Town Board - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. I am going to call our January 6th meeting to order. I want to give a big welcome to everyone to our brand new beautiful town hall. Thank you all for joining us here. Um it is super exciting to have everyone here for this first meeting in the new town hall and I hope you'll join us on January 23rd when we cut the ribbon and have a little celebration and party in um in honor of this event. Um before we begin our meeting, as always, I'm going to ask you to silence your cell phones. Please make sure they are turned off and that um there are not any um you know little beeps and whatnot going to happen during the course of our meeting. We always begin our meeting with a moment of silence. And tonight um we have a very special person we're going to honor tonight with our moment of silence. U Mr. Jerry Johnson. He was a former Huntersville Public Works employee and firefighter who passed away last night. He was a leader in our public works department for over 40 years and was heavily involved in the community streets and water infrastructure before retiring in 2000. We want to give our condolences to the Johnson family and all of Mr. Johnson's loved ones. So, if you'll please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. And now, if you are able, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

You will notice that our our public comment and um podium has moved to this side of the room. So when if you are signed up to speak please go to that side. U Mr. Smith. Announcements.

Uh yes. Good evening everyone. Uh just wanted to let everybody know about our upcoming MLK Day celebration. That'll be January 19th uh from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the David B. Waymer Recreation Center. Uh there will be light refreshments, a mobile museum experience with civil rights artifacts and local speakers and performers honoring Dr. King's impact. And then also join us for our Black History Month celebration that will be on Saturday, February 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. And that will also be at the David B way Recreation Center at 14008 Hull Brooks Road. And that event will feature live performances and poetry readings from Drums for Life, Jay Ward, and Arcena Todd. And as the mayor mentioned, uh, please join us for our town hall grand opening of this building. Um, right here in the boardroom on January 23rd at 10 a.m., we will have a ribbon cutting ceremony, some speakers, refreshments, and a viewing of the building. And that's all ahead.

All right, Chief Dulli want to come to the podium. How's everybody tonight? Thank you for having us. This is our very first award ceremony for uh the town fire department. So, we're very happy to be here and especially just be part of this this great building this first time in this boardroom. So, tonight we got four different types of awards to give out and uh we're going to bring up these gentlemen the firefighters that here to celebrate not only what they've done for the town but the saving of the lives and our citizens. So, a little bit about the first award. Uh, it's called the company citation. It's a unit citation to be awarded to members of a company or unit for cons for actions that can result in significant mitigation of an incident or saving of a life where the company performs in the face of extreme, extraordinary, or overwhelming circumstances. And for those don't know what a company is, our firefighters ride with three people on a firet truck. So they work together, they train together, they're together there for 24 hours a day. So whatever happens, whatever type of incident comes in, that's considered the company that responds to your house, whether it be a CPR, whether it be a fire or someone trapped. So that is the company citation. So when I read this off and I ask the members to come up here, these are the members that work together for on that day that took care of the situation at hand. So if I could have uh these following members come up to the front. Assistant Chief Shane Nance, Battalion Chief Charles Alton Jr., Captain Chris Massie, Engineer Elijah Eastep, Firefighter Cory Logan, uh acting officer Terrell Washington Jr., Engineer Andrew Sales, and Kyle Piche.

[clears throat]

These are the members that worked on a on an incident and I'll read the incident to you and you can also see it on the board and this is why we're here to celebrate their their accomplishment. On August 29th, 2025, Hearnsville Fire, the wrong one, wrong one. On October 5th, 2025, Hunsville and Cordinius Fire Department were dispatched to reported housefire with people trapped at 9607 Rich Hatcher Road. Car 3 arrived at a few minutes after dispatch and reported a working fire and assumed command. Car 5, Engine 1, and ladder 4 were assigned to primary search and fire attack. A patient was found, and while keeping fire in check, members of of car 5, engine 1, ladder 4 extricated the patient and continued to fight the fire until extinguishment. for their actions. Car 5, engine one, and ladder four award a company citation. Without you guys showing up that day, this person doesn't make it to Christmas. This happened on October 5th, 2025. And for your actions, you're all awarded the company citations. [applause] If I if I could have you all just right against the wall, that'd be great. We're going to take a You want picture now or you want me to do it together?

Okay. If I could have Assistant Chief Jason Dyer, Lieutenant Ray Murphy, Brandon Johnson, and Firefighter Paul Maderas come to the front if you're here. On August 29th, 2025, Huntersville Fire Station 3 was dispatched to 11038 Rocky Ford Club Road. Lieutenant Murphy and Firefar Paul Maderas breached the door of a mobile home that was completely involved in fire. Engineer John Johnson pumped the truck and pulled the second line to the door. While performing his search, Lieutenant Murphy located one person occupant under on a bed in high heat smoke environment, struggling to breathe and unresponsive. Lieutenant Murphy pulled the person to the floor. Due to the person's size, Lieutenant Murphy realized that he needed assistance and yelled for firefighter Maduras. As Chief Dyer approached the home, Lieutenant Murphy and firefighter Maduras stated that he was agonal breathing and unresponsive. Chief Dyer cut the victim's shirt off, checked for vital signs, and told engineer Johnson to set the pump and get oxygen in a bag to start patient care. Engineer Johnson started patient care, and trail units arrived. Lieutenant Murphy and Maduras operated in heavy smoke and high heating conditions to extricate the patient and engineer Johnson started life-saving patient care intervention while operating the apparatus. Due to their actions, patient made a full recovery. He was released from the hospital. He

thanked fire station 3's crew for saving his life and for these actions your company has rewarded the medal the company citation also and without your actions this person would have never made it to Christmas also this happened on August 29th 2025 thank [applause] [applause]

If uh I'll put you over here if you can stay up here and Murphy. So the next award is we call the the chief's medal of valor. Uh the the criteria for this is the chief's medal of val may be awarded to any member who is directly responsible for the saving of life in the action that places the member at extraordinary personnel risk when the member conspicuously disregards his or her own personal safety in the performance of his or her duty. So the the award that was just given out, you heard it. He went inside, he found an unresponsive person. They they experienced high heat situation. It's very rare that this kind of situation happens. Most people's homes when it catches on fire, you're running out. These gentlemen ran in. But this is what the job that they they've trained for. The the [clears throat] training, the discipline, the everything they have, the valor, and the courage is what we're here to celebrate tonight. And the biggest reason we're here is because they saved the citizen. And without them being on duty, without the the support of the town board giving them the equipment that they need, you know, again, we saved the life. And that's what we're here for. So, it is my honor to give you the Chief's Medal of Hour to both of you. [applause] [applause] Thanks, guys. [clears throat] Acting Officer Terrell Washington, Battalion Chief Chief Charles Alton Jr., Engineer Andrew Sales, if you're here, firefighter Kyle Potochar,

firefighter Corey Logan, and Captain Chris Massie if you're here. Again, guys, uh you received the company citation, that's just a part of it. But if it wasn't for you and the training that you put through and the hard work and dedication you give to this town, being on duty from holidays to every other weekend and staying here for 24 hours of being away from your family, uh the life of somebody doesn't get saved. And we thank you for your courage and your discipline and your valor and everything else that a firefighter you represent the town when you wear those patches on your arm. So, I'd like to again share the Medal of Valor with each one of you and it's from the Huntersville Fire Department, myself, and the rest of this town. Thank you very much. We'll get the name straighten out. I don't

if we could can we get the the both uh departments medal of hour winners up front. We'll take one group shot and then we'll do the same thing with the company citation. We'll we'll end this award ceremony. Thank you. You want one of all the company citation people?

Do this side. If uh anybody has received a word, if you go outside, we're going to take a group shot. Thank you. Thank you again. [applause] surprise thing.

I'll let everybody get settled before I proceed with our unexpected item on the agenda. Bobby Williams. Um, can you please come up here? For those of you that don't know, this is assistant town manager Bobby Williams. Um, he um was the project manager for the construction of this town hall and um led every detail and every um element in this uh successful construction of this building. And so we are so happy to um present you with a little rendering of our town hall that you were instrumental in making come to life. And I know it's not quite all the way done yet. And some of us may have made it a little difficult for you along the way with um things that we wanted change, but we are so grateful for you and all that you did to make this come to fruition. And I can't wait for everyone to see the rest of this beautiful building. Thank you so much. Thank you. [applause] You're on to our public comments. Um, we have first have Gatewood Campbell. You have three minutes. Oh, I'm sorry. I lied. Two. You have six minutes. I can read.

