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HARRISBURG AREA PLAN - BACKGROUND Previous Planning Prior to this planning effort two separate land use documents were adopted. In. 1985, the Town of Harrisburg adopted its first land use plan and in 1991 Cabarrus County adopted the Harrisburg Area Land Use Plan. The first document focused on the Town and its ETJ and the second focused on the unincorporated areas outside the Town and its ETJ. This plan is intended to replace these previous documents. Setting The Harrisburg planning area lies in the southwest portion of Caharros County, North Carolina (Map 1). The Town of Harrisburg is located approximately ten miles northeast of the center of Charlotte and eight miles southwest of downtown Concord. Of the five incorporated towns in Cabarrus County (the other three being Kannapolis, Concord , Midland, and Mount Pleasant), Harrisburg is the third smallest in population. Although by most indices, Harrisburg is considered to be a small town, the Town and the unincorporated area surrounding it are growing rapidly. Unlike the three other municipalities in the County, Harrisburg has many characteristics of a suburban town. Harrisburg lies adjacent to Mecklenburg County and lies only minutes away from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University Memorial Hospital and the University Research Park, all located in the fast-growing northeast comer of Mecklenburg County. The Town, which incorporated in 1974, is one of three towns (the other two being Mint Hill and Weddington) which lie in close proximity to Charlotte and have incorporated since 1970. Aside from its nearness to the northeast comer of Mecklenburg County, motorists have a quick and convenient drive from Harrisburg to downtown Charlotte and Interstates 85 and 77. Highway 49 has been improved to a four-lane highway from the Town to UNCC (where it is currently four lanes), and it provides easy access to 1-85 and US Highway 29. In addition, Highway 29 can be reached by going north of Harrisburg for 2 1/2 miles along Morehead Road. A segment of the Eastem Outerbelt (1-485) in Mecklenburg County recently opened and connects Highway 49 north to Highway 29 and 1-85. The next section, currently under construction, will nm south from Highway 49 to Highway 74 in Matthews. Highway 49 is the Town's primary traffic carrier and the only road which crosses the entire Town east to west. Two major north-south traffic arteries in the Town are Morehead Road and Roberta Road which provide access to US Highway 29 and Concord to the north and east. Morehead Road also provides access to the Charlotte Motor Speedway which is located at the intersection of US Highway 29. Hicko!y Ridge and Robinson Church Roads extend south from Harrisburg and provide access to the eastem portions of Mecklenburg County including the Town of Mint Hill and the Albemarle Road area of Charlotte. Highway 24/27 nms east to west in the southern portion of the planning area and provides access between Charlotte to the west and Stanly County to the east. Highway 24/27 will also include an interchange on 1485 a few miles west into Mecklenburg County, near the Town of Mint Hill. As will be discussed later in this document, Harrisburg's accessibility and proximity to Charlotte have helped spur residential and industrial growth. A number of industries located in the Town include Builders First Source, Galvan Industries, Morton Custom Plastics, Southeastern Packaging, as well as several other small industries. Another factor which has helped strengthen the Harrisburg economy and attract industry is the presence of the Norfolk Southern Railway. Harrisburg lies on one of the Southeast's busiest freight rail corridors.