Latest news with #LandUsePlan
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Another four-story mixed-use building proposed for downtown Huntersville across from controversial project
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A proposed development would bring a four-story building of mostly apartments to downtown Huntersville, but town planning staff and developers are focused on promoting the benefits of the project's retail space. Northstate Development is attempting to rezone a 1.7-acre property on Gilead Road that is across the street from the Holbrook Town Center, a once-controversial project that set a strong precedent for the future of downtown. This is Holbrook Phase 2. The new Northstate rezoning presented at Tuesday night's town board meeting seeks to construct a 60,000-square-foot building with a mixture of retail and apartments on the ground floor, and the three floors above all residential, totaling 55 units. The land is currently zoned Neighborhood Residential. The land is adjacent to the 760 Craft Works brewery, and the developer is seeking to share an entrance in order to maximize street frontage. All required parking would be on site, on the back side of the property. Huntersville's 2040 Community Plan suggests using the property to expand Holbrook Park south to Gilead Road. However, planning staff pointed to the narrower Downtown Plan that recommends retail use to promote the 'gathering' aspect of the evolving community. 'We want to promote a balance of food-and-beverage venues and those stores that support downtown life and appeal to visitors,' Assistant Planner Director Brad Priest said. 'They come for services, walkability, enjoy open space. Parks are a part of it, but businesses are as well. Staff recommends the mixed-use, gathering component.' When asked by Commissioner Amanda Dumas if Northstate would consider a residential-only building, company representative Rachel Krenz suggested it was unlikely. The Land Use Plan requires 60 percent ground-floor commercial for new downtown construction. 'We could develop only as residential, but we want to put retail there,' she said. 'We want to do this mixed-use, desirable building. We know retail is needed downtown, and we want to be part of that solution.' If the shared driveway is not approved, then Northstate is preparing to put the entrance on the left side of the building. A two-story home is that neighbor, and a fence would be built, along with a dense, 10-foot buffer. Huntersville planning board approves transit-oriented development in preparation for proposed Red Line There is also an option to make the main residential entrance along Gilead, one that the developer opposes since it will reduce retail square footage and 'make the space more difficult to lease.' The property is within a few blocks of Discovery Place Kids, Huntersville Elementary School, Holbrook Park, Town Hall, and the proposed Red Line station. It backs up to a greenway, where three pedestrian connections would be provided. Despite the controversial nature of the sister project, which spurred 'Save Downtown Huntersville' signs, there was only one speaker during the public comment period. The town planning board is scheduled to review the project on June 24, with commissioner consideration slated for July 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weddington mayor breaks tie to deny 62-home development near eagle habitat
WEDDINGTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A 167-acre housing development was denied after the mayor broke the Weddington Town Council's tie Monday night. Luxury home builder Toll Brothers proposed building 62 homes on the site on both sides of Weddington Road west of Baron Road. The Weddington Crossing development would have had 1-acre lots after amendments to increase their size. Council members Jeff Perryman and Brannon Howie voted to approve the conditional rezoning, while Tom Smith and Darcey Ladner voted against it. Mayor Jim Bell's vote was required, and sided with Smith and Ladner. Trader Joe's expected to be part of planned Matthews mixed-use development The development was originally presented the board in November 2023. There have been three significant lot-count revisions: from 93 to 82 to 70, and finally down to 62. The latest change lies outside the 660-foot buffer around an eagle habitat. The original application was for a conservation subdivision with significant areas for tree-save. The lot sizes are beyond what is required by the town's Unified Development Ordinance. Since the lots were proposed to be 40,000 square feet or larger, town leaders determined they were in compliance with the Land Use Plan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