Good evening. My name is Gatewood Campbell. I'm thrilled to be here in this building tonight. Our building. This is indeed what the downtown planning steering committee voted for. That citizen-ledd committee worked hard and it is exciting to see something we dreamed of come true. I'm also here about the changes to public comment that were discussed at the last meeting. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, there was a consent agenda item removing citizens ability to yield their own public comment time to another resident. Currently, a resident can have up to two people yield their time to them. This has the potential to turn a threeminut speech into nine. Some topics deserve that. Commissioner Coral spoke to the agenda item and noted that commissioners can't respond to what we say. While that is true, it is no different than us not being able to respond to all of you. You are not limited to three minutes to voice your opinion. You have all the time you want and can discuss with each other. We have one chance to get in front of you and the public to get in front of you and the public and limiting that to three minutes is simply wrong. It was noted that this board has an open door policy and you are responsive. I'm here to tell you that's false. As stated by our mayor, you should not respond to me in writing unless you want it shared. I have sent many emails which have no response. I know many others in this room, including my husband, who have sent emails without response. We have one chance and at most nine minutes for you to listen to us. I'm not sure how this is going to pan out given there was a court ruling the same day you were going to vote. But quite

simply, you cannot say you listen and also limit our speech at the same time. Those are polar opposites. The last board, five of you up here now, seem to stay focused on limiting and also removing residents input and opportunities for us to be heard. It's been stated that you do give opportunities for residents to be involved. But I have a question for you. Do you actually listen to us and follow our recommendations? Tonight you are going to consider putting the building next door on the market. A building that was vital to the master plan for town hall. A beautiful court courtyard seamlessly join the two town owned properties. In fact, you cannot even access 101 Huntersville Concord Road without going through this lot. We, the residents, and a committee that I served on, including two that are in this room tonight, told you what we want. If you are going to say that you give us the opportunity to speak, then listen. If you vote to list that property, then you aren't listening. You cannot say you listen and put that building up for sale. Prove me wrong. listen to us. Do not limit our speech and do not put 101 Huntersville Concord Road up for sale. And I'm not going to stand up here without saying that I'm still waiting for the apology that I'm due. Johnny Campbell, you have three minutes. Johnny Campbell, uh, lifetime

Huntersville resident. Uh, last town board meeting I stood here and asked for a public apology. Not only have I not received an apology, I've not even got a response, and I'm very disappointed. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not. But that's not why I'm here tonight. The reason I'm here tonight is because of this fantastic new town hall building. This is the result of a ton of hard work. Countless hours of meetings, be they with staff, architects, or the community. I watched as the plans went back and forth, changed and evolved. Somebody remind me, is this 3A or 4B, or was all that just a a nightmare? This new town hall is forever the legacy of not just the board, but every town member who participated in those meetings. It's also largely due to my wife. She fought a foyer on the lot that we're sitting on right now and found that it was indeed available and not tied up with a developer as we were all misled to believe. She deserves not only an apology but also a thank you because that information changed everything and made this building in this location possible. Now, I said this new town hall is a legacy of the board. It's just not of of this current board. It was the hard work of seven completely different people and I would like to thank them now for their hard work. Commissioner Dan Boon, Commissioner Amber Kovac, Commissioner Rob Kiddwell, Commissioner Derek Parti, Commissioner Lance Munger, Mayor Pro Tim Stacy Phillips, and Mayor Melinda Bells. This is your legacy. You did this. I thank you. Be proud of this accomplishment. You represented your community well. Thank you.

John Foster, you have three minutes.

Good evening. First of all, I'd like to just thank u the board and the town staff for getting us to where we are here tonight. Job well done. I'm here to ask the staff and the board to consider when when you look at Huntersville and you look at all the other towns in Meckllinburgg County in our area, there are still one major area that we are way behind on. I would like for you all to seriously consider looking at developing, buying, renovating a facility to be a cultural facility for the town of Huntersville. When we look at all the towns in the area, we are the only town in the area, second largest population in the county, I believe, that does not have a culture facility for our citizens. That's not right. We are sending our people to Charlotte, Canadius, Davidson, and Moresville to take part in culture activity. We also are missing money opportunities for people coming here to enjoy cultural activity. If I want to listen to jazz, I have to go to Charlotte. If I want to listen want to see a play, I got to go to Charlotte or either to Canas or Davidson. I seriously challenge the board and the staff to help us locate or you all locate a facility that we can provide for our citizens to have an opportunity to bring their friends, take their

family, their kids for we can have cultural activities in our town. It would help the restaurants. It would help the hotels. It is winwin for everyone. Too many people that we have in this town that's missing out on cultural activities in our town. We can do better. We will do better. And let's build or buy a remaer a facility that can rival what we are looking at here tonight. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Elaine Karns, you have three minutes. Good evening. Hi, I'm Elaine Karns. I'm so glad you recognize Bobby for his work. Bobby, you're awesome. Is he still here or did he escape? Ah, okay. Um, as a member of the downtown planning steering committee, I strongly urge you to not rush to judgment before holding any vote associated with our former town hall. As was discussed many times during our planning meetings, the most successful small downtowns have charming and unique businesses, spaces, and features that draw people to gather, dine, and shop there as opposed to simply driving through it to get to another destination. The availability of the former town hall presents a golden opportunity to help transform our downtown. Unique shops and eeries that would normally not be affordable for entrepreneurs to open on their own. an arts and craft business, a cultural center perhaps, um, community meetings and event spaces. I envision a wedding invitation that says, "We're going to the town hall to tie the knot. Please join us." Reception following at the neighborhood cafe, 760, the corkcrew, etc. The demand for these venues is here. The space is is absolutely charming with this circularlike boardroom. Selling the former town hall brings a huge unknown for the next 5, 10, 20 years from now into perpetuity. Please don't be shortsighted. Driven by the dollar amount it could bring. We're not desperate for the funds or have a failure of imagination of what protecting our former town hall can mean for our downtown. The ink has barely dried on the new town hall's certificate of occupancy. Why are you having this vote tonight? To ensure the former town hall can be sold. I was told it was to set a hearing about a possible sale and

to gauge public interest. But a hearing's already set in the consent agenda and our process doesn't allow for public discussion during the vote. Even if it's truly a technicality and doesn't mean it will ultimately ultimately be sold, this is too soon. What's the rush? We need to adhere to the downtown plan and fully explore the possibilities. Please remove item 9B from tonight's agenda. Thank you. Thank you. Robert Karns, you have three minutes.

Hi, I'm Robert Karns. Uh lived here my whole life. Uh I'm at 301 Hillrest Drive right over here in Greenfield Park. Uh I grew up at 204 Old Statesville Road right across from uh the Presbyterian Church. So, I've spent most of my time here. I've traveled some. I've seen some things. Uh, I love this town and I think we can do better. Uh, I've seen cities all over the world. One thing they have, they have a downtown park. They have trees. They don't cut down every tree they've ever seen. Uh, but I digress. Uh, congratulations on the recent election. And, uh, welcome new board members and, um, welcome to your new town hall. Uh, now speaking of town hall, uh, as my wife said, I I really don't think we should get rid of the old one. Uh, I think it has some really good uses. I think it gives the town a sense of place. It's our main square. We need to get people down here. Right now, most people are just moving through. Not very well, I have to admit, because we're transportation, but uh, I I would like to see that used as something uh, positive and bring people down, give them kind of a a sense of place. Um, my grandparents owned the piece of land that building sits on back in the 1930s and my grandmother would come and get rent for it. Used to be a gas station there, but that goes on. I can tell you more. Um, okay. So, we want to use that for public uses and to create a a sense of place. Um, are we as town citizens? Uh question is, are we as town citizens through our representatives going to control Huntersville's destiny? Are we going to let developers keep steering the ship? Are we going to create the town we desire and deserve in our master plans? Because I've seen them. We said walkable, bikable, and even talked about having a pedestrian mall on uh Maxwell

Street. I think I don't see any of those things have happened. Instead, I do think uh developers are kind of driving the ship here. Um, I've seen the planning process. Usually, there's a retreat. We hire some consultants. We, uh, ask for public opinion. A master plan is then, uh, developed, which we then ignore and let the developer have their way. Anyway, all right. Uh, I read we had a new, uh, tagline for the town and it says, "Thrive here." We paid a consultant. I'm sure there was some money. I don't know what it costs per word. Thrive here. That's That's what you got. Um, how about we never met a development we didn't like. That was my first thought. No, that's that's kind of negative. Uh, how about no tree left behind? Considering our tree canopy and open space, I don't see that going the right direction either. Uh, I'd like you to think about those things and see if we can make a turn uh toward the better. Uh, the final one I came up with, uh, Huntersville can't get there from here. Also, two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left. Do you know what I'm talking about? You can't drive directly anywhere anymore. Okay. Uh, we can do a little bit of that. I know some of that is Department of Transportation and some of it involves maybe a state legislature. Uh, thank you for allowing me to make some comments. Again, I'm very much in favor of maintaining that. Thanks, Robert. Your time is up. Really good uses for us still. Thank you. [clears throat] We are on to item number seven, agenda changes, adoption of the agenda. Do we have a motion to uh amend the agenda?

