Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Cotswold Publix, and other rezoning decisions Tuesday

Charlotte City Council is set to hear rezoning petitions Tuesday night. If rezoning were a chore, it would probably be something like brushing your teeth - vital to do, but not exactly the most exciting thing in the world. Still, rezoning can arouse some strong passions (Anybody remember the Dilworth Walgreens Battle of 2012?).


Here's a look at what's on the agenda Tuesday night:
  • New Publix in Cotswold: This is probably the most interesting petition up for a vote Tuesday. Cotswold Partners LLC is hoping to rezone a 2.2-acre site near Randolph and Greenwich roads from neighborhood business to mixed-use development. The developer would demolish the existing office building and construct a new Publix grocery store (see part of the rendering below). This would be an aggressive move - the site is directly across from a large Harris Teeter - but Publix has been upfront about challenging Harris Teeter. Neighbors have expressed concerns about increased traffic, but staff recommend the petition for approval. 
  • A Terwilliger Pappas apartment complex, Solis Ballantyne, has garnered a protest petition, but staff recommends approval. The complex, on 10 acres of vacant land at the corner of North Community House and Bryant Farms roads, would have 194 units and up to 15,000 square feet of retail space. Terwilliger Pappas is building other Solis-brand upscale apartments in Charlotte, such as the Solis Dilworth complex under construction at Kenilworth and Morehead streets.
  • A developer is trying to rezone 1.2 acres at Woodlawn Road and Montford Drive to allow an 8-unit apartment building on the site. With one bedroom units estimated to rent at $1,050 a month, the units are targeted at young professionals. The plan has picked up a protest petition from the neighborhood. It's up for a hearing, not a vote, on Tuesday.
    Proposed apartment building
  • There's a proposal in Plaza Midwood to rezone the land of the historic Vanlandingham Estate on The Plaza. The rezoning petition would allow the construction of up to 19 single-family attached houses for sale around the perimeter of the historic property, along with a private pool and spa. The main estate would still be used as a hotel and small conference center. The townhouses would be $340,000 to $420,000. The rezoning is being sought because the Vanlandingham Estate isn't sustainable in its current form, one of the developers said at a community meeting. Staff is not recommending approval of the plan as is, because the increased density, parking issues and inward-facing orientation of the townhouses are inconsistent with the neighborhood. This is also up for a hearing, not a vote.
    Rendering of the proposed townhouses

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

If the Cotswold School traffic and the daily Chick-Fil-A drive thru lines that back up on Randolph Road every day aren't bad enough, this huge grocery store will make it unbearable. Why not build this on Monroe Road where it is WANTED and NEEDED?

Anonymous said...

This is the worst and most spiteful attempt by Publix to try to crush our hometown Harris Teeter. (Don't give me crap about being owned by Kroger, Food Lion is still Salisbury's hometown chain too). Publix is doing it right with the South End location with all the new housing surrounding the store. There are 125 new homes planned at Mint Hill Publix location, thats better than this proposal. If they had 15-20 acres up the street and was building an urban town center with 100+ condos, then even I give them the thumbs up.

Mint Hill residents hate the new Publix. The new medians on NC51 are a major pain in the ass. I can't even get to my doctor's office without driving around through the neighborhood streets and don't get me started about trying to pick my kids up at Queens Grant Community school with those new medians.

Anonymous said...

She's absolutely right. Between the elementary school and Chic Filet, traffic is already a nightmare at this location. A Publix would only worsen the situation. Why City Council would even consider allowing this is beyond me! There's something for somebody in here somewhere.

Anonymous said...

I would love to see a Publix come to that location. I live right around the corner and shop at the Harris Teeter. The Teeter needs a little price competition. I would also love to see them knock down that ugly eyesore of a building next to Chick-Fil-A. The traffic is a mess... but addressing traffic entry and exit points will certainly be part of the pitch. I don't hear anyone screaming at Chick-Fil-A for the big mess that they already create.

Anonymous said...

I got caught in the carpool traffic on Greenwich Road one morning on the way to an eye doctor appointment. Sat in gridlock traffic for 20 minutes. God help everyone if a fire truck or ambulance needed to get through. And they want to build a grocery store there? I know money talks in this town but common sense needs to be shown.

Anonymous said...

Traffic is insane at that location. What if there is an emergency at the school? Or somewhere in the existing Cotswold center? This is beyond stupid.

Anonymous said...

I want Publix. Parking at Harris Teeter is impossible. Spreading the opportunities and parking for groceries would help traffic. Need to improve access to the school. Try Linda Lane out to Water Oak, like Randolph Middle.