urban planning
Plans for pre-school withdrawn, office building coming instead
Nov. 12. By Dave Vieser. Plans to build a pre-school facility at the intersection of West Catawba and Edinburgh Square Drive have been withdrawn and a commercial office building will be constructed at that site instead. The pre school project would have required rezoning of the site from Village Center Zoning to Conditional Zoning. Quotable “The […]
Any way you look at it, thousands of new residents are coming
Nov. 8. By Dave Vieser. There’s plenty of construction in Cornelius, most of it residential. Using data provided by the town, Cornelius Today estimates that, conservatively, more than 3,000 people will be relocating to Cornelius in the next decade as more than 2,000 new living units open. Build-out as per the Land Use Plan adopted […]
Add your thoughts to what downtown should become over the next 15 years
Oct. 24. By Donna Randazzo. There’s still time to provide input on how downtown Cornelius should grow and change over the next 15 years. Go to Cornelius.org/downtown to take the downtown survey and have your opinion heard. The survey is open until Oct. 31. “This is an outstanding first step to get the interested parties, […]
Planning Board: Words of wisdom from the planning director
July 3. By Dave Vieser. At the June 5 Planning Board meeting, Planning Director Rox Burhans welcomed the new members and offered some interesting advice. “Over the next several years you will be reviewing and ultimately offering a recommendation/no recommendation decision on conditional zoning requests to the town board” said Burhans. What he’s saying is […]
Cornelius will choose firm that will do Downtown Master Plan
March 19. By Dave Vieser. The choice of who should craft a Downtown Master Plan is down to two firms: Kimley Horne and Bolton & Menk. Both firms have extensive experience in the region. Seven different consultants, all from the metro Charlotte area, had originally responded to a request for proposals (RFP) on the development […]
Conditional zoning procedural changes will streamline the process
HOW OUR GOVERNMENT WORKS | By Dave Vieser Dec. 18. The newly adopted streamlined conditional zoning process should provide applicants, residents and board members with vital information sooner than previously required. The changes were unanimously adopted at the Town Board’s Nov. 20 meeting. Conditional zoning is a process whereby a municipality allows a change in […]
There’s lots of developable property available in Cornelius
Sept. 20. By Dave Vieser. Cornelius Today reported exclusively back in June that construction on more than two dozen previously approved projects in the town has never begun. The projects were expected to generate more traffic, not to mention tax revenue. While these projects remain on the back burner, there are plenty more tracts of […]
Planning Board approves Mills Market
Aug. 15. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Planning Board unanimously approved Mills Market, a 250,000-square-foot mixed-use project planned for downtown Cornelius. The approval last night comes with conditions, most of which are standard rezoning issues. The project is on a prime parcel: 2.3 acres on the south side of Catawba Avenue, just east of Meridian, […]
After more than 100 years, Smithville’s time has come
RENEWAL | By Erica Batten July 19. In the year since the Town of Cornelius approved the small-area plan proposed by the Smithville Community Coalition, the nonprofit has been steadily moving forward with its revitalization and affordable housing efforts for the historically African American community in the heart of Cornelius. A tour of the area, […]
Planning Board, Town Board OK revisions to Alexander Farm plan
May 17. By Dave Yochum. A request by Alexander Farms to increase a previously approved rezoning plan for 130 independent senior living units to 143 was unanimously approved by the Cornelius Town Board at last night’s meeting. Earlier in the day, the Planning Board had also approved the plan which includes relocating and preserving the […]