Madame Mayor, I make the motion to remove item 8D from the consent agenda. And is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? The motion carries unanimously. And now, may I have a motion to adopt the amended agenda? I make a motion to adopt the amendment agenda. Is there a second? A second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? The motion carries unanimously. And now, may I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda? I make the motion to adopt consent agenda. And is there a second?

Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? The motion carries unanimously. We're on to public hearing 9A. Conduct a public hearing on petition R25-12, request by Carver Bowman Bowman LLC to revise the existing approved resoning R22-05. Uh, good evening. Brian Richards for the planning staff. At this time, we'd like to enter our staff report to the record. Um, many of us are familiar with the Oakrove Hill project. It's located here near Batty's Ford and Mount Holly Hunters Road. This is actually the third revision for this project that originally was approved in 2018 with revisions in tw 22 and 23 and we've got a third revision here tonight. Um in 2025 um we're asking the developers are requesting a reduction in connectivity. Typically that's something we don't allow but uh there are some environmental impacts that are would be caused by that uh leg that's going to it's being proposed to be removed if you guys do approve that. Um so there will be some positive environmental aspects to gameback as opposed to typically connectivity. Um there is going to be some reduction of tree canopy preservation area. We're swapping a lot of lands. It's a lot of lot of moving parts here. So I'll be brief but thorough as we go through this. They are looking for the an increase in density of one unit. The home that was uh located next to the heritage tree would be for sale as opposed to community property moving forward. And overall there's an increase in open space. You can see here the existing plan on the left shows that there are two connections from west to east. Uh the uh applicant is requesting that the northern connection be removed. So we just have that connection to the south. You guys can see there we have some changes in the open space

provisions. Again, all these are going above and beyond all of our standards. You can see some more um changes in the canopy preservation as well. lot sizes will be adjusted as well um due to some market conditions and some things that the developers trying to introduce a different type of product than what's out there today. And this came to us last night, so I'm not 100% up to snuff on this, but you can see there is actually an increase in the total overall open space for the development. There were 600 there's about 14.93 acres out there currently. when if if the uh resoning is amended then they would be at 15.5 so a slight increase there. Um the developer is asking for some modifications. One of those is to use the previously uh adopted tree survey standards. Of course earlier this year we adopted some new tree survey standards. They want to use the ones that were previously done. Again as this area has already been surveyed. I think we're going to be comfortable with that moving forward. Um, also some canopy preservation requirements. Uh, they're going to be getting into some some root areas, but with proper techniques with arborist, we can make sure those trees are are saved. And some buffer requirements as well. You can see up to the north, staff is going to recommend that we use the current buffer standards as part of the uh uh request for the modification for this project. as well. You can see here on the left is the currently approved urban open space with the heritage tree right next to that label US1. You can see the existing home that's now going to be for sale is going to stay there and remain. So there won't be any land disturbance. But again, uh that lot is now for sale as opposed to being part of the urban open space. And this is where you get the reduction of the urban open space, but in the end we're going to get common open space as part of the trading. So an overall increase in open space, just the

types are changing. You can see here they will be requesting a block length waiver along the uh road to the south. Staff is in favor of that. Uh overall again these are high level comments. We're looking to um modify the tree survey requirements. We're going to keep the heritage tree and then there's some notes as well for transportation that will be addressed with NC DOT and SED dot as well as the town's engineering staff. And that's it for me. Mr. Mr. Bowman is here and I'm here if you guys have any questions as well. Does anyone have questions for staff? Commissioner Corals,

can you go back to the screen where you have the current and existing? I'm sorry, proposed. Sure. One, I see uh Carver Street on the existing. Correct. And they're requesting to remove Carver Street. They're requesting to move that connection. Correct. that's on the north side that would that would connect to Carver that goes out to Battis Ford Road. So, there'll be a more secuitous way to navigate the neighborhood which in the end would probably eliminate some cut through traffic. And looking at this, the existing appears that the lots are larger, correct?

And they're making them smaller to add more homes. One one additional unit. Things are getting rearranged. Um Mr. Mr. Bowman can speak a little bit more about the geometry of those things. Okay. Because I counted um four to five on the um bar 2205 and 51 um homes on the other one. Is that correct? Yeah, you

Nate Bowman. Good evening. 205 South Church Street. the I counted them again today because this project has gone through so many changes, but we're eliminating those lots on the on the stream crossing and we're just adding the one house back that was is now going to be rehabbed instead of torn down or used as a clubhouse or something. We just decided would be better to go ahead and and put a homeowner in that. So you say you're you're eliminating but what I see here the five lots where the stream crossing is they're gone. I mean so so these lots drawn

but it was 51 and now it's 51 plus one the existing house. Okay. Um the um I'm focusing on infrastructure. the Dewey road or the road that goes out, I'm sorry, the road that goes out to Mount Hollah Huntersville Road. U do you have a a plan when you do this project? Do you have a plan on infrastructure first or you going to be doing certain portions of this and then adding infrastructure?

Sure. So the process is that the street infrastructure has to be installed first. Then a plat is recorded that would create the lots. Then a bond is recorded as well for the finishing touches that need to be done with that road as well. And then the homes can be built. So before a house goes vertical, this road infrastructure will be built and open. Okay. Yeah. Because my concern is again um because I I live on Bersport road and I drove by just this morning. I looked at Carver Road. You know that right there is a concern. Just Sure. You can still get to Carver. It's just a little more securous way. Okay. Okay. Commissioner Walsh,

just a question on the tree survey. I was a little unclear. There's an old tree survey. You do or do you not want a new tree survey? We have requested one. They're asking for a modification to use the old standards, which would not require an additional tree survey. But the staff is asking for a tree survey. Sure. Okay. Gotcha. Thank you. In the end, the trees are all going to stay. So yes, the number of specimen trees on site is uh 83 and we're required to save 10% and we're providing 51%. We're saving almost half of them.

Thank you. I have a question about um some previous um developments you've been working on. I I know you're finishing up I think some Vermilion some stuff in Vermillion everything with the roads. There's been some roads that have been um haven't been fully completed for a few years and so I was hoping we be Do you have a timeline when you'd have those wrapped up before you start? I talked to Anthony Roberts today. We're in process of doing all that have hired the contractor and he will have a schedule by Friday. Awesome. Thank you very much. Go ahead, Commissioner Curls.

Just going back to my notes. Um, another concern is LU 6.1. This is a mixeduse area. Would you consider putting some commercial in this community? when we had the first neighborhood meeting for Oakrove Hill phase one and phase two is very controversial and they were arguing about uh any development period because of the traffic. So I was pointed not in that direction from the very beginning and uh we went from a packed house to our last neighborhood meeting was only intended by Nick Walsh. I think what the citizens are concerned about are getting that road connection and that's our primary focus in trying to get this development going. [clears throat]

Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Are we ready for a motion? Oh, wait. For a public hearing. Sorry. Good. I was ready to move along. Um, all right. That concludes our public hearing there.

