Rendering of Lightbridge Academy

May 21. By Dave Vieser. A vacant parcel on West Catawba may soon be occupied by an early childcare center and preschool. The 1.32 acre property is located on West Catawba between Edinburgh Square Drive and Westmoreland Lake Drive.

First Hartford Realty Co. of Manchester, CT has applied to the town for a rezoning which would permit them to build and operate Lightbridge Academy at that site. There is a Lightbridge Academy in Huntersville.

However, before any work begins on the Cornelius location, the project must receive rezoning approval from the Town Board.

Zoning change

The site is currently zoned village center and would need conditional zoning for the project to proceed. Town regulations require that the applicant conduct a community meeting first, then participate in public hearings by both the Planning Board and the Town Board.

County tax records show the owner of the property to be “FC on WC LLC” with a Cornelius Post Office address. The assessed value is currently $833,000 with annual property taxes of $5,382.

Cornelius based Irvin Law Firm is representing First Hartford Realty.

In their application to the town, Steve Irvin states that “the current zoning at that site would permit two commercial buildings with 93 parking spaces, while the school application calls for one building with 45 spaces.”

What’s next?

Planning Director Rox Burhans says that “I can confirm that they have applied for a conditional rezoning for the site and will be scheduling a community meeting soon.”

Lightbridge site plan