Aug. 19. By Dave Vieser. On Monday evening, Cornelius commissioners unanimously approved a zoning change needed to permit construction of the Cornelius History Museum. The vote rezones the one-third-acre site on the west side of School Street, one block south of Catawba Avenue, from residential to civic use.

The Cornelius History Museum project stems from a History Museum Task Force established by Mayor Woody Washam.

“The task force wanted to display the artifacts and information that made our town what it is today,” Washam said, “while saving a very historic building at the former site of the old Cornelius High School that was planned for demolition. This is a wonderful complement to the current historic restoration projects underway by the Cain Center on Catawba Avenue.”

The structure on the museum site, known as the Cornelius Agricultural School, was originally built in 1937 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiative and was used to teach modern farming practices.

More information about the museum project can be found at www.corneliushistorymuseum.org.

In other action:

Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding regarding the sales tax increase on November’s ballot. If voters approve the increase, the memorandum will outline procedures for filling seats on the Mecklenburg Public Transportation Authority Board of Trustees, as required by the PAVE (Projects for Advancing Vehicle-Infrastructure Enhancements) Act.

Voters approved the $20 million park bond referendum last year, but the town won’t pursue the sale of bonds until 2027 due to budgeting projections. On Monday night the board approved the use of town funds toward “soft costs” such as environmental assessments, surveying, planning and design work. This should allow the bond projects to begin much faster once the bonds are sold. The town will essentially repay itself with money from the bond sale.