Alexander Farms: Trees and Tenant House

“Save Our Trees” signs posted on the Alexander Farms property

With the pending relocation of the tenant house at Alexander Farms, the developer is currently weighing options on a redesign of the area that will serve as a public gathering space in the final development.

According to approved zoning documents on the town’s website, the existing mature trees were to be preserved around the tenant house. For the house to be moved, the developer had to submit an administrative amendment to the site plan that will include a redesign of the surrounding area.

Administrative amendments allow minor changes to approved rezoning plans without requiring a formal rezoning process. Town staff, rather than the Town Board, approves or denies the amendments.

Both River Rock, the developer, and the town said the goal of the redesign is to preserve as many of the trees as possible.

“The town recently approved a rezoning administrative amendment for Alexander Farms, to allow the relocation of the tenant house from the corner to an off-site location in Huntersville,” said Cornelius Planning Director Rox Burhans. “The development team has been tasked with updating the plan for the corner location subject to town approval, and how the open space will be reimagined once the tenant house is removed and the rest of the site develops around it. The development team is further tasked with preserving as many mature trees as possible as part of this plan.”

The grading on the overall site is roughly eight feet below the base of some of the trees, and an additional consideration is the long-term health of the trees.

“An arborist was hired three years ago to assess each and every tree on the corner for health and safety,” a River Rock spokesperson said. “We are currently working through the design process to see what is possible.”

The unimproved land nearest the intersection, beyond the mature trees, is owned by the N.C. Department of Transportation and will be affected by the eventual widening of West Catawba Avenue.

A person or group concerned about the remaining canopy recently posted “Save Our Trees!” signs on the property.

Tenant house update

The tenant house, which was scheduled to be relocated to Blackberry Ridge Farm in Huntersville two weeks ago, remains on the site due to a health issue involving the contractor.