Thank you, Mayor. Just to confirm, were there any public comments for this There are public comments. Yes. Um, we'll start with Lisa Fischer. You have three minutes. My name is Lisa Fiser. I live at 9120 Westminster Drive in Huntersville. Good evening, Mayor, Mayor Prom, and commissioners, and thank you for the opportunity to to listen to what I've got to say. I'm here tonight to share my concerns about the absence of a road leading from the Oak Hill development to Mount Holly Huntersville Road. as we were told there would be before the development was initially approved. I understand that the plan now is to complete phase two of the development and only construct a road in a different location when phase three is developed. We were never notified of any public hearing that you referred to to change anything. He told me before this meeting that he had to send out letters that had to be sign, you know, um receipt return receipt. We never received anything. If we had known, we would have been here. I was at the first meeting he referred to. The absence of this road originally as planned and the additional construction and residential traffic will further stress our existing neighborhood streets. This afternoon, I walked on Westminster Drive and counted 10 potholes between Mount Holly, Huntersville Road, and Kent Avenue. They ranged in size from 6 to 23 in wide. I have pictures if you'd like to see them. I've lived in Westminster Park for 35 years since 1989, and I've never seen this much deterioration of the street in this short a period of time. Neighbors of all ages walk through our neighborhood. And given that there are no sidewalks, added traffic could endanger pedestrians. Even with the speed humps that were installed a few years ago, cars still use Westminster Drive as a cutthrough to and from

Batty's Ford Road, often exceeding the speed limit. And I've frequently seen speeders going in both directions end up on the wrong side of the road as they make that hairpin curve on Westminster. There are signs at the entrances of our neighborhood from Mount Holly, Huntersville Road at Wedgewood, Westminster, and Shields that say no construction traffic, and we greatly appreciate that. I'd like to know who's monitoring this though, and what's the consequence if they don't follow the rules? While these signs have possibly averted some construction traffic coming into the neighborhood from Mount Holly Huntersville Road, they continue to use Westminster to exit the project. I know this because I and other neighbors have personally seen them. I'm not aware that there's a no construction traffic sign at the end of Pinbrook, but if not, that would be very helpful. What I'm asking on behalf of my neighborhood and my neighbors is that you include the construction of the road from the Oakill subdivision to Mount Holly Huntersville Road in phase two of the project instead of phase three as it was originally approved for the safety of our neighbors and the preservation of our neighborhood streets. Thank you.

Thank you. John Huber, you have three minutes. Good evening. I'm uh John Huber and uh I guess one of the first things I have to question is this. Uh you just received information on this uh just today and so I don't know how I could review any of this prior to making comment. So, there's supposed to be more information on the subdivision that was you got yesterday or this evening or you know I didn't I didn't get it. I didn't see it on the online. So, but my first uh comment is on Mahali Huntersville Road. I just question where that entrance is going to be put and what is the impact going to be at the Batty's Ford Road in Mount Holly Huntersville Road since that already backs up all the way past West Minister. So in the future to get in or out then most people are going to probably go to Westminster Drive and use the cut through so that they can uh utilize that as opposed to having a good entrance because right now on the other side of the road you're building a new uh in city of Charlotte they're building a new I guess it's a assisted living facility and a like that's right next to uh to the Masonic Lodge and to the St. Marks. So, I guess my question is is has anybody engineered or looked at that at all on both sides of the coin, whether it be from town of Huntersville and the city of Charlotte and how's that going to impact this whole area? I don't think anybody has because nobody's given me a straight answer. So, that that's that's one of the first questions. But uh the other thing is in the first phase uh some of the things that on the up there by where Pembroke meets Overhill I just

have a question about that T intersection only one side of the road has a has curb and gutter and the other side of the road doesn't well the grade by my grade and my what I look that water is going to come across that grade that's on that road on and I know gentlemen talked to me about it that it is that that the DOT doesn't want any any water on the road. Well, that's an impossibility. But if you're going to let it go and shed across that road and go into another man's yard and everything and damage his property, I don't think that's a that's a good attribute of a design for uh for the public to accept. Uh just that's just what I think. Um but uh other than that I I think that the property itself just uh is in a location that is going to be difficult because the development of all four corners at Batty's Ford Road in Mount Holly Huntersville is is in in the works and it's been a long time for any of this to occur and I would like to see better cooperation between the town of Huntersville and the city of Charlotte in how that the traffic path and all these things work out. So that's my only one. Thank you.

Thank you. Renee Story. And is Laura White here? Can you wave? All right. Thank you. You have six minutes. Um, thank you. I wasn't really prepared to speak tonight, so um nothing fancy here, but I'm Renee Story. I live at 8801 Mercuria Avenue in Westminster Park. Um I've lived there off and on for 50 years. Um a little sad to see um all the development that's happening, but um as the first lady said, uh we were not made aware of any type of hearings or anything until I got something in the mail the other day. So nothing on the previous phases. Um and my mother who lives next door didn't receive anything either. Um or you know, we would have been here as well. But um one of the big questions that I have so the development the phase I guess ones and three back up immediately to two sides of my property and I'm wondering um for the road that is Cherry Bark Oak I believe where it dead ends um if there's going to be some type of fence put up there between the the new development and our properties. Uh the property that we have is um extremely wooded and there are so first of all it's not going to be very aesthetically pleasing to the new neighborhood to see that. Um but it is also um probably semi- dangerous. There's a lot of coyotes that live in there honestly. Um which you know could be dangerous to others and I just don't want people wandering onto our property and getting hurt you know and then you know trying to make us liable for that. Um uh and I as well am concerned about the traffic. Um as the others have stated, I mean when we left today, you couldn't get out of our neighborhood going towards Batty's Ford because the traffic was already backed up to Shields. Um so it, you know, it would be advantageous to uh have those um roads in place

before they do begin actually building the homes. Thank you. Thank you. Joe Sailors, you have three minutes. Joe Sailor's 9332 Westminster Drive. Um, I was surprised by something Brian said earlier. that um the street going. Can I make this a pointer?

Joe, I think I can draw on the screen. All right.

This road I can't draw on this screen. Can you draw on yours? that road is being taken away in the new phase for this new piece of property. And Brian just made the statement 10 minutes ago. The reason that road is being taken away is to not allow cutthrough traffic through phase one. Guess where that cut through traffic is going now and has been going since he started this project because he did not sell the original developer. Phase two, which was supposed to be the road going out to Mount Holly Honors Road and that was why phase one was approved period. But when he contractor went bankrupt and he decided to sell that property to another contractor, it ended up not getting the road parcel coming out to Mount Holly Holsville Road, which is if you go Brian, can you go to this page? No,

they're not the same this page. They're not the same. This is not my report. This is a presentation. Okay. Oh, go back. That map is the same.

No, go back one more. No, sorry. My point being is originally there was a phase one, a phase two, and a phase three. Phase three was to be the road going out to Mount Holly Honville Road and that is why phase one and phase two was originally approved by this board. He has since come back to the board three times now changing things around to the point that he's no longer putting the road in that was supposed to be put in with phase one and two. He's now moving that road north up Mount Holly Holmesville Road away from the south boundary of the property almost on top of the other road that's already there John Houston or whatever the name of Bucket Road and that is going to be too close.

Mr. Sailors, your time is up. Sorry about that.

