Davidson's old train depot at Depot and Jackson streets sits opposite the site that planners have identified for a future commuter rail station. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)
A small group of planners, property owners, elected officials and consultants has been huddled in Davidson’s Town Board meeting room this week, drawing on maps and talking about possibilities for development along the Red Line Regional Rail Project in Davidson. The four-day public planning workshop began Tuesday and continues Thursday and Friday from 9 to 5 at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St.
ALSO: Davidson plans public hearing on Red Line Regional Rail Project Jan. 24. See below.
The meetings are part of an effort to update the town’s existing Station Area Plan and look at other potential development sites along the rail line. The four-day workshop will develop recommendations for land use, streets and open space improvements as well as any changes to town ordinances that might be needed.
The goal is to produced an updated 2012 Station Area Plan that Davidson’s Town Board can vote on a future meeting.
Meetings this week so far have included a presentation by Charlotte Area Transit System’s project manager Brian Nadolny as well as closed-door meetings with various property owners and developers, including Davidson College, Ingersoll Rand, and developers with ideas for property along the rail line.
The workshop sessions are open to the public.
The town is updating its station area plan as area towns and as Mecklenburg and Iredell counties consider a new proposal for funding a 25-mile commuter and freight rail line north of Charlotte. The project would use upgrade Norfolk Southern tracks and introduce new rail services in a partnership of local governments, Charlotte Area Transit System and the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The meetings this week follow two public information sessions Dec. 15 and Jan. 5. At those meetings, participants tossed around ideas and wish lists for the planned commuter rail station, at Jackson and Depot streets, as well as other areas.
RED LINE PUBLIC HEARING
Meanwhile, a variety of other Red Line meetings are ahead.
The Davidson Town Board will hold a public hearing during its work session on Jan. 24 on the Red Line Regional Rail Project. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. The board will be seeking citizen comment on the project and its financial plans.
Also, the Lake Norman Chamber’s “Focus Friday” issues forum on Jan. 27 will look at the Red Line project. Focus Friday is a monthly series of meetings that examine public issues in detail. The Friday, Jan. 27 meeting will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the chamber, 19900 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Business leaders will hear from consultants representing the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Lake Norman Regional Transportation Committee, and the Cornelius Red Line Task Force. The consultants are expected to discuss the proposed Joint Powers Authority along with a finance model to pay for and operate the line.
RELATED LINKS
Jan. 5, 2012, DavidsonNews.net, “How should rail corridor develop? Meeting seeks ideas”
Town of Davidson, Station Area Plan web page.
