Planning Board recommends denial for business park on Bailey Road
Proposed Cornelius Commerce Center on Bailey Road near Hwy. 115 intersection
June 13. By Dave Vieser. By a 3-2 margin, the Cornelius Planning Board has recommended that the Town Board deny a rezoning for the proposed Cornelius Business Park on Bailey Road. The recommendation, made at their June 12 meeting, now goes before the Town Board at a public hearing scheduled for Monday July 17 at 6 pm.
The applicant, GGW Flex Holdings LLC of Charlotte, was requesting permission to rezone approximately 36 acres located on the north side of Bailey Road across from the Bailey Road Park to develop a flex office project comprised of five single-story buildings totaling 198,720 square feet.
The property, currently vacant, is zoned rural preservation. However, the new town land use plan designates the area for business campus. Conditional Zoning is sought by GGW.
“This particular flex office building complex would serve a need that is severely lacking in the southeast,” Drew Thigpen said in GGW’s application. “Most of the existing flex office available in the region is outdated, repurposed and substandard.”
Yes, but
However, a slim majority of the planning board agreed with residents who have opposed the project, indicating that the project just doesn’t fit in the Bailey Road location. Many of the concerns raised were related to traffic on Bailey Road, which is the location of a town park, as well as Bailey Middle and Hough High School.
All that said, the project conforms with the town’s master plan.
It’s a recommendation
Does the planning board’s decision doom the project? Not necessarily, because it is only a recommendation. For example, in 2021 the planning board recommended denial of rezoning for the Junker Property where up to 252 multifamily units were proposed by developer Jake Palillo on West Catawba Avenue.
At the town board public hearing, the developer reduced the size to 192 units, and the town board approved the revised project. However, in the Business Park case Town Commissioner Denis Bilodeau has already said he could not support the project and plans to vote no.
The public hearing on the Business Park Project will be held on Monday July 17, beginning at 6 pm in Town Hall on Catawba Avenue.
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“Flex office building complexes would fulfill a critical need that is currently lacking in the southeast,” stated Drew Thigpen in GGW’s application. “The majority of the existing flex office spaces in the region are outdated, repurposed, and below standard.”
This statement reflects the reality of a developer who is committed to backing up their words with action. Small businesses gravitate towards areas that offer flexible and mixed-use developments, as they provide the flexibility to adapt to unforeseen changes in operations, products, and services.
this development would have my support… Keep at it Drew
At the hearing, several residents of Bailey’s Glen and The Forest stated that this proposal is not a good fit. In lieu of building on Bailey Rd., I hope that GGW takes a look at some of the land for sale adjacent to Rte. 115/Old Statesville Rd. near Rte. 73/Sam Furr Rd. in Huntersville, and some may be in Cornelius.
Traffic – that’s the problem with this proposal. Bailey Road is an absolute nightmare during school drop off and pick up times. Adding more volume without another foot of asphalt will make things even worse.
“Small businesses gravitate towards areas that offer flexible and mixed-use developments…..,” And this is EXACTLY why this project DOES NOT FIT. The entrance and exit into this project is directly across from the entrance and exit of Bailey Park. This is a residential area unlike the west side of Bailey Road where flex use commercial is more appropriate. GGW “estimates” forty-four 50′ tractor trailer trips PER DAY on the east side of Bailey Road, eighty-eight if you consider both in and out. Here is what we have now: 34(+) school bus trips x 2 schools x 2times PER DAY. These buses must stop, open the bus doors to look for a train, close the doors before it can proceed through the light. Numerous car drop and pick ups to and from Bailey Middle and Hough High. Add in the student drivers twice PER DAY. Early release days are a nightmare. The area is comprised of soccer and baseball fields, tennis courts, a child’s park and picnic area, disc golf course, walking paths, amphi-center for concerts and events, with pickle ball courts to come. Every day and evening these fields are utilized by games and practice, along with those of the middle and high school. Sports groups and leagues from several communities also use these fields. Not only is traffic congestion a problem, so is the parking situation. Needless to say, Bailey Road is already a flex use area for the schools, community events, local and out-of-town residents, commuters. As Mr. Vagnone said “…unforeseen changes in operations, products, and services.” We have no idea what this area will turn into. Denial of the project is a very responsible vote for Cornelius. “This particular flex office building complex would serve a need that is severely lacking in the southeast.” Taking away the tranquility and quality of life are also severely lacking due to projects like this invading our rural areas, which is what we are hoping to maintain. Thank you
The average semi-truck in the United States is 72 feet long from the front bumper to the end of the trailer.
There is a tremendous amount of pressure on the fields at Bailey Park. Cornelius should expand the park with additional green space.
Well said, Deborah! All your points, against this project going forward, are very well communicated. This must not happen!
Hopefully, Mr. Bilodeau will continue the “good fight” for this community.
Denis Bilodeau is running for mayor of Cornelius and is very concerned wit this project and the future of Cornelius. He needs our votes. He was the first to understand the impact of this project and the need for community input and participation. Good man.