The property was formerly owned by the Mid South Golf Club. Charlotte developers are seeking a conditional-use permit for the project. The hearing will be held at a 7 p.m. in council chamber in the municipal building. It is the only item on he board’s agenda.
Several nearby residents have called The Pilot in recent weeks to express concerns about the amount of traffic such a large development would generate, which would eventually wind up on Midland Road.
The property is zoned R-2 Residential Single Family, which permits a density of about 2.1 dwelling units an acre, or a maximum density of 173 homes. The applicants, Harris Varge’ Development and Metropolitan Capital Associates, both of Charlotte, have applied for the permit.
The advisory Planning Board will make a recommendation to the Town Council, which will have the final vote.
Access for the subdivision would be off two-lane Knoll Road, which feeds onto Midland Road on one end and Pinecrest School and Morgantan Road on the other.
The plans call for three sizes of lots covering 44 acres of the development, with 20 acres set aside for open space and two acres for a community center. A rear conservation easement covers over five acres, according to the plans and map.
The site adjoins residential property on the Knollwood Village side and Mid South Club properties fronting on Midland Road.
According to the town’s development ordinance that applies to such “structurally integrated subdivisions” the council or Planning Board can only consider information presented at the public hearing, and it must be as factual and substantive as possible.
The permit could be denied only if at the public hearing the bodies are convinced by documented evidence, not just opinions, that the project would damage public health or safety or substantially damage property values of adjoining or abutting property.
“Substantial changes in the permit request may be made following the public hearing,” says a hearing notice.
Once the advisory board votes to make a recommendation to the council, the application goes to another public hearing before the elected Town Council, probably December or later. Then the council would have to vote to approve or deny the application for the permit.
Sara Lindau can be reached at 693-2473 or by e-mail at slindau@thepilot.com.
