Conceptual drawing shows layout of small park proposed near Harris Teeter.

The Town Board on Tuesday approved a pair of amendments to the master plan for Davidson Commons, the Harris Teeter shopping center off Griffith Street near Exit 30.

One amendment updates signage rules at the center to address retailers’ concerns about the visibility of their signs. Another gave the developer, Edens & Avant, a break from rules that set deadlines on completion of approved master plans. Edens & Avant was granted permission to replace a planned block of 5 town houses with a public park, along Jetton Street – at least temporarily, until the market for new residential construction improves.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the board also:

• Heard an update on plans for the town’s first public art sculpture, “A Bouquet for Davidson,” by artist Andy Dunnill. (See related item above.)
• After a public hearing where nobody spoke, adopted amendments to the floodplain ordinance that the town manager said were needed to ensure that local properties continue to be covered under federal flood insurance programs.
• Amid the economic downturn, authorized the town manager to extend for up to five years the term of any town loan to Davidson Housing Coalition. When the coalition was established to provide affordable housing in townk, the town created a loan pool of $250,000 that has allowed it to buy affordable houses that come on the market, the town manager told the board.
• Approved an agreement between Davidson, Huntersville, and Mecklenburg County and the state Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at the entrance to the new Bradford Park, off N.C. 73 east of Davidson and Huntersville.
• Announced a joint Town Board meeting Feb. 17 at noon with counterparts from Huntersville, Cornelius, and Mooresville to establish goals for the newly formed Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission. The meeting will be at Mooresville’s Charles Mack Citizens Center on Main Street.
• Heard a presentation on LEED environmental certification for public buildings.
• Heard an audit report for the 2007-2008 budget year from Clara Myer of Tinsley and Terry. The firm gave the town an “unqualified” opinion, which is its highest rating. The audit report noted a few areas of concern, including a budget overrun on construction of a bathroom at the River Run sports fields and a handful of items related to the MI-Connection cable TV system. None of those was considered serious.
• Approved several committee appointments: With Tom Shandley stepping down from the Design Review Board, John Christian will take his place. Appointed Vice Winegardher to replace Susan Dailey on the Planning Board. Eileen O’Flaherty was appointed to the Greenway, Bikeways & Trails committee.
• Endorsed several changes in the wording of the town’s Mission and Values Statement, which the board discussed at its January retreat.

MORE VISIBLE SIGNS APPROVED

Edens & Avant, developers and owners of the Harris Teeter shopping center, known as Davidson Commons, had approached the board at its work session last month with the two requests: more visible signage, particularly for second-floor tenants of the Jetton Street building, and approval of a delay in construction of the residential units.

The tenants, including an eye doctor, had hoped for permission to put up more visible signs than are currently permitted under the town’s sign ordinance. After more than an hour of discussion Tuesday, the board agreed to allow upper-floor shops and offices new sign options:

• Signs on the two “endcap” spaces of up to 24 square feet that would have arched tops and hang in the arches facing the parking lot.
• Similar signs hanging in the archways of two interior end units near a stairwell of up to 18 square feet.
• An option of 9 square foot “blade signs,” which could hang out from the side of the building.
• Window signage, such as neon or other material, of up to 6 square feet on the Jetton Street side and ends.
• Edens & Avant, represented by Reynolds Allen, also agreed to install tenant directories around the project to make it easier to find upper-floor offices and shops. And it agreed to consider placing benches and potted plants to dress up the upper floor arcade.

NEW PARK ON JETTON

The board also voted in favor of a second change in the Davidson Commons master plan that will result in construction of a temporary park along Jetton Street, behind Aquesta Bank.

The land originally was slated for a row of 5 townhouses. But Edens & Avant officals told the board last month the company can’t build the townhouses itself and it has been unable to find a developer to do so, in part because of the poor real estate market.

The developer and town officials were careful to say that the park would be temporary, perhaps remaining for several years while the company waits for the residential real estate market to rebound. Town officials and the developer said signs would make it clear the site was destined for residential development.

Edens & Avant agreed to maintain the park and supply playground equipment. The town agreed to maintain the playground equipment. It’s not clear when the park will be completed.

Download a conceptual drawing of the proposed park (PDF).

DOCUMENTS

Feb. 10, 2009, Town Board meeting minutes, approved March 10, 2009. (PDF file)