Wendell Approves Major Industrial Commercial Project, Paving Local Growth

The Wendell Town Board voted to approve rezoning and a special use permit for the Wendell Exchange planned unit development during meetings on Nov. 10 and 11, 2025, authorizing an approximately 83.6 acre nonresidential project at the intersection of US 64 Business and Keith Road. The board adopted the planning board recommendation after hearing from proponents and neighbors, advancing a proposal that the developer hopes will create a substantial industrial and commercial node in eastern Wake County.

The PUD is organized into three zones, with a commercial frontage area, a mixed commercial and industrial middle band, and a primarily industrial core. According to the developer's traffic analysis the full buildout could support roughly 775,000 square feet of industrial space in addition to retail components. The plan, as approved, includes a series of mitigation commitments intended to address transportation and design impacts before and during construction.

Transportation mitigation features include turn lane and frontage improvements, as well as the realignment of 3 Sisters Road. The developer will provide transit easements and a fee in lieu for future transit stops, and the project will be subject to signal warrants and North Carolina Department of Transportation encroachment permitting as it advances to engineering review. Utility oversight will include Raleigh Water review prior to final approvals.

Design and neighborhood protections were part of the approval package. The PUD requires perimeter buffers and architectural commitments modeled after the nearby Wendell Commerce Center, aiming to blend the new development with existing commercial character and to mitigate visual and noise impacts for nearby residents.

For Wake County residents the approval signals imminent change to a corridor already defined by logistics and light industrial activity. The project will require detailed engineering and multiple permits, and the timeline for construction will depend on the outcomes of DOT and utility reviews. Local traffic patterns could shift as turn lanes and a realignment are implemented, while the transit easements and fee in lieu indicate a long term interest in connecting the site to regional transit options.

Beyond the immediate neighborhood, the Wendell Exchange reflects broader regional trends in industrial growth that connect Wake County to national and global supply chains. As communities across the Triangle balance economic development with quality of life concerns, Wendell’s decision demonstrates a local approach that combines infrastructure commitments with design standards to manage growth. Residents and businesses should expect additional public review as engineering plans and permitting move forward.