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SHERRILLS FORD A Charlotte developer is planning to transform 91 acres at N.C. 150 and the proposed N.C. 16 Bypass into a retail and office mecca.
BridgeWater would be twice the size of Huntersville's Birkdale Village when it's finished in about a decade.
Crosland LLC's development – 705,000 square feet worth – would include a main retail area with a “big-box” anchor and smaller anchor stores. A secondary retail area would have more small anchor stores, shops and community sites that could include a park-and-ride lot.
A road, sidewalks and walking trails would link the secondary retail area with a “village district” that would include a common village green, small retail shops and on-street parking, according to Catawba County planning documents.
The village district would encourage community events, outdoor dining and a “Main Street” atmosphere, according to the documents. No homes are proposed.
Each part of the development would be connected by roads, sidewalks, trails and paths along N.C. 150 for walkers and bicyclists.
Parking areas would be separated by extensive vegetation and open space. The open space would include sidewalks, a bus stop shelter and other pedestrian amenities such as pavilions and trellises.
Crosland has agreed to pay for off-site traffic improvements that could total $4.5 million, according to county documents.
Catawba County planning staff said the development fits with the county's Sherrills Ford Small Area Plan. BridgeWater lies in an area the plan designates as a regional commercial center.
At a Catawba County Planning Board public hearing Oct. 7, no one spoke against Crosland's request for a rezoning that would allow the project on the 54 acres that lie in the county. The board voted 8-0 to recommend the rezoning. The Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved the measure Oct. 20.
The project also includes 37 acres in Lincoln County. Crosland withdrew its Lincoln County rezoning request until the company secured rezoning on the Catawba County part, Randy Williams of the Lincoln County Building and Land Development office said.
At recent public meetings Crosland officials said they probably wouldn't start building the project for another three years.
Properties to the north of the BridgeWater site have single-family homes or are vacant. Other property to the north includes the site of a proposed Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse store, according to Catawba County documents. Properties to the east are zoned residential and general industrial.
The future N.C. 16 Bypass is to the west, and properties to the south are in Lincoln County and zoned general industrial.
According to the Catawba County Thoroughfare Plan, in 2005, the average daily traffic count along the BridgeWater stretch of N.C. 150 was 12,000 vehicles a day. The thoroughfare plan estimates the road's capacity at 14,200 vehicles per day.
BridgeWater is projected to generate an additional 17,000 daily trips, according to a traffic impact analysis in August. Plans call for the road to eventually become a four-lane divided boulevard.
The traffic impact analysis recommended various road improvements to accommodate the additional traffic. Subject to review by the N.C. Department of Transportation, Crosland will install all transportation improvements recommended in the analysis, the county documents say.
Glenwood wants more time
Glenwood Development Co. is asking the Huntersville Board of Commissioners for more time on its request to rezone 60 acres on N.C. 73 near Davidson-Concord Road.
The rezoning would allow the Huntersville-based company to build a 162,000-square-foot development with a grocery store, retail shops and 118 townhomes, and possibly more.
Residents said at a recent public hearing that the development would worsen traffic and ruin their rural surroundings.
The board was scheduled to resume the public hearing Monday, but Glenwood has asked that the hearing be continued to the board's Dec. 1 meeting, commissioner Charles Jeter said. Company officials couldn't be reached last week.
Entrepreneur Web site
Economic development officials in Cabarrus and Rowan counties have launched a Web site that lists various resources and events for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
www.InnovatorMagnet.com is the first step in a plan to support an entrepreneur-friendly community, officials said.
Next up will be creating an entrepreneurial council.
Condos to be converted
The planned Davidson Commons East mixed-used development will convert six of its condominiums to office space, reducing the number of planned condos from 34 to 28.
The change is due to market conditions that indicate a greater need for commercial space, developer Martin Kerr said.
Davidson Commons East will be off Griffith Street, near the Children's Community School and Harris Teeter.
Show house aids schools
Luxury home builder Patrick Joseph and Associates is donating the proceeds from public tours of a $2.5 million show house at 112 Sienna Pace Court to Brawley Middle School and Pine Lake Preparatory School.
Final tour hours are noon-6 p.m. today.
The 7,010-square-foot European country home on Lake Norman has four bedrooms, 71/2 baths, a three-car garage, hardwood floors, a wine room, carriage garage doors and custom cabinetry.
The home was built of brick, stone and timbers, and has a cedar shake roof. Its interiors were coordinated and furnished by Tim Bagwell Interiors.
From Interstate 77 Exit 33, take Alcove Road to Templeton Road, turn left at Camino Real and follow the signs.
Tickets are $12.50 at the door.
Past A-B-C Designer Show Houses have raised $50,000 for local educational organizations.
