An approval to withdraw a petition earned the biggest response at June’s Charlotte City Council zoning meeting.
About 30 people wore bright orange T-shirts proclaiming opposition to a rezoning request at Wilora Lake and Vernedale roads, where Ministerio Internacional Nueva Vida Inc. had proposed to build a new 2,000-seat facility. At the start of Monday’s meeting, council approved the church’s request to withdraw the petition, earning a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd.
Tammie Keplinger, land development coordinator with the city, said in her presentation that nearby residents were concerned with the portion of the petition that indicated a lack of connectivity of Wilora Lake Road. Concerns were also raised about pedestrian traffic, the development’s environmental and lighting impact, and a lack of tax base from the facility, which was proposed to be 70,000 square feet.
With the 20-acre property’s current zoning, Ministerio Internacional Nueva Vida may build a facility with up to 400 seats.
Most of the projects approved Monday fell in or near the district of council member LaWana Mayfield, who was complimentary of several petitioners, indicating they listened to community feedback and appeared to be cognizant of the city’s future.
Proposals by Loves Travel Stop & Country Store and FedEx Ground Package System Inc. were among those approved petitions — respectively, to develop a convenience store, restaurant, tire service shop and gas station at Sam Wilson Road and West Pointe Drive, and to allow an offsite parking expansion of FedEx’s west Charlotte facility.
Mayfield also cited enthusiasm for Renaissance West Community Initiative’s child development facility expansion and Aston Properties’ proposal to allow 20,000 additional square feet of commercial uses in the City Park development off West Tyvola Road.
“I’m really excited about this project and the continued growth in City Park after financial challenges,” Mayfield said. “It’s good to see dirt moving over there.”
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