BY MIKE FUHRMAN
Residents of the Pinnacle Shores subdivision won a hard-fought battle Monday night as the Mooresville Town Board of Commissioners denied a developer’s request to build 108 condos on Lake Norman off River Highway.
After the board deadlocked 3-3 on Commissioner Eddie Dingler’s motion to approve the project, Mayor Chris Carney was left to break the tie.
“Mr. Mayor, do the right thing?” a member of the audience called out.
Carney, in his first significant tie-breaking vote since taking office in December, voted against the motion.
Afterward, the mayor praised commissioners Lisa Qualls, Gary West and Dingler for wanting to clean up the dilapidated site, which Qualls said had formerly been the “crown jewel of our community on the lake.”
The developer’s representatives, Carney said in a interview, had not answered the board’s questions — chiefly about parking — to his satisfaction. He remained optimistic that the property could be developed.
“I hope they come back with something that’s more in character for what we’re looking for — especially in size of building,” the mayor said.
The Arnold Family Corp. had scaled back its original plan from 172 multi-family units on the 6.5-acre Queens Landing site in the face of public opposition related to traffic congestion and density. The homes in Pinnacle Shores, which surrounds the site on three sides, are all single-family residences.
The latest proposal called for construction to begin this year on 78 units, but architect Carl Nalls told commissioners that the developer would hold off on the additional 30 units until after the N.C. Department of Transportation completes widening of N.C. Highway 150. The proposal called for two residential buildings, one four stories and one six, in addition to a restaurant, marina with a floating bar, public greenway and art plaza.
Plans for the restaurant, which Nalls said would feature Italian and American cuisine, along with sushi, have been approved by the town. Because of the site’s current zoning and size, the developer will likely get the green light for 78 units, although the town can regulate the height of the residential structures.
During Monday’s public hearing, Nalls showed the board photos of similar projects that the Arnold Corp. has developed in Mt. Holly, Irmo, S.C., and Old Hickory, Tenn., all of which include marinas.
The Queens Landing site, he said, offered great views of Lake Norman. “It is a little dilapidated and ready for development,” he said.
Only one member of the public — who said she worked in real estate and knew there was a market for luxury waterfront condos in the area — expressed support for the plan outlined by Nalls and senior town planner David Cole.
Other residents who addressed the board decried the traffic congestion on Highway 150 and how out of character the multi-story development would be in the midst of 177 single-family homes.
“It is a giant mess. It is ridiculous,” Steve Schaffer, a resident since 2005, said of the traffic. “I love living here. I love living on the lake, but I’m about to move.”
Marcel Staniak, a Pinnacle Shores resident who spoke for many of his neighbors, brought the board a petition bearing signatures of 150 residents who opposed the Queen’s Landing proposal.
A previous board, he said, had been “hoodwinked” into approving the site’s current mixed-use zoning, which allows for residential property.
Staniak called the plan “a ludicrous development” and “a monstrosity.”
“A six-story development does not conform to the One Mooresville Plan in any shape or form,” he said.
Other residents expressed their concerns about the presence of coal ash in the area and the impact of additional development on the lake.
Town staff recommended approval of the project, but the town planning board recommended against it.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the board:
♦ Approved a request to amend Sealand Contractor’s Corp.’s contract for work on Highway 115/Faith Road intersection improvements by $24,146.92 to a total of $2,677,317.64
♦ Approved a budget amendment to accept a $70,080 GCC-JAG Grant for Mental Health Initiative awarded to the Mooresville Police Department. The grant will fund support specialists when officers are involved in critical incidents.
♦ Approved creation of a new public relations manager position in the Mooresville Police Department.
♦ Approved a request for downtown street closures on April 27 for the Mooresville Day Festival. Numerous streets will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
♦ Approved a three-year contract with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte in the amount of $227,786 to pay for personnel, operations and management of the War Memorial Pool during the 2024-2026 swim seasons.
♦ Approved a request to appropriate $50,000 in State Asset Forfeiture Funding, which combined with funds in the General Fund to purchase a Bearcat Off-Road Tactical Vehicle for the MPD for $345,000.
♦ Approved a three-year agreement with Brentwood Services in the amount of $134,763. Brentwood will administer the town’s workers’ compensation, property, auto and liability claims.