May 25. By Dave Yochum. The Lake Norman Chamber has come out in favor of Jake Palillo’s plan for an $800 million development that includes million-dollar homes, a hotel and a 10-acre freshwater lagoon on Hwy. 73 in Huntersville.

The project comes before the Huntersville Town Board June 5.

The upscale development on 263 acres of farmland near Westmoreland Road would also include apartments, a rooftop restaurant, a 35,000 square foot conference center and 210,000 square feet of retail.

The chamber board voted “overwhelmingly” in support of Lagoona Bay project—which met with a cold reception at its first community presentation April 26.

People in the audience asked Palillo about human trafficking, housing for teachers and the cost of day care.

Letter to Huntersville Town Board

In a letter to the Huntersville Town Board, Chamber CEO Bill Russell wrote: “As we all know, the critics often are louder than those who support.”

Palillo made a similar presentation about Lagoona Bay to the chamber leadership earlier this week.

In the letter to the Town Board, chamber leaders focused on the economic impact the project will create, including tax revenue and employment, Russell said.

The chamber letter says Lagoona Bay will be transformational for Huntersville and Lake Norman.

Younger demographic

With co-working space, a beach club and various housing options within a mixed-use project, Palillo is targeting a younger demographic.

He said “the days of golf-centric country clubs are over.”

Palillo is also the developer of Bailey’s Glen in Cornelius and nearby Symphony Park in Huntersville.

Comparison to Birkdale

The letter from the chamber leadership to the Huntersville Town Board said the luxury hotel, conference center and fine dining are needed in the growing Lake Norman region.

“Its location makes it an outstanding venue as a destination mixed-use development and attraction,” the letter said.

Chamber leaders compared Lagoona Bay to the days when Birkdale Village was just a concept in the 1990s.

“Twenty years ago, our region was fortunate to be selected as the home of Birkdale Village. It was a very ‘outside of the box’ project which became the benchmark for a successful mixed-use project and literally transformed our community. There is little doubt that this planned project, though it will likely be met with skeptics and criticism, will be even more transformational,” the chamber letter said.

Next steps

The first public hearing on the project is June 5 before the Town Board

The Huntersville Planning Board takes up the project at their June 27 meeting, starting at 6:30 pm