BC 2005 05 23 REGULAR - Laserfiche WebLink

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M~y 23, 2005 - Regular Meeting Page 191 Gary Embler, Vice President of the Cabarrus County Building Industry Association, asked Board Members to delay voting on the proposed map amendment to allow the second draft of the development standards to be completed. He said the proposed zoning map and standards need to coexist in harmony and that some conflicting information had been found. Further, Mr. Embler reported the denial of subdivisions and/or a reduction in density prevents the installation of much needed road improvements provided by developers. He asked Board Members to consider a more market driven and common sense approach for densities that will agree with the design standards, improve roads and not exhaust a vital industry of the local and regional economy. Ken Lingafelt, owner of the pine Creek Development in Kannapolis, commented on the success of that development which consists of lots of one to four acres. He stated he was in favor of tabling the proposed map amendment until a later date and that staff was capable of producing a better plan than the consultant. As a builder of high-end custom homes on large tracts for executives, he said the workers of Cabarrus County also need a place to live. Tommy Porter, a resident of the Eastern area of Cabarrus county, stated density has caused the overcrowding of schools and roads and has not helped the County's tax base. He said the taxpaying citizens have clearly spoken during the Designing Cabarrus process. Mr. Porter speculated that potential homebuyers would pay a premium fOr a three-acre tract if they knew it was going to stay that way. As a member of the Designing Cabarrus Steering Committee, he asked the Board to stick with the map that the citizens chose and not allow increased density. Steve Blackwelder of Roberta Road stated he was speaking on behalf of his 83-year-old mother who owns approximately 105 acres that he and his three siblings will inherit upon her death. He reported his family has been working on a development plan for over a year and reducing the density from four units per acre to three units will cut the profit by as much as 25 percent. Joe Shambo, property owner on Flowes Store Road, stated he has been working on a development plan for 10 years to build a subdivision at the confluence of Rocky River and Reedy Creek. He stated a vested rights petition was submitted but was not processed for lack of a development map that could not be produced until Concord issued a water and sewer approval letter, which he now has. He said he was comfortable with the old Countryside Residential zoning district with 1. 5 units per acre and asked that it be preserved or at least preserve the LowOensity Residential zoning. Cindy Goodman, a resident of the Odell Community, stated she was not against growth but supported managed sustainable growth that is in keeping with the current look and feel of her community. She asked the Board to create guidelines for northwest Cabarrus County and to mandate a minimum one acre lot size. Richard Simone, a resident of the Odell Community, stated the Board has the perfect opportunity to create a show place in northwest Cabarrus County. He reported his 5,800 square foot home on an acre lot is worth more in taxes than five houses on an acre. He said there are people willing to pay up towards $800,000.00 to live on one and two-acre lots and cited the Hamilton Crest subdivision as an example. Landa Rader of Concord asked the Board to keep in mind that if the County is not growing, it is dying. David Maness of the Odell Community expressed his support for one acre lots and stated the need to preserve the people's right to have a little room around them. He also expressed appreciation for the process. Danny Bost of Concord cautioned there would be a reduction of the County's tax base as a result of the proposed zoning map amendment. He stated the tax rate will go up to make up tax revenue lost from land values. John Farrah, a resident of the Odell Community, expressed his support for one unit per acre. william Niblock asked for clarification concerning the lot size of the AO and CR zoning districts on the proposed zoning map. Mr. Lentz addressed the issues of lot size and density in the AO and CR zoning districts. He explained the two development tiers (conventional and