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GREENSBORO — A new housing option is coming for the hundreds of workers employed at businesses along Interstate 40/85 near east Greensboro.

Should the Greensboro City Council review the rezoning of the land? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

Developer Roy Carroll plans to build 300 apartments on 30 acres on the south side of McConnell Road and the north side of Interstate 40/85 at Clapp Farms Road.

The apartment complex, named Immington Village, would give another choice to people who want to live close to work but can't afford to buy a home, Carroll said.

"You can't build roads fast enough to create jobs on one side of town and housing on the other side," Carroll said.

The city's Zoning Commission unanimously approved a rezoning that would clear the way for the development during its meeting Monday.

Attorney Henry Isaacson, who represented Carroll, warned officials against making the mistake developers of Research Triangle Park did when that corporate park was growing.

"There's no housing in or around the park," Isaacson said.

That oversight added to the traffic gridlock on I-40 in the Triangle, he said.

But the gated apartment community planned for the site wasn't favored by some neighbors, who spoke against it at Monday's zoning meeting.

"It's not a good place to put a lot of people," said Barbara Starr, who lives on nearby Youngs Mill Road. "It's noisy. I can tell you because I live next to that highway."

Other speakers were concerned about the development's impact on the city's ability to provide police protection, air quality, water availability and that the change would alter the rural nature of the area.

Gladys Clapp said she was afraid the increased traffic would be dangerous for family members who work on farms along Clapp Farms Road and frequently drive agricultural machinery on the road.

The city's planning staff also recommended denying the rezoning, saying it wasn't in sync with the city's comprehensive plan to set aside land for future economic development.

The zoning commission's approval is final unless it's appealed in writing in 10 days. If appealed, it'll go to the City Council for review.

If the measure isn't appealed, Carroll said he expects to break ground on the apartments in early spring.

Contact Lanita Withers at 373-7071 or lwithers@news-record.com