FROM STAFF REPORTS
The $18 million Statesville Gateway development will bring 61,000 square feet of retail space and 181 townhomes to 32 acres located off Turnersburg Highway.
During its meeting Monday night, the Statesville City Council held a public hearting and voted to approve a first reading of a development agreement for the project, which also includes plans for a pocket parks, two walking paths, and a village green. The council approved rezoning for the project during its August 7 meeting.
Statesville Gateway is expected to be completed in two phases, with the townhomes being built in 2024 and the commercial space in 2025. A traffic impact study is currently under way.
A second reading is set for the council’s November 20 meeting.
Water Street intersection
In an effort to improve traffic safety, the council debated improvements at the intersection of West Water Street, West End Avenue, and North Meeting Street. The intersection has been the site of multiple accidents, including one pedestrian fatality.
The proposed reconfiguration from the N.C. Department of Transportation would make the intersection a three-way stop and add a median on Water Street to avoid conflict points at the intersection.
The council asked city staff to approach NCDOT about keeping the three-way stop with a right-in and right-out on Debo Street, but removing the median from the plan.
City staff and DOT also advised that the driveway accessing the city-owned parking lot adjacent to the North Carolina DMV office off West Water Street be closed to increase safety in the curve on Water Street.
Council member C.O. Johnson spoke against the plan to close the Water Street parking access, saying that the stop sign changes should be sufficient to improve safety. His concerns centered around impact to business at Beaver’s Key Shop, which is located next to the DMV.
City attorney Leah Messick strongly advised that the council follow the NCDOT recommendations in light of prior legal claims against the city that claimed the intersection was unsafe.
While those claims were dismissed because the city had no notice that it was an unsafe intersection, Messick said, “This very conversation is establishing some basis of notice that maybe the city has an issue that this is not safe.”
“This is (currently) an unsafe condition,” Statesville Public Works & Engineering Director Mark Taylor added in support of accepting the NCDOT’s new configuration. “This would make it the most safe with minimal impact to traffic.”
The council will revisit the issue after the NCDOT responds to the city’s request to change the proposed configuration.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the city council:
♦ Accepted estimated net investment earnings of $450,000 with $400,000 retained in contingency and $50,000 re-purposed to fund the DELCO Project asbestos abatement, demolition and soil investigation work at three city-owned properties on East Front Street. The first two to be demolished would be the former Price Auto and Walker Insurance buildings. The multi-phase project includes plans to expand the Statesville Police Department headquarters, as well as construct a parking deck and 128-unit apartment building.
♦ Approved a second reading of an annexation request for 9.67 acres located at 504 Whites Mill Road. The parcel is the site of Calvary Baptist Church of Statesville, which is proposing a 12,000-square-foot gymnasium addition. Calvary Baptist is seeking voluntary annexation to utilize city sewer service.
♦ Approved a second reading of a 2019 Mobility + Development Plan Amendment filed by the City of Statesville to remove the James Farm Road Extension/Flyover I-77 to Peppercorn Lane and Crawford Road.
♦ Approved a second reading of an annexation request submitted by Margie and Bobby Pope for 0.7 acres at 2716 Newton Drive. The applicant requests voluntary annexation to utilize City water service.
♦ Approved a second reading of an amendment to the city’s 2019 Mobility + Development Plan to remove the proposed future thoroughfare identified as Berkshire Drive extension.
♦ Approved a second reading of rezoning request for a 16.13-acre property located at 103 Serene Meadow Trail. The request is to rezone the property from Iredell County RA (Residential Agricultural) District and Troutman RS (Suburban Residential) to City of Statesville RA (Residential Agricultural) District.
♦ Accepted a restricted donation from Opus Financial Advisors of $4,500 for sponsorship of the annual Greensboro Symphony Holiday Pops event.
♦ Accepted a restricted donation from Statesville Housing Authority for $12,500 for their portion of the sculpture to be erected at the northwest corner at the intersection of Shelton Avenue and McElwee Street.
♦ Approved a request from the Statesville Police Department to receive year-four grant funding from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program that will provide 50 percent funding for Fiscal Year October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024, for salaries and travel/training for two existing officers in the amount of $72,475, with a 50 percent match provided by City of Statesville of $72,475.
♦ Accepted a grant in the amount of $145,000 from the Golden Leaf Foundation Flood Mitigation Program for the design of the Sunningdale Lane Culvert Replacement Project.
♦ Authorized city staff to solicit bids for phases 3 and 4 of the Municipal Warehouse/Operations Center. Phases 1 and 2 consist of a new administration and operations building, storage building, and covered vehicle parking for the Electric Utility, and a new garage facility. Completion of phases 1 and 2 is estimated in 18-24 months.
♦ Appointed Matthew Anderson to serve on the city’s Historic Preservation Committee. Anderson replaces committee member Jessica Arnold. Anderson lives in the Mitchell College Historic District.