News Summary
Plans to establish the Cornelius Business Park are being met with significant opposition from local residents, mainly due to concerns over increased traffic and community impact. The proposed development by Greenberg Gibbons Properties is expected to create hundreds of jobs and generate tax revenue, but nearby community members worry about heavy vehicle traffic and infrastructure strain, particularly near schools. A public vote on the rezoning is scheduled for June 2, highlighting the community’s divided stance on the potential economic benefits versus local disruptions.
Cornelius, North Carolina – Plans for a new business park in Cornelius are facing significant backlash from local residents who are concerned about increased traffic and the impact on their community. The proposed Cornelius Business Park, put forth by Charlotte developer Greenberg Gibbons Properties, aims to create 175 to 250 jobs and generate approximately $300,000 in annual tax revenue. The project, estimated to cost $39 million, consists of four Class A flex office buildings totaling 188,100 square feet. A public vote by the Cornelius Board of Commissioners regarding the required rezoning is set for June 2.
Opposition to the business park has been notably strong among neighbors from the nearby Bailey’s Glen community, which is primarily an active older-adult neighborhood. Residents are particularly vocal about their concerns over the predicted surge in truck traffic that would accompany the development. Previous attempts to establish the site as a business park faced similar resistance, leading to the withdrawal of a proposal for five buildings totaling 198,000 square feet.
Longtime local farmer Wes Hunter, who has deep roots in the area with a farming lineage that dates back to the 1700s, currently manages a portion of the land under consideration for development. After enduring losses from the previous farming season, when his family farm planted soybeans across 160 acres and incurred financial debt, Hunter aims to sell 36 acres near Bailey Road to the developer for his father’s retirement. Local planning staff have noted that the land has been designated as a business campus in the town’s land use plan, leading to the recent proposal.
To alleviate traffic concerns, the developer has recommended several road improvements, including a roundabout at the business park entrance and an additional turn lane at the active intersection of Bailey Road and N.C. 115. Despite these proposals, urgent questions have arisen about how an influx of traffic from the business park might strain existing infrastructure, particularly around nearby Bailey Middle and Hough High schools.
The opposition group, known as Bailey Road Friends, is organizing efforts to contest the rezoning and is urging residents to attend the upcoming public meeting for the vote. Town planning officials have voiced their apprehensions regarding the compatibility of the business park with ongoing greenway and park developments in the vicinity.
In response to concerns raised by the community, the developers have stated that their target clientele will not primarily comprise large trucks; however, traffic studies conducted indicate an increase in heavy vehicle traffic is expected. Hunter has expressed the complexity of balancing community needs with the necessity of selling farmland due to pressing financial obligations.
Historically, there was once a credible residential buyer for the land, but that opportunity was lost after town officials indicated that the site would not be suitable for residential development four years ago. This led to the current push to repurpose the property into a business campus.
The upcoming vote is crucial, as it will determine whether the Cornelius Business Park can proceed, despite the unease it has generated among local residents. With traffic issues having been ameliorated in other parts of the town through infrastructure improvements, many are left wondering if similar solutions can be effectively implemented to counter the potential challenges posed by the proposed business park.
As anticipation builds ahead of the June 2 vote, the community remains divided over the future of the land, weighing the economic benefits of the proposed development against the potential impact on their daily lives and local traffic patterns.
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Additional Resources
- Cornelius Today
- Wikipedia: Cornelius, North Carolina
- WSOC TV
- Google Search: Cornelius NC Business Park
- Cornelius Today
- Google Scholar: Cornelius NC Business Park
- WCNC
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cornelius North Carolina
