Future site of Magnolia Estates Villas

Jan. 27. By Dave Vieser. More trees are coming down in Cornelius: It started last week along Magnolia Estates Drive, across from the Publix Shopping Center. The vacant land being cleared appears to be the first step in the construction of Magnolia Estates Villas, a development comprising 65 multi-family residential patio townhomes.

Planning Director Rox Burhans said conditional zoning for the project was requested by Nest Communities of Mooresville, and approved in July of 2021. Part of the project includes an extension of Nantz Road to connect with Magnolia Estates Drive.

Ironically, the vacant land adjoins the CD Nantz project where land was recently cleared for a new convenience store—only to have 7-Eleven back out, leaving the site bare and forlorn.

About the project

Magnolia Estates Villas encompasses 15 acres of wooded land which begins near the southeast corner of Magnolia Estates Drive and West Catawba Avenue.  The original proposal, which dates back to 2005, was for 66 multi-family residential units with a quad condominium layout, but was later revised to 65 town homes.

Background

In a 2017 memo to BV Belk, the original developer, Town Planner Jason Pauling said “the existing site is heavily vegetated, therefore it is important to preserve existing stands of trees, specifically within the required 30’ buffer adjacent to Magnolia Estates.”