Planning board rejects Novant ER

By Dave Vieser – At its March 9 meeting, the Cornelius Planning Board unanimously agreed with the town’s planning staff, recommending that the Town Board deny a request from Novant Health to erect an 11,400-square-foot freestanding emergency room on Holiday Lane just north of I-77 Exit 28.

Their decision was based on the proposal’s conflict with the town’s land-use plan. A freestanding emergency room is not listed as a permitted primary or secondary use in the Waterfront Mixed Use District, which includes the property where the ER was proposed.

During the public hearing on the proposal, members of the board also raised concerns about confusion for motorists that could be generated by large hospital signs posted on nearby roads, especially with the emergency room at Atrium Health Lake Norman less than two miles away.

Concerns were also expressed about emergency vehicles accessing the proposed hospital via a roundabout.

The rezoning application will now be forwarded to the Town Board for a public hearing at a future meeting.

Approved proposals

Novant’s other proposal on the March 9 agenda fared better, as the Planning Board unanimously approved rezoning for a proposed facility on Westmoreland Road. The facility would be designed as an urgent care center, along with some minor surgery.

Also receiving approval was a request to restore Neighborhood Mixed Use zoning to a vacant parcel on N. Main Street near Food Lion that was once planned as the site of a neighborhood brewery and restaurant.

Pursuant to town law, the Planning Board’s decisions are only recommendations, and final decisions will rest with the Town Board.