BY STACIE LETT CAIN
The Mooresville Town Board on Monday approved a rezoning request for Mattamy Homes, clearing the way for the company to build 78 townhomes amid mixed response for neighboring property owners.
The rezoning request for Regalia at Langtree, located off Langtree Road, was originally heard by commissioners at the February 17 board meeting, when neighbors voiced concerns about increased traffic in their neighborhoods with pedestrian connector paths and the presence of three-story townhomes too close to their backdoors.
Mattamy representatives returned Monday with modified plans, including sidewalks being built on adjacent property not owned by Mattamy with property owner permissions, a crosswalk if NCDOT approves it and a 30-foot tree buffer between the development and neighboring properties. These offerings were enough for some nearby homeowners to support the project.
“I am, fortunately or unfortunately, the president of the HOA for Oak Harbor,” Seth Baush stated during the public hearing. “We are a small waterfront development dead-end neighborhood with 19 homes, 17 children ranging in age from one month to 12 years. We have four waterfront properties, 10 deeded boat slips and we are content with that. Over the last 12 to 15 years we have seen a growing number of incidents happening in our community with people who do not live here. Adding additional developments to this area is a concern for that number growing even higher.”
Despite those concerns, Bausch pledged support of the majority of the members of the HOA because of the work and attention put in by Mattamy Homes in addressing those concerns.
“They listened to our concerns, removed the walking path to our development and acted on those concerns,” he explained. “Of course, we would rather have a large wooded area beside us, but if we have to have development there, we believe this would be a good fit and we, as the majority of Oak Harbor, support this proposal.”
Not everyone who came to speak was as supportive of Mattamy Homes and the proposed development.
“When I purchased at Langree I was both a purchaser and a realtor,” Kathy Worek said in opposition to the development. “We didn’t just buy houses. We did our due diligence and we invested in the integrity and long-term potential of this neighborhood. The 30-foot buffer of treeline they offer is not as good as it seems. The three-story townhomes will still tower over it and they will be able to look right into our backyards.”
Pointing out what she perceived to be Mattamy’s ultimate goal of a financial return, she said the opposite will be true for homeowners in the area.
“They will not protect our property value. In actuality, this development will do more to devalue our property,” Worek stated. “And as much as I appreciate the neighbors of Oak Harbor on Pin Oak coming to be a part of this, I would like to gently point out that they are not located within the Town of Mooresville. Although their voices are valuable, I want the board to consider them in context to those of us who reside within the town limits and will directly be impacted by this rezoning. We respectfully request that this request for rezoning be rejected.”
One issue that the board did struggle with before voting to approve the rezoning by a 4-2 vote, was related to fire response and safety.
“I have real concerns with safety,” Commissioner Tommy DeWeese said. “I know Fire Station 7 is in planning, but do we have any expectation of when that station will go online?”
Town Manager Tracy Jerome said town officials were optimistic that it would be soon.
Mayor Chris Carney added that Lowe’s Corporate had offered to donate land at the front of their campus for the station and the town has accepted. There are still some legalities to still work out, but Carney said he is confident that would happen soon.
The mayor asked Mattamy representatives if it would agree to not begin development until the paperwork was finalized for the new fire station. Fire Chief Curt Dutton explained that the already 9-10 minute response in that area was a concern.
Mattamy agreed to the request, conditioning it that if the fire station was not finalized, they would agree to install sprinkler systems in the first homes built to mitigate that longer response times.
That, along with the Mutual Aid Agreement with Mt. Mourne Volunteer Department, was enough to win the support of the majority of board members.
But even the approval came with some apology.
“If we don’t annex this, there will be no crosswalk, the possibility of three-story buildings and far less restrictions than what we are offering now from the county,” Commissioner Lisa Qualls explained. “For the residents here, I know i’ts not a perfect situation and I know you would rather have it open and green. The only way you can guarantee that is to buy it. We are trying to make it the best possible solution.”
In an addition to the rezoning, the Regalia at Langtree was also approved for voluntary annexation and extension of utility services.