BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

The Compass Data Center planned for Stamey Farm Road in western Iredell County cleared another hurdle on Monday night as the Statesville City Council approved the second reading of the rezoning request.

The first reading was approved at the September 15 meeting.

The next step in the process is a public hearing scheduled for October 20, when the council will consider a request to annex the property into the city limits.

Both of those items were on the consent agenda at Monday’s council meeting. The consent agenda is approved in one motion unless a council member asks for an item to be removed for further discussion. Neither item was removed from the consent agenda.

Council approved the first reading of the rezoning request despite some 30 people voicing opposition to the facility being located in that area.

Councilman Steve Johnson said he’s still convinced approving the center was the right decision despite many messages he’s received questioning his decision. “I’ve had everything from my ancestry to my sexual habits questioned,” he said.

Johnson said he had researched the data center. The concerns raised by opponents about energy and water usage are being overstated.

“Duke Power has ample generating capacity,” he said. “So far I think we’ve made the right decision.”

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business:

♦ Council also gave its approval to a plan for the redevelopment of Monroe and West Front streets. Councilman C.O. Johnson voted against the plan.

Consultants Kaitlyn Woolard and Brian Kvam presented the plan, which includes ideas for redeveloping those two areas. Some of the ideas were concerning mobility, open space and land use, Woolard said.

She said pedestrian safety was one of the main concerns about potential redevelopment in the two areas and that has been a big factor in some of the proposed ideas.

Woolard explained that the process of developing these plans involved community meetings to get input from residents and business owners in the areas.

The next step will be to get others involved and look at funding opportunities such as grants.

Kvam explained that the redevelopment is a long-term process although there are some things that can be done in the short term, such as improved lighting.

Steve Johnson said he was in favor of the plan but cautioned against restrictive requirements that might harm smaller businesses.

In casting the lone dissenting vote, C.O. Johnson said he was concerned about tying future city councils to funding these plans. The plans do not include any cost estimates or plans for paying for implementation.

Mayor Costi Kutteh said approval of the plan is not a monetary promise.

“We are not approving any expenditures tonight,” he said.

The mayor added that the plans are not set in stone and are subject to change as it progresses.

♦ C.O. Johnson and Councilman Joe Hudson voted against the second reading of a text amendment to allow drinking establishments in the central business district.

The amendment will allow downtown businesses in the central business district to serve alcohol. The request came from the Downtown Statesville Development Corporation.

♦ As part of the consent agenda, council approved October 20 as a date for a public hearing to annex property for Fire Station 5 at 533 Gaither Road.

Related

♦ Breaking News: Statesville Council unanimously approves rezoning request for massive data center
♦ Statesville Planning Board votes to support rezoning for Compass Data Centers project despite vocal opposition
♦ Statesville Planning Department recommends approval of rezoning request for Compass Data Centers project
♦ After approving rezoning request, Statesville Council to consider annexing property for data center on October 6