Mayes Road project site plan
April 30. By Dave Vieser. Mayes Meadows, a project with 180 single-family homes on vacant farmland in Southeast Cornelius is back on the public hearing schedule. The Cornelius Board of Commissioners will hold a second rezoning hearing Monday May 3.
Land use plan changes just adopted suggest higher densities than the Land Use Plan adopted in 2014 could be acceptable for future developments in the Mayes Road area.
Increase in density
Rendering of Mayes Meadow. (Bayard Development)
The new density would increase from one house per three acres in the 2014 plan to two homes per acre, effective immediately.
The first round of hearings on the project resulted in a strong recommendation of denial from the Planning Board in a 5-1 vote.
Revisions accommodate more density
However, since that decision in February, the town’s land use development plan has been revised to accommodate developments such as Mayes Meadows in the Mayes Road area.
Decision to proceed ‘rests with applicant’
Planning Director Aaron Tucker says the decision to proceed with the hearing rests with the applicant.
“While the Planning Board did originally recommend denial, it is the applicant’s decision to continue the project forward to the Town Board, with the understanding that the Land Use Plan policy has now been modified,” Tucker said.
TUCKER
Those who opposed the project in February took special exception to three major issues impacting the Mayes Road area: Traffic on a narrow rural road, the impact of more families on an overbooked Middle and High School, and the loss of rural preservation farmland.
Monday’s public hearing will be live-streamed via the town web site www.cornelius.org as well as FaceBook.
The Board will accept public comments as follows:
—Via email toTownofCornelius@Cornelius.org. Comments will be accepted up to 24 hours after the meeting adjourns.
—In-person, with several precautions, including mandatory masks (even when speaking) and touchless temperature checks.
No audience seating will be available in the Assembly Room. Speakers and guests may wait in the lobby or Community Room, with appropriate physical distancing.
