny, meaning the motion failed, and approval of the subdivision was in effect renewed.

Remsburg said the subdivision, named Ridgecrest Farms, will use public water and has plans to build 18 homes on the property.

Smith said he made the motion to deny the renewal because Droze had not shown “substantial expenditures” towards construction of the subdivision. He also said he voted for denial because the property was in a preserved open space, as defined by the county’s land use plan.

“Preserved Open Space” is defined by the county’s land use plan as “land dedicated to permanent conservation by legal means. These areas may be preserved because of their outstanding natural beauty, or because they serve environmental stewardship or wildlife management purposes. The areas are typically undisturbed or undeveloped and have been protected from development by public, private, or non-profit organizations.”