Property map, N. Main St. proposal

Aug. 7. By Dave Vieser. A request to permit front-yard parking for a medical office on North Main Street will be ruled upon at the Monday August 12 meeting of the Cornelius Planning/Board of Adjustment.

The applicant, Coda Wellness, at 20320 North Main Street, is in the process of converting the existing home into a medical office.

The proposal

“They are requesting a variance to permit the installation of two parking spaces (one handicapped and one conventional) within their front yard,” said senior Town Planner Aaron Tucker. “Our town’s Land Development Code requires all parking areas—except for single-family homes—to be located in the side or rear yard.”

TUCKER

He explained that a A 4,017 square foot commercial building requires a minimum of eight parking spaces and one handicapped space. “Eleven spaces are actually provided, including the two front-yard parking spaces,” Tucker said.

Background

Further complicating the request is the NC 115 (North Main Street) corridor study which identifies how much right-of-way would be needed for a future widening project.

North Main’s public right-of-way is currently 60 feet in this vicinity but a total of 73 feet is needed for future widening and to accommodate for future bike and pedestrian improvements. Should the Board of Adjustment choose to approve this variance, no parking can be located within the future NC 115 right-of-way, as identified in the adopted corridor study.

In their variance application, Coda Wellness officials said: “Without front yard parking, disabled public would not be able to access our medical office, because the grades around the sides of the building are too steep to provide an accessible route. Due to site topography, only able-bodied patrons can use the rear parking lot to access the public/front entrance of the proposed medical office.”

The Planning Board meeting begins at 6:30 pm Monday at Town Hall on Catawba Avenue. It will also be streamed live on the town website and facebook.