A new industrial park could soon be coming to undeveloped property in Orange County after the land recently gained public attention due to a failed proposal for a Buc-ee’s gas station.

The Orange County government recently received a proposal for a development titled Efland Industrial Park. The project, which is categorized as light industrial development, would turn two parcels of land along the Interstates 40 and 85 corridor in Efland into roughly 886,240 square feet of industrial and warehousing space.

Some of the same land parcels involved in this project were set for development proposed by the Efland Station project, which Orange County reviewed in late 2020 and early 2021. That proposal faced significant pushback from hundreds of Orange County residents, who pointed to the inclusion of a Buc-ee’s gas station being located on top of a protected watershed. Developers and Buc-ee’s representatives pulled their proposal from the county government in February, citing the area being “just not a good fit” for a new location.

The Efland Industrial Park development, however, may not face the same scrutiny. Because of the type of development and fewer changes to the environmental compared to rejected Efland Station, the new proposal will not come before the county commissioners for approval. Instead, it may only need to be approved by the Orange County planning department.

“This is going to be an industrial warehouse distribution,” Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners Renee Price told 97.9 The Hill. “It’s a much different operation.”

The parcels for development are located within the Commercial-Industrial Transition Activity Node (CITAN), which is defined in the 2030 Orange County Comprehensive Plan. CITAN parcels are located along transportation routes and zoned for non-residential activity, making the proposal for the industrial park in accordance with permitted uses of the property.

The land off the interstate sits between Hillsborough and Mebane, which Price said makes it perfect for transportation needs.

“It’ll be a quieter industry and without the environmental concerns we had there in the past,” Price said. “It fits, and without having to make any other adjustments it will get administrative review and approval.”

The county’s review of the Efland Industrial Park project will still require developers to conform their plans to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance, meaning it will have to qualify for all development, environmental and building standards.

In a release about the project, the Orange County government detailed the timeline of its review. Staff and the Development Advisory Committee examined the proposal on September 15 and 16. Meetings with the applicant and local review partners are ongoing now through October 8, with another meeting of the Development Advisory Committee set for October 7. A date for a planning department decision to approve or reject the proposal is not yet set.

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