BY STACIE LETT CAIN

The Mooresville Town Board voted unanimously on Monday to delay a decision on a new development proposed for the Langtree area amid concerns about the number of trees that would be cut down, as well as the height of the proposed townhomes.

“Most of us are not excited about the 6-foot fence being offered as a buffer when there are three-story homes behind us that will be looking directly down on us,” said Kathleen Warrick, a resident of the nearby Harbor Oak neighborhood. “We would also be looking directly at the alleys, HVAC units, trash cans and would have the sanitation trucks driving through those alleys less than fifty feet from our homes.”

Warrick, who asked the board to oppose the proposed rezoning for the development, was not alone in the concerns she raised about the proposed development.

“The proposed landscape buffer will not effectively mask the new townhomes due to the height difference,” said David Jewel. “We also believe that the cutting down of the existing trees is in direct violation of the Mooresville Tree Protection Standard, U.D.O. 5.4.1. The builder is preserving 130-foot tree line buffer for Iredell County homes on Pin Oak Lane, but removing the trees for Mooresville residents? That is an unfair and selective application of development standards benefitting non-Mooresville residents while harming taxpaying town residents.”

Colin Brown of Alexander Ricks admitted the circumstances were not ideal but also explained that they had little option with what they were working with.

“We did not choose the layout but we have to manage with what we are dealt,” he explained. On the Harbor Oak side, their developer chose to put their homes 20 feet from the property line. We didn’t do that. We are left having to accommodate that on our side and we are doing everything feasible to do that.”

In the end, commissioners agreed that there were concerns with the development and the transition it would provide between single-family homes and Lake Norman.

“I think from what we have heard tonight and the emails we have received, the biggest issue seems to be the height of the townhomes and the lack of tree save,” Commissioner Lisa Qualls explained. “I think if this could be reworked to make it two-story, rather than three, and save more of the trees, we would feel better about this being the transition.”

The council voted unanimously to delay its decision until May 19, offering the developer the opportunity to explore a two-story option and layout that would result in the loss of fewer trees.

OTHER BUSINESS

The town board also voted to amend the town’s ordinance on animals by adding authority to Iredell County Animal Control in the area of inspections and broadening leash laws.

According to Town Attorney Sharon Crawford, the Legal Department requests adopting ordinances into Chapter 3 of the Town of Mooresville Ordinances, giving Iredell Animal Control the authority to conduct inspections on pet stores and public exhibits, requiring direct control or restraint of animals in all places and for the sanitary disposal of dog waste by dog owners. In addition, the added sections prohibit the sale of live animals in certain places, including public places and commercial parking lots and refers to UDO requirements for keeping animals outside a dwelling. The first reading passed unanimously with the proposed adoption date being March 23, 2025.