Will there be a McLaren at the country club for cars? Photo: McLaren Automotive

July 20. By Dave Vieser. More auto- and boat-related businesses may be coming to Chartown Drive in Cornelius. At the Monday July 19 Town Board meeting, elected officials got their first look at a request by Van-Zen LLC of Davidson, to rezone and develop 6.7 acres of land located at 20410 Chartown along with an adjacent parcel to the north.

The proposed development would include a 40,000 square foot clubhouse and 105 garage storage units in four buildings totaling 64,000 square feet to be used as an automotive country club.

Auto zone

The project would be near the previously approved new Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram showroom and two pending rezoning applications from Action Water Sports for a boat dealership.

At the meeting, no comments were made by the public and the project moves to a planning board review at a yet to be determined future date.

In other business, the commissioners:

—Unaimously approved a series of technical documents which legally form a public-private partnership between the town and the Cain Center for the Arts by contributing capital funds and public property to the Cain Center’s capital project, financially contribute to the Cain Center’s ongoing operations, and establish joint use parameters.

“This has been quite a journey. We have sought this type of facility for many years so this is really heartwarming to me and a great opportunity for the future,” said Mayor Woody Washam.

—Initiated condemnation proceedings to acquire 1,491 square feet of temporary construction easement at 19701 Meridian Street to expedite the Gem Street extension project, which will provide an additional east-west connection in the downtown area. The appraised value is $3,125. The item had been held over from the July 6 meeting at the request of the owner’s attorney but no agreement could be reached.