Davidson seeks meeting to get answers about delays in Cornelius project entrance
Posted by David Boraks on December 19, 2006
Town manager Leamon Brice has requested a meeting with Cornelius officials and developer Venture Properties to discuss the apparent “lack of progress” on building a main southern entrance to the 1,000-unit Antiquity Cornelius project.
Antiquity Cornelius will open into Davidson via a covered bridge and new road connection under construction at the end of South Street.
A 2004 legal agreement between Davidson and Cornelius requires a usable Cornelius entrance before Davidson will allow South Street to open. But deadlines in that agreement have come and gone without any sign of progress. (Read the agreement, CLICK HERE>)
The developer, Venture Properties, has blamed delays on problems with Norfolk Southern, which controls the railroad tracks between the development and Catawba Ave./Hwy. 115 in Cornelius; and on businesses that would be affected by a new railroad crossing, among others.
In an email response to questions on Tuesday, Brice said: “We are concerned about what we think is lack of progress on the Catawba connection. For months we have heard that plans have been sent to Norfolk Southern but no response has been received. We also heard there was a hold up on the west side of 115 with planned improvements.”
“The agreement allows for delay if an authority does not give timely approval,” Brice wrote.
Brice said he has asked Cornelius manager Anthony Roberts to schedule a meeting with Venture Properties to “to review the entire project.”
“My goal in the meeting is to determine exactly what has been submitted to Norfolk Southern, when it was submitted, what follow up has occurred and what the schedule is for approval and construction,” Brice wrote in the e-mail.
New questions about the status of the road connections arose this week after Davidson planning director Kris Krider said in his monthly report that Davidson and Cornelius will have to renegotiate their interlocal agreement to allow South Street to be opened.
Here’s what Krider’s report says:
- SOUTH STREET CONNECTION: No activity in Davidson. Work on covered bridge continues in Cornelius, no estimate for completion. Two houses are now under construction. Original agreement with Town of Cornelius for Catawba Street extension expires at the end of December. Developer has made good faith effort with permitting agencies NCDOT and Norfolk Southern railroad with little success. Davidson and Cornelius will need to amend agreement in order for connection to South Street to open.
Residents of South and Walnut streets near the proposed street opening have asked Davidson to consider additional traffic calming measures to handle the anticipated increase in traffic once the road opens. The neighborhood includes two public schools, youth sports fields, churches and dozens of homes.
Krider’s monthly report also says there is nothing currently happening on the topic of traffic calming, something that we’ve been watching closesly in the South and Walnut neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Krider also mentions the ongoing problems with construction traffic into the Walnut Grove development, off Walnut Street.
Read the full text of Krider’s monthly report. CLICK HERE>
LINKS: Antiquity Cornelius marketing Webpage by Meeting Street Homes. CLICK HERE>
Home Page of Cunnane Group, which also is supposed to be building homes in Antiquity Cornelius. CLICK HERE>
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Town planner gives project updates « The Davidson News said
[...] An item suggesting that Davidson might amend its interlocal agreement with Cornelius to allow South Street to open into the Antiquity Cornelius development. This news comes although no progress appears to have been made on the required entrance at the southern end of the project. (See Village Infill Planning Area section of the report below). Town Manager Leamon Brice says the town is concerned about the lack of progress on the Cornelius side. (Details on our SouthandWalnut page.) [...]