Plan for 252-unit apartment project may go to Town Board Monday
Junker property rezoning sketch. W Catawba is on the right side, running up and down
June 2. The Cornelius Planning Board has recommended by a 6-0 vote that the Town Board deny a rezoning request from veteran North Meck builder Jake Palillo. He is planning 252 unit apartment complex with commercial space on West Catawba just east of the Wher-Rena property.
Tuesday’s vote was on a revised site plan for the currently vacant land between Junker and Harborview. It included more restaurant space but the changes did not win any additional support as the planning board members took issue with the project’s five-story height and density.
The denial is only a recommendation and the Town Board will have the final say on the matter.
Schedule
Currently their public hearing on the project is scheduled for Monday June 7 with a decision to be tentatively announced June 21.
The Planning Board three options on the submission:
1. Table a decision to the June 14 Planning Board meeting.
2. Find the application inconsistent with the Land Use Plan and recommend DENIAL to the Town Board.
3. Find the application inconsistent with the Land Use Plan but consistent with the TownLand Development Code and recommend approval to the Town Board with conditions.
Thumbs down
After a brief discussion the planning board chose the second option. (Planning board member Susan Johnson was recused.)
Neighborhood opposition
Several residents spoke at the meeting, echoing the comments of Anthony Grisanti, president of the Lake Norman Cove at Jetton Home Owners Association.
“The new site plan offered five high rise buildings cramming in 252 units, parking and commercial buildings (to include a restaurant. Is that what Cornelius is clamoring for? Higher density, overcrowding, building incongruent with … developments on West Catawba Avenue. I don’t think so,” he said.
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This type of investment is exactly what Cornelius needs and should accept as a good change for that area. Jake was right to say that the area now looks like a boat junk yard.
Unfortunately our infrastructure can’t handle any large residential developments at this time. I would recommend holding a moratorium on all large residential projects until at the very least catawba is widened but really until an exit on 77 at Westmoreland has been built.
Thank you!! Agree completely
Just a quick question. Does Richard Stilwell have a helicopter? That is the only way we will be able to travel. W. Catawba will be at a stand still if one more high volume development is built without the expansion of the roads in this town.
West Catawba should have been widened years ago. Thanks to the inaction of our town Commissioners and the negative comments to the state of NC by the Mayor back then we are in the mess we are in now.
However just because the roads are behind it is not fair to stop the development of someone’s property. They have the right to make a profit while the developers are still interested.
The only things one can do is move if they do not like the way things are or vote for Commissioners who will spend money on our town.
There are other buyers with other proposals for this space. Once it is developed we are stuck with it. Why not choose a plan that will work for the location long term and serve the interest of all? No one is saying the sellers shouldn’t be able to sell. Rather, the residents should have a say in what the town becomes. This is how government is SUPPOSED to work!
I agree. “ move if you don’t like it” shows a callous disregard for people who call this HOME.
It is a valid point for an owner of a site to be able to create a profitable development that will benefit the Town of Cornelius; however, it would negligent of the City leadership to approve all projects without regard for proper planning. Timing of development approval and needed infrastructure must be in place to handle the growing pains associated with these projects. Unbridled growth can be detrimental to Cornelius’ desired way of life that make it such a wonderful place to live.
Can we install traffic lights at every road down Catawba so we can get out!
we need more green areas, not other houses and more traffic! We to think of the community and not to the business of a few!