Huntersville Downtown mixed-use Development Approved

The Town Board approved North State’s mixed-use development project in downtown Huntersville.  Approximate 10 acres on the east side of the Town Center Building was rezoned to include retail, apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes.

This project originally started about 2 years ago.  The town entered into an agreement with North State Development to acquire approximately 2 acres of town-owned land next to the Town Center Building which houses Discovery Place Kids.  In November of 2019, the Town Board approved a conceptual plan for the property that included apartments and some ground-floor retail space.  This was a by-right project that did not require a rezoning.

Subsequently, North State acquired approximately 8 acres adjacent to the town-owned property.  They submitted a mixed-use plan to the town that would require a rezoning of those additional acres.  The additional property is going to be developed with townhomes and single-family homes.

The rezoning of this property is supported by the 2030 Community Plan and our Downtown Master Plan.  It also aligns with our recently approved 2040 Community Plan.

The 2040 Community Plan reached its goal of 5,600 engagements or 10% of the town’s population through:

• 1,700 Project Website Visits

• 2 In-person Public Meetings

• 4,000 Views of an Online Public Meeting

• 3 Surveys with 1900+ Responses

• 6 Steering Committee Meetings

• 20,000 hard copies of the draft plan distributed to residents and businesses

Based upon these engagements, the Top 2 Goals were:

#1 GOAL – GROWTH MANAGEMENT

Focus growth near the central core and limit growth in less developed areas.

#2 GOAL – ACTIVATED DOWNTOWNS

Create vibrant, pedestrian-accessible mixed-use areas with restaurants, small businesses, and housing.

Almost no development has taken place in our downtown in the almost 3 decades that I have lived here.  Other than a few municipal buildings, not much growth has taken place.  The police station was abandoned years ago.  Our Town Hall only has room for about a dozen employees, is too small to hold board meetings, and is falling into disrepair.

With this approval of this mixed-use project, the town gets a substantial investment of private money in our downtown.  This is just the first step in the rejuvenation of downtown Huntersville.  Other projects are in the works and more private development money is coming.  All of this will make Huntersville (and our downtown) a better place to live, work, play, and grow.