Here is a summary of local government meetings in the Lake Norman region for the beginning of October. We are supplying links so you may view the streaming video from these meetings at their actual times or after the meetings. Please note our reports do not include the full content of the meetings. — EH Stafford, Managing Editor

 

 

Cornelius

Town of Cornelius logo

 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5th — An Update on the Concealed Carry Discussion

At the Monday, October 5th, Cornelius Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners reached a decision on concealed carry ordinances. After numerous citizens spoke for or against the issue at board meetings over the last few months, commissioners voted via a 4-1 vote to permit concealed carry permit holders to carry firearms in select town-operated facilities.

 

The Town Board reserves the power to determine which facilities allow individuals to carry firearms

They also have the power to determine where individuals must refrain from such an action. Individuals will be permitted to carry inside town hall, fire stations, and parks. In a subsequent vote, it was determined that firearms would be prohibited at the Cornelius Arts Center, the police station, the animal shelter, and public works facility.

For the most part, employees are not permitted to carry a weapon of any kind to work. The only individuals permitted to have a weapon at work include police officers, a security guard employed by a state agency, town, or city, or military personnel. The reason the arts center (not the future Cain Center for the Arts) was not on the original prohibited list is because it was not seen as an educational facility.

 

NOTE: Commissioners plan to meet in-person on Monday, October 19 at the Huntersville Recreation Center on Verhoeff Drive.

 

Cornelius Town Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 6pm in the Assembly Room at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC 28031. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. You can view current and past agendas  as well as video streaming of the meetings on the Cornelius Town Hall website.

 

 

Davidson

Town of Davidson logo

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13th — What Does the Future of Town Board Meetings Look Like?

At the October 13th meeting of the Davidson Board of Commissioners, a discussion was held on how future town board meetings would be conducted. All of Davidson’s board meetings have been conducted virtually since March, and unless some unforeseen circumstances occur, that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

The virtual format

Continues to work for commissioners because the town has not been faced with a lot of major issues that would attract a large attendance from citizens. The town has numerous avenues available for citizens to reach out to commissioners and staff with concerns. Just because the plan is to hold meetings virtually for the rest of the year does not mean the town has stopped trying to improve the experience.

Town staff is going to check with neighboring towns, some of which are holding virtual meetings, and some of which are holding in-person meetings with limited attendance and social distancing practices in place to see what is working and what is not. One concern that was mentioned was, do citizens feel like commissioners and town staff are being transparent with the virtual meetings? They also want to find out from towns who are now holding in-person meetings what is working and what is not.

 

On a positive note

By holding virtual meetings all participants speaking in the meeting can be heard easier. (Unless someone has an Internet problem which has not happened often.) It is also easier to listen to someone giving a presentation and viewing the presentation simultaneously.

 

Davidson’s Reid stepping down

After 14 years, Cindy Reid is leaving the Town of Davidson. She will no longer be employed by the town as of the end of this month. Reid began her role with the town as a staff attorney and then became town attorney four years ago. In addition to her role as attorney, she was also in charge of the town’s affordable housing program. Reid was essential in assisting Davidson in becoming a leader in affordable housing during her tenure. Davidson is one of only three communities in the state with an inclusionary program. She has accepted a position with a private law firm.

 

Davidson Town Board meetings occur on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. The agenda, meeting minutes, and links to audio and video recordings of the meetings can be viewed on the town’s website. See exact meeting dates and times on the calendar. Contact information for Davidson’s mayor and board of commissioners is available in the staff directory .     

 

 

Huntersville

Town of Huntersville logoMONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH — Neighbors Speak Out Concerning Proposed Huntersville Downtown Development Plan

A public hearing concerning a proposed Huntersville downtown development dominated the October 5th Board of Commissioners meeting. If approved, the proposed development would be built at the intersection of N.C. Highway 115 and Gilead Road just behind Discovery Place Kids. The developer wants to build the complex on an estimated 10 acres, some of which is from the town. The land backs up to an older neighborhood.

 

A plan for 140 apartments, 61 townhomes, and 12,000 square feet of shops/restaurants along Gilead Road.

It is unknown how much of that is slated for other businesses. Residents who oppose the plan are concerned about the impacts that increased traffic would have on the area, potentially overcrowding the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, and the likelihood that Huntersville would lose the small town vibe that currently exists. A decision was not rendered on the plan. That decision is expected to be made at some point in November.

 

2040 Huntersville plan nears completion

Commissioners, planning board members, along with members of the 2040 Huntersville Community Plan Steering Committee provided an overview of the nearly completed plan, but expressed that some modifications still needed to be made to the plan that will guide the town over the next four decades.

 

Issues addressed by the 2040 plan

Anticipated population growth, road network concerns, and the desire for additional walkable and bike-able avenues are a few of the priority issues addressed. The plan was comprised during the last year of steering committee meetings, consultant advice, and in-person and virtual input sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The town previously adopted a long-range plan in 2011 and this plan will provide further updates to the already existing infrastructure. The plan addresses a wide variety of issues the town is facing, or will face in the coming decades including, but not limited to, land use, housing, parks, public facilities, all modes of mobility, and more.

The mission statement, or purpose of the plan is “to become a policy manual and reference guide for developing and implementing strategies to manage growth, define and preserve the town’s identity and character, and provide high quality public facilities and services for all citizens.” When the plan was first being put together, the goal at the end of the day was to identify priorities and figure out the best way to achieve those goals. The plan will continue to be modified throughout as the parties involved understand that some parts of the plan (historic preservation being one example) will require additional examination. The plan also leaves the door open for future changes or unexpected proposals.

 

Additional public input sessions are scheduled

The first opportunity for the public comment is during a planning board review session on October 14th. Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the matter at their next meeting on October 19th and the planning board will offer a final recommendation on the plan on October 22nd. Commissioners could render a final vote on the matter in November. The plan can be viewed at: huntersville2040.com.

 

Huntersville Town Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 6pm in the Huntersville Town Hall, 101 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. You can view meetings on the Town of Huntersville’s Facebook page.

 

 

Mooresville

Town of Mooresville logo

 

 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH — Feed NC Conditional Use Permit Approved

At the Monday, October 5th, Mooresville Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners approved a conditional use permit from Feed NC (formerly the Mooresville Soup Kitchen) to build a 26,775 square foot facility on Charlotte Highway (U.S. 21), North of East Plaza Drive, and south of Oats Road.

FeedNC is a non-profit that provides meals and food supplies to those that would otherwise go hungry. FeedNC also hosts a 12-week culinary-training and job place program for individuals who are unemployed or underemployed. The proposed new location for FeedNC is located immediately across Charlotte Highway from the Brantley Acres Subdivision, slightly north of town property which houses the water-treatment plant as well as the fleet services and public operations departments. The proposed site is situated on an 8.54-acre plot of land.

 

Mooresville Town Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 6pm in the Executive Board Room at Mooresville Town Hall, 413 North Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115. Meetings may be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, check with the town to confirm. View current/past agendas and video of the board meetings.

 

 

Photos courtesy Pixabay.com

 

 

Travis Sherrill Mooresville Public Library

 

Travis Sherrill

A lifelong Mooresville native, and a library associate at the Mooresville Public Library. I am in charge of marketing and promoting events taking place at the library. An avid sports fanatic. I especially love Davidson Wildcats basketball, Atlanta Braves baseball, and NASCAR.

 

 

 

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our writers belong solely to them
and do not represent LKNConnect.com, its publisher or its staff.