HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Huntersville residents heard from developer Jake Palillo at a meeting Wednesday to discuss the plans of his latest proposal; Lagoona Bay Beach Club. Residents voiced their concerns about the plan at the meeting and the idea was met with intense pushback.
Palillo wants to transform nearly 270 acres of farmland into a resort-type property complete with residential and retail space, calling it Lagoona Bay Beach Club.
The site off Sam Furr Road in Huntersville would feature a 10-acre Crystal Lagoon at the center of the project, offering a tropical-like resort for memberships fees of about $400 to $500 a month on top of a $10,000 initial payment.
The project would also have a luxury hotel with tennis courts and pools and new homes valued from $800,000 to more than $1.2 million.
The developer has already applied to have the land re-zoned and Wednesday evening residents had the chance to weigh in on the proposal. Some say they are not happy about the idea to bring this type of development to their area.
A petition to stop the project has gained over 860 signatures at the last count. Some of those who signed said they are concerned about how the development will affect traffic and what they say are other quality-of-life issues.
People at the meeting Wednesday questioned the cost of the private club and who it serves.
“If you invite guests and want to put them in a nice hotel, where are you going to put them? Charlotte," Palillo said.
People from the crowd shouted out, saying said not in the hotel in the proposal. They said no one would be able to afford the price.
Palillo said Huntersville is a well-off community and said the average income could afford a membership. Many in the town disagreed.
Much of the dialogue intensified and some left before the end of the meeting. Some people told WCNC Charlotte they felt Palillo's comments came off as disrespectful and condescending.
WCNC Charlotte asked him about that.
"At a certain period of time, after three hours of being attacked, did you see anyone say, 'Great project, Jake?'" Palillo said. “There’s an overwhelming amount of people that loved this project. I could have given them gold bars and they would have walked out with the same thing.”
On June 5, the town of Huntersville will hold a public forum about the rezoning.
Contact Richard DeVayne at rdevayne@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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