HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0890Smith said that was correct. He said there would have to be changes in the way
the planning staff dealt with the critical area of the watershed, and there would have to be
changes in the recorded agreement.
Jim, Walker (opponent) said he represented 300 residents on the Langtree
peninsula. Walker asked the board to postpone or reject any development surrounding
the proposed interchange until a master plan was completed. He presented a petition in
opposition with over 300 signatures from residents of the Westview, Waterside,
Bridgeport, Royal Pointe, Alexander's Island, Sailor's Lair, Carson's Place, Pin Oak,
Lakeview Shores, Yeoman's Road, and King's Landing Developments.
Fitzhugh Stout(proponent) said he was the Managing Director for Integra Realty
Resources, and he had been appraising property for 27 years. Stout said he had been
requested by the developer to determine if any adverse impacts would occur on the area's
single-family home values if the Cove Key Town Home Development were constructed.
Stout said that in making his decision, he reviewed the site plan, floor plan, exterior
building elevations, the planning staff report, the preliminary findings of fact, the list of
concerns from the Westview Homeowner's Association, and the list of conditions. He
said the density of the project was 1.7 units, which was fairly consistent with the
development across the cove, and it was slightly higher than what was south of the
project. Mr. Stout said his opinion was that the proposed use and density were consistent
and compatible with the surrounding land use patterns. He said the project would be well
screened with an adequate setback from the shore of Lake Norman.
Anne Hicks (opponent) said she was a concerned resident of the Langtree
peninsula, and she was a former member (extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction) of the Town
of Cornelius Planning Commission. Ms. Hicks said she had first-hand knowledge of
what could happen when an area was developed without a small area plan and/or
adequate zoning ordinances. She requested for the rezoning to be denied until further
study could be done, or a small area plan was created along with appropriate zoning
ordinances for the entire area surrounding the proposed 1-77 interchange.
Desiree McSorly (proponent) said she was a registered landscape architect with a
firm in Charlotte, NC. She said approval of the rezoning would bring the parcel currently
zoned Highway Business into compliance with the land use plan. McSorly said she had
worked extensively with the planning department, and the development met or exceeded
all of the requirements of the ordinance. She said the development would be constructed
under the low-density watershed option, and it would maintain a 50 ft. vegetative buffer.
McSorly said that "substantial woodland habitats would be saved with the plan." In
addition, she said an "innovative wastewater system that treated the water first and then
filtered it on to the forest floor would be used" Ms. McSorly said the development
would not materially endanger the public health or safety of the area residents. She said
(1) Duke Power had visited the site and agreed to relocate the existing service line (2) the
gas company had been contacted regarding the easement (3) Heater Utilities had agreed
to reserve water capacity for the 20 units and had committed to provide water for them in
the future and (4) the Mount Mourne Volunteer Fire Department Chief had expressed an
opinion that adequate access would be in place for emergency vehicles.
Tony Jacobs (proponent) said he was a licensed soil scientist, and he had
reviewed the site in regards to waste treatment. He said the development would have a
"spray permit" issued by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and
Environment (DENR)/Division of Water Quality/Mooresville office. Jacobs said the
spray method was much preferred by DENR over a discharge permit. Mr. Jacobs said he
had experience with a drip system (70 thousand gallons a day) in the mountains of North
Carolina, and its water was six classes cleaner than Lake Norman. He said The Pointe's
Golf Club used the drip system.
Commissioner Bowles asked about the permitting for the system and the
advantages of the proposed system over a package treatment plant.