Thank you. Amy Curtis, you have three minutes. Hi there. I'm Amy Curtis. Um, I live at 9220 uh Wedgewood Drive. I've been in the neighborhood since 2017 and I love our neighborhood. I got my mom and my sister to move in. I just find our neighborhood to be amazing. And if you've never been, I hope you come. Um, well, some of the board members, it looks like actually a lot of you are new since we first talked about this project back in 2019. If you guys go through our minutes, I think Mr. Bowman got to it. We were pretty opposed to this neighborhood. We worked really hard to make improvements. I'm sure that he wouldn't call them improvements necessarily, but they were improvements to us that made this a neighborhood that we could kind of live with. One of the biggest was that road to Mount Holly Huntersville and then also not connecting to Pemrook. Um, let's see. I will say that I we were so opposed that I don't know how the um announcement went and I think it was certified mail, but none of us got it. And I think that the fact that no one was here kind of speaks to that because we were so passionate about this project. But anyway, um the original proposed or I guess this is another revision to it of the two roads um and that being removed, all we heard during our first phase of this was connectivity, connectivity, connectivity. And we just heard him speak to the fact that this takes away from the connectivity that is so important apparently to Huntersville. Um but by removing that road, you are sending traffic, more traffic through our neighborhoods. As we've talked about, people have said we've got more potholes, etc. that is not a very convenient way in or out of that neighborhood. Um, and we really would like to see at least the two roads, I think ideally we'd like to see what was originally proposed, which is that road

that was a little south of this. Um, understand the plans of change, but the new proposal is not at all connectivity and it really does impact our neighborhood. We have children that learn to ride their bikes. We have people walking every day. Um, Phyllis walks her dog every day. Um, it's it's and you know, quite frankly, I feel like when I go to this neighborhood that these people might walk in our neighborhood, too. That's that's how special our neighborhood is. Um, let's see. I also don't recall I think you mentioned that there's some positive environmental changes to this new plan, but honestly, I don't recall there ever being any concern with the environmental impact of this neighborhood during the original proposal. So, I I just feel like that's buzzwords to be perfectly honest. and we love environment. We've got nature preserves behind our house. Um but I don't think removing this road for environmental purposes is is worth pursuing. Um let's see. I and I think to reiterate what was already said, I I don't I know that we're limited based on Charlotte versus Huntersville, but Mount Holly Huntersville Road in general. understanding what the plans are for the traffic on that road that's already terrible I think is really important and there needs to be some communications between the town and the city or at least the county on on what can be done there. So I'm out of time. Thank you.

Thank you Phyllis Meen. You have three minutes.

Hi good evening. Phyllis Meaten, 9416 Wedgewood Drive. I'm not sick. I have major surgery in a week, so I don't want the germs, but I am so passionate about this in my neighborhood. That's why I'm here tonight, and I appreciate your time. Again, no one in our neighborhood was told of any of these revisions that were coming up or meetings where we could vote on them because we would have come out in force. We love our neighborhood. We don't want any more traffic coming through there and it is always already there. We feel that Mr. Bowman Okay, sorry. Um, looking at the town report as far as the buffers are considered, they want the buffers to be done by the original code on the original phase one. I don't think that that's fair because a lot of things have happened since then. Codes have changed. I don't think the buffer should be um retrofitted to what the neighborhood is going to be on another on the buffer that there was some likely sewer involvement on some of the areas that were to be planted. So the developers asked that they not be planted because there's likely that that will be removed at some future point. Well, until they can give us what time that is, I don't think that that's fair to say not planned because something else is coming along. Again, the traffic on Mount Holly Huntersville is very busy. We do not want any more traffic being filtered through Pemroke, down Wedgewood, through Westminster Park. We really need a large road and at least two, if not three entrances on Mount Holly, Huntersville Road. I appreciate your time. Thank you very much. Thank you, Donnie Woodard. You have three minutes.

Good evening. Uh thank you for for having us uh and listening to us. Um uh my name is Donnie Woodard. I I live at 9121 uh Westminster. Uh I I live across the street from the from the Fisers. So, I I can I see the uh the construction traffic that's not supposed to be there that that goes by my house every day cuz I work from home. Um what what I'm concerned with is this new proposed uh revision. Uh not only does it take out the road, which everyone has has commented on, but uh but Commissioner Corals was was astute in seeing that the the lot sizes are are are seem to be a lot smaller. Um and that was one of the big things that we fought against the first time uh that that uh the the project was had come about. Um, and what what my my concern is now is that this not is not going to be the end. And and this is just a this is just a a test because you most of you are new. I think uh Commissioner [clears throat] Walsh was the only uh commissioner that was on the original at the the the the time that we were uh that we came out and forced. So, I I know that the the um the comment that that no one came out to any of the revision uh hearings is uh uh is kind of a a straw man uh argument because if we had known, believe me, we would have been here. the the the last vote we had almost every person in our neighborhood at that at that meeting and they said that was probably one of the biggest meetings that they've had on uh in the old building. So, uh so I know that we are passionate about this project and we know we we we don't want

this to impact our neighborhood uh and and give us uh a yet another u uh hurdle uh to overcome. We we already don't have uh walkable, you know, you know, sidewalks. So, we have to walk in this in the, you know, the streets when we walk our neighborhood. And the the increased traffic uh not only with the construction, but with with the new properties, with the new homes, it's inevitable that that they're going to use, you know, uh Westminster and Wedgewood as cutthroughs. Um you know, it's it's just, you know, and and that's what we fought against the first time. um we we ultimately uh lost that battle. Uh and and we you know I I know that most of you were not part of that. So, you know, we're not we're not, you know, holding you to to those old standards, but we would appreciate if you would just take a second look and and not just give the developer cart blanch and in, you know, taking over yet another neighborhood. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Bill Weir, you have three minutes.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Town Huntersville. Thanks for having us. Uh, just want to say uh we have very nice meeting hall. Often times people in charge of spending other people's money get being cheap, confused with serving the mission and that didn't happen here. The mission's very well served and our AV guy is excellent. This is a very smooth meeting. and we can hear everything. This is a very visible project, so it was handled very well. You all know what our concerns in our neighborhood are about this project and the reasoning. I'm not going to rehash what's already been very well stated by my neighbors. What I'm going to address is what I see as a much larger civic concern overall, and that is what's the town being run for? What what's the objective here? Is it to uphold and preserve the quality of life for those of us who have lived here all our lives? Or is it for the benefit of the few deep pocketed developers that have also decided to call Huntersville home? Who exactly is it that you're working for here? I also got no notice of any of the prior public hearings, and I don't see how you can call it a public hearing if we're not notified of it. All I can say is is that we have fought certain aspects of this project contentiously since its inception. We're not against people being able to sell their property and and profit from it. That's what happens in our country. We understand that there's development that's going to go on. All we've asked for is respect and we have not been given it. So, all I can tell you is is the only tool that we have left here is to make that disrespect and the process that's been shoved down our throats as visible as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. That concludes our public comments. Does the board have any more questions for staff or the applicant? Okay. Thank you. We will go to item 9B. conduct a public hearing on the designation of town owned property parcels 01903115 and 01 9 03116 Miss Loop.

Yes. Good evening board. Um as you may recall the board previously directed staff to issue or advertise I should say a request for proposals on the development of the old town hall and the adjacent parking parcel. staff has since uh advertised the RFP and we did receive a response. If the town would like to move forward on being able to potentially, not certainty, but potentially utilize the economic disposal method. In order to sell this property, we need to first designate the property as being held for resell for economic development purposes. Um, and this is merely a procedural step. If the town does decide to actually sell the property, there will have to be a second public hearing and at that time you all will consider a purchase agreement to sell the property and all of the specific terms of the purchase agreement would be discussed at that time. I do want to point out also that if you designate the property as being held for resale for economic development pro purposes, you do not actually have to move forward with the sale through that method. Um there are other options should you choose. However, the benefit of utilizing the economic development statute for disposal is that the town can impose restrictions on the disposal. meaning that you can restrict the property's use for a certain number of years and you can add other conditions that you would not be able to add as conditions if you used, for example, the upset bid process, a sealed bid process or a public auction. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions, but that is the gist of why we are considering designating the property as being held for resale tonight. Board,

do you have any questions? We use that same process with 760. Is that correct? Correct. We did and we did seven years with that. Um I believe that is correct. Yes. Okay. I'm putting you putting you on the spot. Sorry, Miss in the um you were mentioning that we can put restrictions on this. One um element of that that we could do is say that we would want it to be used for um commercial purposes versus turned into a dentist office or whatever. Is that correct?

Yes. So you have the ability in the deed restrictions to say for example that you want it to only be used for food and beverage purposes. So that's a commercial use. or you could say a certain percentage of the square footage would be used for certain purposes. You have the discretion on how you craft those deed restrictions. And also I would highly suggest that you include some language that the property convert back to the town or versionary clause if the deed restrictions are violated.

Any other questions? So just to reiterate, if the deed restrictions are unfavorable, we can vote no. I believe your question is asking if we have some terms that are suggested by the developer that are not amendable to the board. At the second public hearing afterwards, when the item is up for consideration, can the board vote no? And the answer is yes. You are not locking yourself in yourselves into voting yes just by designating the property as being held for resale tonight.

