Latest version of the town's proposed rezoning map for Davidson East. Click to download a PDF.

The Davidson Planning Board on Monday night, Aug. 29, will consider the proposed rezoning of the 180-acre Davidson East site, off N.C. 73.  The public is invited to the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at Davidson Town Hall.

The site formerly was to be developed as a mixed-use project called Davidson East. The development failed, and the property is now largely owned by Community One Bank, after a 2009 foreclosure.

The town has proposed rezoning the site to allow more commercial development on the site. The bank and the town have been negotiating for months, and were continuing to meet this week in hopes of reaching an agreement on proposed language and maps.

At the Davidson Town Board last Tuesday, planning manager Lauren Blackburn said the two sides were very close to agreement on a plan that calls for a mix of retail, offices and residential.

Ms. Blackburn told the board the final zoning may depend in part on a financial analysis of the proposal by Community One and its consultants.

On Friday, town officials released a map that shows dense retail and small offices along NC 73 (about 20 acres), an 80-acre zone of “flex campus” that could include corporate offices and light industrial, and about 20 acres of “neighborhood general” zoning, for residential.

Also Monday, the planning board will consider and make a recommendation on proposed changes to planning ordinance that would adjust the requirements for developers to obtain bonds guaranteeing some site improvements. The Town Board held a public hearing Aug. 9, with only a single public comment.

The planning ordinance currently requires developers to obtain “performance or maintenance bonds” to ensure that roads or other infrastructure are installed properly before the town agrees to take over maintenance. The town is proposing two planning text amendments to eliminate the conversion from performance to maintenance bonds, and to allow the town staff “to review and evaluate the condition of active development infrastructure on an annual basis.”

The town wants to make sure that bonds are sufficient to cover the cost of completing improvements if a developer defaults, or to cover potential street repairs once the town takes over a street.

RELATED DOCUMENTS & LINKS

Agenda for Monday’s Planning Board meeting, on the town website.

Revised draft map of the proposed planning zones for Davidson East (PDF).

Proposed revisions to Section 4, Section 7, and Section 9 of the planning ordinance. (PDFs)