ARTIST RENDERING OF POSSIBLE STOREFRONT
Dec. 9. By Dave Vieser. Citizen feedback has had an impact on WIN-Development’s mixed-use project planned for the old Alexander Farm on West Catawba Avenue at Westmoreland Road.
Alexander Farm property at Westmoreland and Catawba
The 54-acre farm will still be developed, but without a convenience store and gas station. Either way, the iconic white farmhouse is not part of the development plan.
Meanwhile, the newest plan includes a pad for a new fire station—a big win for town officials. With significant growth, including senior complexes all over town, fire officials say a third fire station is overdue.
At the first public hearing held back in August, a number of residents voiced concerns about the gas station/convenience store. “I am against this proposal if it contains a gas station,” said Elizabeth Carlson who lives nearby in the Kings Point development. “Those gas pumps would also be right across the street from ballfields and they can be magnets for crime. Why do we need one there when there are so many nearby?”
Several other speakers concurred with Carlson, noting that a 7-Eleven has already been approved for a new project at Catawba Avenue and Nantz Road, less than a half-mile away.
This is precisely why the town added an additional public hearing to their rezoning review process, giving the developer a chance to respond before a proposal goes through the lengthy town review process.
Even without the convenience store, the project still calls for significant development.
The residential component will target active adults with a mix of amenities, including a food truck plaza, senior housing options, retail and restaurants—as well as offices, greenway access and places for the entire community to gather.
Florida-based WIN-Development, which has developed more than 70 projects around the country, still plans more than $110 million in development on the site. They will team up with Resort Lifestyle Communities which plans an age-restricted independent living “resort” with 130 units.
Pulling the convenience store out of the project resulted in the need for a new business partnership, Cornelius Today has learned. The partnership’s check for a Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) was returned for insufficient funds, but replaced—reflecting a new partnership—Nov. 19. TIAs determine the extent to which proposed developments generate traffic, and how they will affect affect the adjacent or surrounding transportation system.
Meanwhile, the timeline for the project has been pushed out at least nine months, which means the old Alexander homestead still stands.
WAYNE HERRON
Town Planning Director Wayne Herron said the new payment—a Cashier’s Check this time—will cover the TIA. While the developer pays for the TIA, it is the town that actually hires the engineering firm to perform a study of how new development affects traffic, roads and other pieces of the transportation system.
The town and NCDOT have already laid out the scope of the study which gets under way on or about Dec. 9.
It will take about six months before it is submitted to NCDOT for final approval. Herron expects final approval “on or before Aug. 1, 2020,” which is eight months later than residents were told earlier this year
With the TIA done, the planning staff will then be able to finalize their recommendations to the town board regarding the requested zoning change. Town officials are hopeful that land for a new fire station will also be provided by the developer.