Thanks for translating. [clears throat] Um I forgot my second question, but thanks for the translation, Mr. Roberts.

Yeah, I was just gonna make sure we're clear, Emily. Um so item 8B which is on the consent agenda actually would be if if the board moves forward with the action items tonight under 10A would ultimately move to a contract phase that will come back to the board on January 20th which would I guess spell out some of the details and questions that you went over andor mayor pro Tim Hunt and the mayor mentioned earlier. Is that correct?

Yes. There is the second step that will be on the 20th. Um we would have another public hearing which would allow for public comments uh similar to tonight and then the board has the opportunity to consider the actual contract and its terms. We will well it's anticipated that we will have a slide to display that highlights most of the major terms on the screen as it's being discussed. Will the actual I guess I will just follow up just to be clear make sure everybody understands. Will the contract itself I know the answer. I'm just Will the contract itself be on the January 20th agenda?

Yes, it's anticipated that it will be. However, we can hold the public hearing and have the contract at the next meeting or two meetings away. Um, but the direction I believe was to allow everyone to comment on the night that it is actually being discussed. So having them on the same night

and I'm going to just reiterate this one more time is by doing this process tonight by designating the town property for economic development that does not obligate us to actually sell the property. It just puts those conditions that we would like to have so that we can make sure that would it be sold in the future it would have what we actually wanted it to be. Correct.

So, actually what this does is it allows you to use a specific disposal method. So, usually as far as what are the most um common methods of disposal when you aren't including restrictions on the property, it's going to be the upset bid process, sealed bid process, and auction process. But again, those processes don't let you include restrictions as this would. If you want to have a private sale but with restrictions giving you more control over what the language of the document of conveyance says, this is an opportunity to do that. But because this property was not originally purchased for economic development, it was instead purchased for a governmental purpose, a town hall. We need to designate it first as being held for resell for economic development if you potentially again potentially want to sell the property in under that statutory authority.

Mr. Roberts in the public comments we had lots of comment about um designating that for public purpose. Were this building to be sold for commercial use is there other spaces available for public use? Yes. um further.

So ultimately you'll see in the I think I guess it's the parks and wreck. There's been some comment about um programming space, runnable space, etc. Um in the I guess it's a 2030 plan park and recck master plan sort of addresses some of that. Um and sort of an overall bigger picture. Um I think they're looking for 30 uh 44,000 square ft roughly in the 2030 park and rec master plan. And there are multiple things that would address that. Um now remember recreational programmable meeting space etc. Um that facility over there um if we were to keep it would be programmable space. Probably not going to play basketball in it. We'd have maybe arts and crafts. You may have parking wreck, may rent it out, have senior cards. I'm making up stuff here, but those kind of things. It's roughly 8,000 square feet. Kind of depends on what um whether you look at Polaris, etc. So, how would we potentially make up that 8,000 square feet um somewhere else ultimately, and I'm getting back to the master plan, the 2030 master plan, uh of roughly 44,000 square feet needed by then. Um, one the new elementary schools coming on Lake Norman Chart Elementary School, we would do it a joint use agreement that would be roughly 10,000 square feet. We do that all over town with all the schools. Um, that would that would represent 10,000 square feet. Um, and then in the CIP in fiscal year 28, we have the expansion of the um, Hunters Rec Center. That would be roughly 24,000 square feet. But just specifically to get at the town hall space roughly 8,000 square feet. Obviously we have moved everyone out of the third floor at town center above DPK. That's more than 8,000 square feet. Um we will have some um fire

administration uh offices in in a small portion of that but there's more than 8,000 square feet. closer to 10 to 12,000 square feet there that can be programmable just like this facility here. So that is an option obviously for this board to consider. Um we are we will be um we've already met with MJ on some of those spaces. We'll be looking at obviously we just moved out of the building so we will be looking to um dispose of some of the additional furniture etc. I'm getting into a little more detail, but the short version is that 8,000 here can be made up somewhere else. And I'm not even talking about the elementary school, not even talking about the expansion of the rec center. That's just getting at the overall master plan, but just if you want to focus on 8,000 there can be made up and then some on the third floor of DPK or town center, that is an option.

Thank you, Mayor Town. If we do use the old town hall space for [snorts] some type of town event or programmable space, what type of renovations would we need to do? Um, I know it's kind of a hard question to answer because we don't know necessarily what we would use it for, but if you could just kind of

The guy in the back room, he may run out of here. Um but uh I see someone from edifice here but um ultimately we had looked at we had uh set aside about 1.5 million $ 1.5 million to potentially do some upgrades there. Um obviously I don't know if the 1.5 million is enough as roof HVAC plumbing things like that. Um that was just a placeholder to do upfits there. Um, obviously we couldn't do a whole lot of work there because we just moved over here. Um, but some of the layouts of the plans there, we had two or three plans if I recall of the allowed of the inside of that building. Um, to use for [clears throat] programming we were probably not going to have, unfortunately, I wasn't going to get married a second time over there. Um, but a lot of arts, crafts, things like that. Um MJ can probably comment further on what type uses but um we also I did not mention just to carry a little bit further we do have space in this building also the second floor room on that side of the building um that has a lot of overflow chairs in now is roughly 3,000 maybe a little more than 3,000 square feet that we have not planned on using yet but that's something that obviously we can we have other uh usable spaces in here that we could rent out to Um, I would say look at Cornelius just because I was there. They have a big room there that they sort of rent out on their bottom floor big, you know, on the if you're facing the front left side, you know, so things like that could happen. They program that space. They rent it out for HOA meetings. Um, but it's not free. And remember, you got to have people here. Somebody's got to let people in at night. Somebody's got to be here. Got to clean it just like anything else. So, no different than the other facilities that we have. um that we may rent out like Dalewood etc. So we have other spaces that I did not mention just

because we have we just got in here we haven't you know sort of thought through all those different things. So ramble to give you a lot of information you can digest it and ask any questions you like

based on what you said I [clears throat] think this could be a golden opportunity to transform our downtown if we have additional space that we could use. uh we should be focusing. We we say we're going to uh revitalize our downtown. This is a great opportunity where we can help our small businesses, the business trying to come into our downtown, something that's going to bring some traffic, bring some life to our downtown. We can um like Mr. Foster said earlier, we need places where we can have some culture. You talked about uh other public spaces, you name a boatload of places that we can have for public spaces. So, I personally think this would be a great opportunity to help our small businesses and to help shape our downtown.

Any other questions? One other thing that's kind of changed my mind on all this was that um right now the city owns four threequarters of the four corners of downtown and 5:00 they're they're closed up and I would like to see something that revitalize downtown and brings people here after, you know, after 5:00. and wants to bring more people here for a community. Commissioner Walsh,

I had a question for Miss Floop. Um, you mentioned the the deed restriction um for for seven years, for instance. What happens after that seven years? Is it still slated for economic development?

So, the deed restrictions would sunset after the the restriction period. However, um only the uses that the property has been zoned for is what it could actually be used for without going through a reasonzoning process. So, um you know, Brian could speak to that in terms of what those byite uses are if they were to try to change the use, but they would have to go through a reasonzoning if they wanted to do something that is not currently allowed by the ordinance. Thank you. So I couldn't turn that into a apartment complex on year seven and start over. Brian,

they could as long as whatever rules were in place at the time were met. Um, you know, if you were to build one building, one lot multif family, that would be allowed today. I would say that may be tough and the only reason I say that because there are a lot of cross parking easements that would be required if this were to move forward and a use were to come before this board that you like um in the contract. So that may muddy the I would say may muddy the water for something like that to come back because there are a lot of things that would have to be worked out. I mean like I say there's there's only an exit out there. um there's only so many parking spaces.

Uh so that would be it would get complicated I guess is what I would say.

I would also add to that not only um would we as part of any purchase agreement require cross parking cross access and um cross driveway easements for both the old town hall and the new town hall. But the developer, if they sink in, let's say, $1 million, $2 million to upfit the property and they're they are um locked in for seven years, it's not as likely that they would then change the use after a significant investment to upfit the property for the use that they are requesting. So that's something to also consider. I'm not saying that that's 100% or that it would never happen, but they are proposing, I believe, if memory serves, to include some upgrades to the building in the neighborhood. Anthony, correct me if I'm wrong, I think it was somewhere around 1.5 to 2 million. I could be speaking off the cuff in that regard, but I know that they were proposing some improvements.

