Town Board: Hotel Hearing, Proposed Tax Hike

Nearly 40 people attended the Town Board meeting Monday night to voice opposition to a proposed hotel at the corner of Mayes Road and Sam Furr Road.

Following a presentation of the proposal by town staff, commissioners Colin Furcht and Rob Carney said they were receptive to the concept of a higher-end hotel in Cornelius but believed there is a better site than the one proposed.

“On its surface, I don’t hate the project, I hate the spot,” Furcht said.

After additional feedback from the board, including a concern about tree preservation from Commissioner Susan Johnson, about one-third of attendees spoke during the public hearing, each voicing opposition to the plan. The rest of the crowd applauded each public comment.

Of the 13 speakers, only three were Cornelius residents. The others were from Huntersville and Davidson and live near the 6.3-acre site of the proposed 45,000-square-foot hotel with 45 rooms, a spa and rental cottages.

The next step in the process is a hearing before the Planning Board, expected in June or July, when members will vote to recommend approval or denial of the project to the town board.

The proposal will then return to the Board of Commissioners in late summer for a final vote, town staff said.

Developer Jake Palillo did not attend the meeting. His son, Jake Palillo Jr., spoke on behalf of the proposal.

Residents can still provide feedback during a second public hearing on the plan that will be held at the May 18 Town Board meeting.

Proposed Tax Increase

The next step in finalizing the fiscal 2027 budget was a formal presentation to the board Monday night by Town Manager Andrew Grant.

Consistent with his presentation at the budget retreat last month, Grant is recommending a 2-cent property tax increase to help fund two of the top three budget priorities identified by residents: public safety and park development.

Almost two-thirds of the increase would address a widening gap in police officer, firefighter and telecommunicator pay compared with nearby towns.

Grant said the proposed increase is also needed to service the debt on a portion of the park bonds approved by voters in 2024. The first bond issuance, $9.94 million, is planned for fiscal 2027 and will focus primarily on land banking, construction of a new turf field and field lights at JV Washam, and completion of the Bailey Road Park court facility.

A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at the May 18 Town Board meeting.