Elected Officials Discuss Current Events
By Mark Washburn — A bold vision for Cornelius’ historic downtown sparked a flood of comments after its release and has resulted in a second look at some of its provisions.
“We value citizen feedback,” said Cornelius Commissioner Todd Sansbury at a the most recent Newsmakers Breakfast organized by Cornelius Today at The Peninsula Club. Also appearing were Mayor Denis Bilodeau and commissioners Michael Osborne, Susan Johnson and Colin Furcht.
Feedback poured in after the town’s planning board endorsed a draft of the Downtown Master Plan on Oct. 13 and citizens could see a map of the reimagined district, Sansbury said.
Focused on the 220 acres of Old Town Cornelius along Catawba Avenue and N.C. 115, the plan envisions development opportunities, future parking and improved gateway corridors — including the preferred location for a future CATS commuter rail station and proposed street grid adjustments to improve traffic flow.
Some people liked the plan; others had reservations, Bilodeau said. More public meetings and discussion will be held before action is taken on the plan, meant to be a 25-year blueprint for downtown development.
“Ultimately,” said Sansbury, “we want a vibrant and active downtown.”
Osborne said he’d heard concerns from residents that roads would become connected and turn into through streets, bringing new traffic patterns to the area. No specifics have been decided yet, he said, noting that the plan is meant to be an overall vision of what the town wants its eastern core to become.
“Do you want to be SouthPark, or do you want to be Charlotte when you grow up?” he said.
Among the most favorable feedback Sansbury said he has received was on the small-town nature of the district and its emphasis on trees and walkability, similar to downtown Davidson and Concord.
Johnson said she has heard favorable reactions to the Cain Center arts district, the notion of a festival street and more restaurants.
Interest is keen, particularly east of Interstate 77, in what the Red Line will mean for the town, Osborne said. While the 1% transit tax does not take effect until later this year and commuter rail is probably up to a decade away, the Antiquity development seems destined to be the best option for a Cornelius station, he said.
While most of the commissioners were careful to say they weren’t supporters of the transit tax, Johnson said she favored the rail project. It will take cars off the road, she said, and provide connections to other destinations in the region.
Among other topics commissioners addressed:
• Sansbury said the stalled Alexander Farms development on Westmoreland Road and West Catawba Avenue is stirring again. River Rock Development and an investment group that includes some Cornelius residents have acquired the 10-acre commercial portion of the project and have begun work.
“It’s not going to be the eyesore you see every day,” Johnson said.
Among the proposed amenities would be an anchor grocery store. Johnson said she’s heard considerable support for a Trader Joe’s, but there’s no decision yet. A major medical tenant is also being sought.
• Commissioners are concerned about making police and fire salaries more competitive with neighboring towns, Furcht said.
• Traffic is a key issue that commissioners hear about all the time, Furcht said. He noted there have not been any housing or development projects approved in the past five years contributing in a significant way to congestion.
Sansbury said Cornelius’ population growth has fallen to about 1% in recent years.
Photos by Jason Benavides