Yeah, it would be significant improvements, no different than what we would have to do if the board decides to move forward with town space. It will be significant upfits, upgrades. Emily, are there is there a cap on the number of years that we can have a deed restriction on the property or restriction?

You can in you could increase it from seven years. Um, I mean, you wouldn't want to say a hundred years or something along those lines because that would extremely that would cause the property to be devalued uh significantly. So, it has to be within reason. um you could maybe get by with maybe 15 years. That would be reasonable. Um you may be stretching it if you go past that amount. Okay. Thank you.

So all those restrictions tend to devalue the property. So the more you clamp down on the property and say you can only do just like a brewery or you can only do a restaurant. So when you buy that, you're investing in that and you're locked in for that amount of time. And so that devalues property. Same thing as if you take away parking or if you only have one entrance and one exit. All those things when it the property is appraised typically has impact on the property and it and it did on this property because we have um you know we have entrance small u parking on the property and things like that. So if this moves forward, if the board moves it forward to a some type of contract that would come forward, you will you will see that there will be some devaluing the property. Um you will be able to put restrictions on it. You know, if it's further that they may say, you know, we can't go past seven. You know, those kind of things is stuff that y'all will talk about and determine and it may not go anywhere. It's kind of up to you. And uh and the uses, too. there are proposed uses that u would be good for downtown if it moves forward but um that's something the board will have to decide.

Also I would point out that I believe that the current appraisal is based on a proposal of seven years. So their offer price is the appraised value considering what has been proposed thus far. They would likely need to get an entirely new appraisal if you attempted to increase the restrictions.

That's right. We we will we will we did our own appraisal. So ultimately uh if a contract comes forward you know it would be based on sort of the restrictions on the building etc. And then you know I don't want to take you know someone else's appraisal from their appraiser because it may not be we would use our appraiser um to revalue the property and bring that forward. Anthony, when we did the appraisal for this proposed situation, did we say that there would be a restriction of seven years or we did? Okay.

Yeah. Uh from the proposal um that we received, um I asked our appraiser to take a look at that and and determine the value. And it's appraiser that we've used on all the properties sort of in the downtown area because we want to use someone who is kind of value the properties the cashings of the world etc. So, someone that we've used a lot to go in, we literally would take the proposal and say, "Here, here's a proposal. Here's a property." You know, we may uh you can see in front of you how some of the lot lines lay out by Polaris. We we would shrink some of that property and and a majority of that property would come over to the town hall property. um you know maybe a pro I'm just don't pay attention to this line but let's just say that's the line that property north may move to this property here. So all of that affects value. So those are things you'll be looking at if this moves forward to make a determination on and I'm sure you're going to have many questions uh if we get to that stage.

Right. Any other questions? Yeah. Can you just go back and reiterate what the RFP process was like how all of that worked because it was a while ago.

So um we had asked for um proposals on um this particular you know basically that even though they're two individual parcels the parking kind of goes on with the town hall. So to just sell the building with no parking probably doesn't work. Nobody's going to buy a building. You can't park anything. So ultimately we put proposals out. Don't ask me the dates and I can have all that next meeting but I don't have it in front of me right now. Um and I think Bobby was heavily involved in that sending that out and we actually um uh got one proposal back on this. Multiple folks have called um entities that we know that uh looked at the grass strip across you know in front of DPK. uh one proposal came back and uh ultimately uh from there um that proposal sort of some conversations went about with staff to see how you could get that to a point where we could potentially bring something to the board. And so ultimately the process that we're going through is to bring something back to the board to consider. But there was only one proposal that sort of made it to I would say the finish line to bring to the board.

And this um process of putting an RFP request out for the what we call the old town hall now. E that's wonderful. Um was initiated at our um board retreat in I believe February of last [snorts] year, right? when we we kind of did a head nod and said, "Let's consider getting proposals for this." Is that

correct? We did the same thing on the I'm gonna call it the grass strip. It's not the appropriate name. You may wonder, good gosh, why is it taking so long there? We had um as digging into it, we had restrictions on the parking deck. So, it was uh there were restrictions with DPK. You just remember we came back from DPK and re-uped their lease and made a lot of modifications that sort of cleared some of the parking restrictions. So probably at even though a year has gone by, we are now free to go back out on that piece of property because we freed up some of the restrictions. So you will probably hear me, not probably you will hear me say, "Okay, mayor and board at the uh retreat, we have cleared up a lot of those things that were hindrance on that property to be able to make it attractive." Um, we're ready to go back out and see um what we could receive on that. Um but yes uh very similar process um there but there were some restrictions that kind of tied our hands to be able to do something with that grass strip over there that we will go through a process similar to this uh if the board sees fit again. [clears throat] Um but that is a process we went through. [clears throat]

Any other questions?

All right we have one public comment. Um Amy Hullman and I see my pal Emerson is here. So you have six minutes here and I am only speaking for myself tonight. Although I'm sure there are plenty of people that want to know who they is. um we do know who one of the the RFPs was, but um I think that's where a lot of the unrest is with residences not knowing any of those details and that is important. Um my question would be pretend um would the contract from a buyer is that what we're going to discuss in two weeks? That sounds like yes. That doesn't sound like we're putting together a a sales plan. We're we're putting together whether or not you guys want to accept somebody's offer. And I think that that's problematic for residents because we haven't heard a thing about what somebody else wants there. Um, all the additional space that Anthony is talking about is great, but we're at 70,000 population right now. And all we've heard in the last several years is how we are burning towards 120. We're going to need more than 8,000. We're going to need more than a little bit of room in this building and a little bit of room in that building. we need more room because we're going to explode um as far as population. If they don't like our appraisal, they don't have to buy it because you're in the driver's seat right now. You guys are in the driver's seat this week. Now, in two weeks, you might give that seat up, but right now you're in it. The one piece of appraisal he hadn't talked about, that red line, you all like that red line's going to make property values sore. Not this week, not in two weeks, but in a few years. And a piece of real estate is an asset. It is not a liability. So, it is time to figure that out. Not just say, "Oh, it can get us a couple million

dollars." Granted, a couple million dollars is a lot of money, but not in the scheme of a red line and a master downtown plan. Um, the only required thing they have to do at this point in Town Center is build two stories. So, they could potentially, I guess, sit on um enough to be able to go vertical after those seven years. And I would imagine somebody a student enough would probably do so. Um they could prepare to go vertical. The comments I've received from people on my email about this, it always gets me really worked up and I apologize, are indicating that the board is actually indicate is interested in selling. This isn't necessarily the hypothetical that we're hearing right now. Um I hope that's not the case. I really do because one of my resolutions was to be able to work together better and and I'm really really wanting to do that first. We understand it is our job as residents. I want to say this was in response to something earlier. It's our responsibility to stay informed and whether or not you like our input. I take the job very seriously of being informed. Um and so they don't need to fuss at you about that. You're you're doing all the communication you can. So the focus on calling this a procedural point but also calling it another public hearing on a sale um in two weeks is that's was bothersome to residents. Maybe you want to clarify that with the specifics. Who are we selling to? What's the plan? Why do we like it so much? You already know from emails that I'm against selling the former town hall that I support the master down the downtown master plan to upfit it and use it as community space for residents and small businesses. The movable wall partitions, renovated kitchen, history space, and the connecting courtyard are evidence. And when Mr. Foster walked in here and talking about a cultural center, to me that was a slam dunk. That should have been it right there. You're sitting in this building because the board two boards ago listened to us and then you guys, most of you listened in the last time. That's why you're here in

