Rezoning request has generated unusual split between staff, planning board
April 18. The Cornelius Town Board will hold a crucial rezoning hearing tonight regarding a request from Classica Homes to rezone a 9.3 acre parcel on West Catawba Avenue across from Elevation Church. The developer of Robbins Park wants to build 40 attached, age-restricted homes. The commissioners will ultimately have to decide whether to agree with the town’s staff which recommended rejection of the rezoning, or the planning board, which recommended approval.
The proposal also has the support of many local residents. Bill Carter, secretary & treasurer of the adjacent Vineyard Point Yacht & Tennis Club said there is often bumper-to-bumper traffic in front of the 9-acre tract that Classica wants to develop. “A 40-unit residential project will be much more tolerable than any commercial development with cars constantly pulling in and out,” he said.
Over the weekend, Carter sent a video to the town board members outlining his reasons for supporting the Classica plan, which calls for single-family homes.
However, Wayne Herron, the town’s planning director, says Classica’s proposal is not consistent with the previously adopted Cornelius land use plan.
“The Land Use Plan adopted by the Town Board in 2014 designates this property as Waterfront Mixed Use. This classification was intended to provide the opportunity to bring a mix of highly active uses between West Catawba Avenue and Lake Norman and this proposal does not provide for or encourage any non-residential component along West Catawba Avenue.”
That lands the town board right in the middle. Traditionally, they concur with the findings provided to them by the planning staff, so the manner in which they handle this case is being watched closely by many residents.
The hearing, which is open to the public, will take place at Cornelius Town Hall on Catawba Avenue starting at 7 pm. Residents can also go to the town’s website: www.cornelius.org, to follow a real time transcript of the proceedings.
