Bailey runs across the bottom of the site plan

May 2. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Planning Department has recommended that the town planning board, which meets this coming Wednesday, deny a rezoning application for Cornelius Business Park, a four-building project which would be built on the north side of Bailey Road, east of Highway 115.

In their denial, the planners state that the proposal from Greenberg Gibbons is not consistent with the goals of the town’s land use plan nor with the town’s parks and greenways master plan.

Background

The vacant property, owned by Eugene Hunter,  is currently zoned for rural preservation. Developer Drew Thigpen from Greenberg Gibbons has previously stated that the 36-acre parcel is not likely to remain in the rural preservation category of zoning because it will be sold at some point.

Drew Thigpen

Thigpen has already reduced the size of his original project from five to four buildings and added 4,600 feet of walking trails and sidewalks, all at no cost to the town.

Previous community meetings about the project have attracted hundreds of residents, most of whom were against the rezoning request. A big stumbling block for the proposal is Bailey Road traffic. The town recently received a comprehensive report which suggested there are no easy solutions.Whether that will—or should be—a factor in the rezoning decision remains to be seen.

What’s next

The planning board hearing will begin at 6 pm on Wednesday May 7 at Town Hall on Catawba Avenue. It will also be live streamed on the town web site: www.cornelius.org. Whatever their decision may be, it will then be sent to the Town Board for consideration at the required project public hearing.