HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — The developer behind the failed Huntersville lagoon project has a new proposal on the table.
In Fall of 2023, Bi-Part Development pulled its plans for the Lagoona Bay project after intense pushback from neighbors and town leaders.
This time, the developer is looking to build a mini storage facility and commercial space along Sam Furr Road.
The properties are adjacent to the newly built subdivisions called Northbrook and Oak Farm. Some homeowners fear their new investments are already in jeopardy due to the planned 20 acres of commercial space.
"When we bought the house we were not expecting this," Kevin Cocrane said about the proposal. His backyard faces a wooded area that separates his family home from Sam Furr Road.
The development proposal would remove a lot of the trees along the busy road.
"[I'm] not a fan of [the proposal] at all," Cocrane added.
However, the developer behind the project, Jake Palillo, said there will still be a large buffer between the commercial property and neighborhoods.
"It goes anywhere from 250 feet, which is their common open space, to as much as 400 feet from my property line to their property line," Pallilo explained.
The neighborhood owns open spaces with trails behind the houses that cannot be touched. Palillo said his property will also have an 80-foot buffer.
RELATED: County commissioners express disappointment, concern at meeting with Brooklyn Village developers
The developer added the NCDOT plans to build a sidewalk along Sam Furr Road. Pallilo is offering to make improvements to those plans that he said will make the area safer and more enjoyable.
"We'll create a walking park so the people that live behind can walk out front, enjoy walking down this trail," Palillo said.
However, neighbors are still concerned since three of the four parcels do not have set plans, and it's uncertain what they could turn into. Palillo is asking the town for a list of allowed uses, including heavy manufacturing and lab facilities.
"I can't create anything unless I know what uses I can do," Palillo said.
Palillo’s original list of requested uses included several concerning items to neighbors, like hazardous material incineration. However, he has since removed those requested uses and narrowed it down to mostly corporate business uses like retail and office space.
"We're not developing projects that we come into someone's town, build a bunch of junk and leave, you know? We live here," Palillo said.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.