WAXHAW, N.C. — Town leaders are already seeing a lot of growth in Waxhaw, North Carolina, but are at odds about how to handle it.
The current board of commissioners passed the 2040 Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday night.
It’s a policy document that will serve as a guide for decisions regarding land use, transportation, capital improvements and public programs.
The plan’s discussion comes on the heels of the election of Waxhaw’s new mayor Robert Murray, who said new developments in town have gotten out of hand.
"The apartment buildings and townhouses and mixed-use right by the downtown, which is an area that’s already stricken with excessive amounts of traffic," Murray said. "I think it’s that frustration that really drove our victory."
He said the town’s current leadership hasn’t been prioritizing existing residents when it comes to making plans for rapid growth.
"We definitely were effective in our messaging of hope and change to maybe tap the brakes on development and growth and ensure that we have a more stable plan for growth," Murray said.
With Waxhaw’s current mayor Ron Pappas on his way out, the 2040 plan is likely to be the subject of more debate about how the town addresses the growing population.
Pappas told WCNC Charlotte the 2040 plan simply updates and amends existing documents that have been guiding Waxhaw's growth for decades. The plan's top priorities include improving traffic flow, maintaining downtown’s charm, and increasing business opportunities.
"If we have some improvements or recommendations for street improvements or infrastructure improvements, then we can apply those conditions to any new project that would come in," Pappas said.
The board also unanimously approved a new neighborhood to be built on Providence Road during the meeting.
The Adelina project will take over nearly 230 acres of land along Providence Road and build 482 houses and commercial space.
Several members of the public spoke against the project and any future development in Waxhaw, citing traffic issues.
Pappas explained rezoning petitions allow the town to set conditions on developments that benefit the community, which otherwise wouldn't have been added if the developers built by right.
"It is to our benefit to let that come in and make sure that we get control and manage growth and we get improvements we need as a town because otherwise we just get what somebody else gives us," Pappas said.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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