this beautiful, beautiful building. Um because you did listen to residents. So please listen. A yes vote tonight will make the value of the last and fourth corner that you do not own out of reach. Um, and yes, a yes vote tonight will also put the last significant downtown historic property that Anthony didn't mention, the Hullbrook house that is on the same block in grave danger. Um, the developer buys both and it's gone. You can stop that now. You won't be able to stop that then. Um, and and it it it all comes to now. selling it now seems like a short-term solution at best. The majority of this board is pro redline and and good for us, which if it's coming, it won't be here in just 10 years, not not to its its full term. There's absolutely nothing wrong with hanging on to real estate um for its appreciation in value. It's not a liability, it's an asset, and you do have to take care of it and maintain it. But this property for its location alone is going to continue to increase in value greatly. In 1992, that property you're talking about potentially selling was bought for $60,000. That was only 30 years ago. In 1995, that little parking lot parcel was paid $121,500,000. Immediately, within three years, see the demand to increase that value just for the parking lot. Currently, the value of the two parcels is 2.2 million. I know you're smarter than that. For those of you saying that it's going to be expensive to operate and maintain, please look at the big picture. What is the maintenance figure? How do you even know if we haven't even talked about what could go in there? Are we doing this too fast? Canopapolis, the city of Canapapolis bought its downtown properties because they wanted to control what went there and how. They didn't worry about owning three corners. They owned it all. They owned acres. Don't treat this building like a hot

potato. three to four million dollar sale is small money for a town of our size. It's not chump change. Um but we are trying to play in the big leagues here and and we need to to not be simple. We just need to not be don't forget about the value multiplier that that red line's going to bring to downtown property. Are you going to roll that dice now and gamble on all the variables or are you going to have a cooler head approach to still developing downtown but be in the driver's seat instead? Mr. Foster's Cultural Center is a perfect fit. He has told us all the reasons why we need more culture in Huntersville. And this would not be unlike DPK or even our maintenance of the aquatic center because we do that. But if you do, please make it a condition that it's commercial retail only, not mixed use, not vertical mixed use, not horizontal mixed use. That detail matters. This really does matter. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Do you have any question further questions for the town manager, town attorney, town staff? All right, we can conclude our public hearing and moving on to item 10A. Consider adopting a resolution to designate town owned property as being held for resale. Miss Luke.

Yes. So, um I will not reiterate everything that was just discussed, but um the only point I will uh point out one more time is that this does not lock the town board into selling the property. It's just a procedural point that needs to be taken care of if you want to use that particular disposal method. Any other questions? Okay. Do we have a motion for item 10 A? I make a motion to approve a resolution for designating town-owned property resale located at 101 Huntersville Concord Road and adjacent and the adjacent parking parcel.

And is there a second? A second. Any discussion?

Yes. Tonight, we take another important step toward fulfilling our commitment to downtown revitalization and making Huntersville a great place to thrive. The sale of the old town hall building will result in approximately $3 million savings for the town. That figure includes both the proceeds from the sale and the avoided cost of upfitting the facility for future government use. The reality is people don't come downtown on a Friday night to see a government building. And while a community center may sound appealing in theory, the truth is it would spend much of its time underutilized. Instead, this board is choosing a direction that will help draw people into our downtown by encouraging vibrant retail, dining, and activity generated uses that support a thriving local economy. In addition, once this property is privately owned, it will be producing tax revenue rather than m tax revenue rather than maintaining another government facility with ongoing maintenance costs borne by the taxpayers. This decision reflects responsible stewardship of public resources and a clear focus on the long-term success and vitality of downtown Huntersville.

Any other discussion? Okay. Paul, Commissioner Rivers.

Um, Commissioner Walsh, I greatly appreciate um your statement in regards to economic development and the growth of the town of Huntersville and creating a more um conducive um and um a place where people can thrive here. um small businesses. I know Commissioner Corals um brought that up as well, ensuring that our small business owners um have opportunities. However, um I do understand the importance of um the downtown steering committee at the time when um things were being discussed in regards to revitalizing the downtown area. Not to say that I am against um the economic development and economic growth. However, I do think that there definitely needs to be more conversation and public input in regards to what we do with our downtown. Um, that was the reason for creating the downtown steering committee in the beginning. So, therefore, tonight I cannot sit and say that I can um be in favor of this. I think that we need more time and I think that we do need um maybe to go back to revisiting the steering committee and having more public input in regards to what our downtown will look like. And that is just my thoughts this evening.

Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor?

Yeah. All I was going to say was to me this is still just information gathering. We haven't determined anything yet. We haven't made any decisions yet. We're still negotiating terms. Correct. So to me, this is not we have made a decision. I'm looking you in your face and telling you have not made a decision. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Commissioner Smallwood, Commissioner Corles, Commissioner Hunt, Commissioner Walsh, and Commissioner Corette in favor, and Commissioner Rivers opposed. And we'll move on to item 10B, consider appointing one member to the Parks and Rec Commission due to non-acceptance of appointment. Mr. Jacobs.

Good evening. Yes, we do have uh one opening for a full three-year term that will expire in March of 2029 and we have five applicants. All right. Um Commissioner Coronet your nomination. I nominate Robert Nyber Nyberger. Commissioner Hunt. Same. Commissioner Corals. Lucy Robinson, Commissioner Rivers, Lucy Robinson, Commissioner Smallwood, Robert Narberger, Commissioner Walsh, Robert Nyberger.

Okay. The majority of the nominations are for Robert Nyberger. So, I do have a motion to appoint Robert Nyberger to the parks and recreation commission. I would like to make the motion that we approve and accept Robert Nyberger as um a part of our parks and recreation commission. Is it? Yes. Is there a second?

Second. Any discussion? Just thank Mr. uh Neyber for being willing to volunteer. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? The motion carries unanimously. Item number 11, closing comments. Commissioner Cornell, I'll start with you. Just like to thank everybody who've put so much work in to make this beautiful building happen. Um, this is this is great and I appreciate everybody's candid discussion tonight. Commissioner Walsh,

I think I closed out our last meeting by saying that was our last meeting in the other building after being in it for many years. And it's certainly a pleasure to be in this one. And I certainly want to uh pass along my thanks, you know, not only to Bobby, but um Anthony, Jackie, everybody else who work so hard to uh to put this uh put this building uh on the map, so to speak. And it's a pleasure to sit up here. And as much as I love y'all, it's nice to have a little elbow room. [laughter] Commissioner Rivers.

Um well, first and foremost, happy uh happy new year. I'm still Thanksgiving. Guess I'm hungry. But um no. Um again, I just kind of want to piggyback off of um the moment of silence. Um Mr. Johnson was not only a pillar to the town of Huntersville, but he was a pillar to the Pottstown community and one of my uncle's dearest and longest and his best friend, his brother. And so to have grown up um with Mr. Johnson as being one of my mentors. I'm blessed to have known him and have had him in my life. And again, this is really hard for not just the town of Huntersville, but for the Pottstown community. And again, my prayers are with the Johnson family who is my family. So, continue to just keep them lifted up in prayer. And um again, thank you all so much. And um again, happy new year.

Mayor Pro Tim Hunt. Yeah, I just want to wish everybody a happy new year. Welcome to 2026. And thank you to staff for all of your hard work for making all of this come together today. Um I'm so excited for you to be working in this new space and I'm excited to be working here with you. Thank you, Commissioner Corals.

Happy New Year's. Bobby, I told you you need your beer worn because um I want to salute you for a job well done. Each time we walk through here, you were really orchestrating the direction of this wonderful facility. So again, job well done. I also want to say, [clears throat] excuse me, that the veteran service office opened on yesterday [applause] in this building and she's ready to rock and roll. So if you know a veteran in Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, and North Charlotte, uh please just have them come here to meet with the veteran service office. It is going to be a gamecher once those benefits are being filed. Um it's going to be another uh form of economic development for our uh Lake Norman area. And lastly, I know the announcement was said earlier this morning, this afternoon on January 19th at 3:00 PM, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Last year was phenomenal. We set the bar extremely high. If you want to see someone that look like Dr. King, if you want to hear someone that sounds like Dr. King, if you want to hear some good singing, you want to hear youth orchestra, you want to hear Hopewell High School band um playing jazz, this is the place to be on January 19th. So, I cordial invite you as well as others to come out to the David B. Wayman Center at 3:00 p.m. on January 19th. It's an event um that everyone want to see. It's so much that we're um we're going to be on WBTV um doing an interview on um Thursday because they want to get the word out of how wonderful it was on last year.

Commissioner Smallwood. Yes. So, I just wanted to say happy new year to everyone and thank you staff and Bobby. Um, this building is incredible. Um, and I really do appreciate everyone that came out tonight. Um, and for their public comments. Thank you. All right. Item number 12. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? I make a motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? A second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? And we are journed. Thank you very much for joining us for our first meeting in the