GASTONIA, N.C. — This week, the Gastonia City Council unanimously voted to rezone an area of Crowders Mountain to pave the way for a new development to be built.
The 285.22-acre development, which will be between South Myrtle School Road and Archie Whitesides Road just south of West Franklin Boulevard, would include about 100,000 square feet of commercial space and has enough room for as many as 360 different types of multi-family dwelling types like apartments and space for as many as 500 single-family houses or townhomes.
The developer mentioned about 2 miles of greenways are planned for the area.
The multiuse plan will be built along Crowders Creek and took a couple of years to fully devise.
Many people signed up to testify in regard to this proposal in front of the Gastonia City Council when they discussed it on Tuesday.
Gastonia residents Ed Carson and Carolyn Ashworth requested the city council delay their decision until June 2023 to allow the developers to make contacts and address issues of water runoff on Carson Road.
Kathie Hazelton spoke on behalf of Gastonia business Dixie Glass Company and read into the record a letter sent to Gastonia City Council that opposed the rezoning of the Crowders Creek property. She expressed concern the rezoning and redevelopment would put Dixie Glass Company out of business by expanding the road in the plan. She emphasized this concern has been brought forth months ago but claims the petitioner did not respond or explain how the company's worries would be addressed.
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The owner of Dixie Glass Company, Scott Shook, also took to the podium to reiterate his fears about this project and how it would impact his third-generation, family-owned business.
After these concerns raised by residents were discussed and debated, the city council unanimously approved the rezoning.
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