Photo by Jason Benavides

May 6. By Dave Vieser. It will be a busy meeting Monday for the Cornelius Town Board considers rezoning for a new brewery as well as appointments to the Town Planning Board. They will also receive the Town Manager’s proposed 2025 budget.

Brewery Hearing: A public hearing to permit rezoning for the proposed Fruitful Brewery on North Main Street just north of the Food Lion parking lot is on the agenda. Brothers Douglas Marion and Travis Marion and their wives Shannon and Chelsea, respectively, operating under the name Aspirational Adventures, plan a taproom and brewery with a small kitchen on a one acre parcel at 20219 North Main.

The project was reviewed by the town Planning Board at their April meeting, after which the members voted a unanimous approval recommendation to the Town Board.

The existing zoning district at this location is Neighborhood Mixed Use and the proposed zoning district is Conditional Zoning. One parcel is currently vacant and the other two parcels are currently occupied by a duplex dwelling unit which is in poor condition.

Town Budget

Town Manager Andrew Grant is scheduled to unveil his proposed 2025 town budget. Initially, there was speculation that the spending plan would contain a recommendation for a tax increase, but it is now anticipated that the draft $42 million budget will hold the tax rate at its current level. A public hearing on the budget will also be held Monday, and at least two more are scheduled for May 20 and June 3.

Planning Board

The commissioners will consider long-awaited appointments to the Town Planning Board as well as some organizational changes. These are the recommended appointments to the Planning Board:

1. Phil Bechtold, as the 2024 Planning Board Chair. Bechtold has served since 2018 and has a term expiring in February of 2025.

2. Michael Buttner to Seat 2 to complete a partial term from July 2022 to February 2026. Buttner has a background in commercial banking and capital management and investment.

3. Ava Callender to Seat 4 to complete a full term from February 2024 to February 2027. Callender, who has experience working with nonprofits, ran for the Town Board two times.

4. Colin Furcht to Seat 5 to complete a full term from February 2024 to February 2027. Furcht has a background in sales and marketing and is a one-term member of the Cornelius Town Board.

5. Mamie Lee to Seat 9 to complete a partial term from July 2021 to February 2025. Lee has a background in media and communications.

6. Travis Julian to Seat 10 to complete a full term from February 2024 to February 2027. Julian has a background in corporate retail management and consulting.

The meeting will be held at Town Hall on Catawba Avenue beginning at 6 pm. It will also be live streamed on the town web site: www.Cornelius.org