By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson’s Town Board voted 4-1 Tuesday night to revise the town’s development approval process in a move some town officials said would make it “more predictable” for developers. The vote came after a lengthy debate and discussion with citizens, some concerned that it would reduce public involvement in planning decisions.

The 4 hour and 47 minute meeting included a presentation and public hearing about the $9.3 million town budget for 2012-13 and a presentation by Carolinas HealthCare System officials about a planned mental health hospital off N.C. 73. The board also adopted a new ordinance limiting and regulating the use of golf carts and utility vehicles in town. Read the full story

Consultants and other visitors at Wednesday's drop-in workshop at Cornelius Town Hall looked at maps of the proposed I-77 widening project. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

CORNELIUS – Residents, businesspeople and local officials this week got a closeup look at several versions of a proposal to build high-occupancy toll lanes on I-77 to help relieve rush-hour congestion north of Charlotte.

At workshops in Cornelius Wednesday and Charlotte Thursday, NC Department of Transportation officials and consultants showed maps of the planned route and drawings of what toll lanes might look like. Read the full story

State Department of Transportation officials and regional planners will hold public information workshops in Cornelius Wednesday and in Charlotte Thursday on a proposal to convert High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-77 north of Charlotte into High Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lanes. The workshop will look at four scenarios for the change, which would raise money to help pay for widening of the heavily congested stretch of interstate.

The first workshop runs Wednesday, May 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. The second will be Thursday, May 10, 4-7 p.m., at the N.C. DOT’s Traffic Management Center, 2327 Tipton Drive, off Statesville Avenue, Charlotte. Read the full story

Downtown Davidson parking locations. Click to download PDF.

Town Day, a 5K road race, the Davidson Farmer’s Market, a college lacrosse tournament and other events are expected to bring crowds to downtown Davidson Saturday morning. Plan ahead to find a parking spot (see your options below). Better yet, walk or bike into town for the morning if you can.

The day’s events begin early, with the Davidson Farmer’s Market next to Town Hall. Farmers and volunteers will be on site by 6:30 setting up, and the market runs from 8 a.m. to noon.

Read the full story

One or possibly two cars were involved in a minor wreck just north of the Griffith Street bridge over I-77 around 11:15 Thursday morning (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

A pair of wrecks on I-77 northbound on either side of Exit 30 was slowing traffic around midday Thursday. Neither accident appeared serious. Read the full story

Officials from the N.C. Department of Transportation, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and the Red Line Task Force are seeking a meeting, possibly in mid-June, with Norfolk Southern Corp. to discuss the rail company’s misgivings about the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project north of Charlotte. Read the full story

The Red Line Task Force of the Metropolitan Transit Commission holds its monthly meeting Wednesday, April 25, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., at Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 E. 4th St., Room 266, Charlotte.

Wednesday’s agenda includes a wrap-up of the business plan review, an update on proposed new station criteria, and information about an upcoming meeting with Norfolk Southern Corp. Read the full story

Town of Davidson
The Antiquity Bridge at the end of South Street will be closed on the Davidson side tomorrow, April 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for the Miles for Marnie Duathalon Road Race. The bridge will reopen as soon as the race has concluded. Download a copy of the race map (PDF) on the town website.