Jamestown rezoning proposal raises concerns for historic West Main Street

A rezoning application for 207, 209, 301 and 305 West Main Street in Jamestown drew public attention in early November when the town posted notice and held a public hearing on November 10. The developer, identified in filings as Burkely or Burkley Properties LLC, proposed assembling 6.53 acres to build a mixed plan of up to 138 apartment units, revised down from an earlier 160 unit proposal. The design would place three story buildings behind Main Street structures fashioned to appear like single family 'mansion/manor' homes in an effort to align with the historic streetscape.

Town planning documents and materials posted by the Jamestowner on November 6 and updated November 11 show the site plan, letters sent to adjacent property owners, the town impact analysis and the full planning packet. Those materials also note the property lies inside the Randleman watershed protections and flag outstanding stormwater and buffer rule issues, including that the town ordinance has not been updated to reflect state 2020 watershed rules.

The Planning Board considered the application at a continuation meeting on November 11, and voted against recommending approval, while deferring further consideration to the board meeting scheduled for December 8. The November 11 roll call and related planning materials are included in the Jamestowner report. The town process now moves toward additional review, and potentially further public comment, as staff and board members weigh compliance with local standards and state watershed requirements.

For Jamestown residents and Guilford County neighbors, the proposal raises several practical concerns. The development would change a cluster of historic parcels near downtown, altering density and traffic patterns on West Main Street. Stormwater management is central to the debate, because the parcels are within watershed protections that carry implications for downstream water quality and flood risks. Local ordinances that do not align with state 2020 watershed rules create procedural and technical questions that the town will need to resolve before moving forward.

The application also reflects a broader tension seen across North Carolina and the United States, where small towns balance preservation of historic character with demand for new housing. How Jamestown addresses the detailed planning packet, the Planning Board recommendations, and compliance with watershed rules will shape the townscape and infrastructure for years to come. Residents interested in the project can review the planning packet materials posted by the Jamestowner and follow the December 8 Planning Board meeting as the next public step in the process.