[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6119493,"mediaKeyId","2711751-accb4bd49be9967be73310a94f02fb95","parentId",2711751,"title","Council rezones Ninth Avenue parcel to Office-Institutional for proposed medical office","audioSeconds",448,"startMs",1168460,"endMs",1617270,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711751-accb4bd49be9967be73310a94f02fb95&start=1168&end=1617","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711751-accb4bd49be9967be73310a94f02fb95/thumbnail_1168460.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6119493/Hickory-City/Catawba-County/North-Carolina/Council-rezones-Ninth-Avenue-parcel-to-Office-Institutional-for-proposed-medical-office","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119493-a5b93e5616bc36c912415f856e4f9060/orig.mp4?Expires=1773352898&Signature=DeKUKg75Ks30VaHwr2spKZznAIyJW35i4prCnO7KO3u4cgpzmmuB3kpaZeOzO1h2n4XfG20lgjSNDDJdi1zRtyvTodP5f54sS7D1L9WaqpQ791wFo1q401CQkEZMDldFKOQGSdTH2r5HWa8nv2NU0kp7GBbSJQ0WKJW2UrnpoIm4BAODO1fMh0jN8z1hJtqyLVk8578xoI2lep0wWKh62DxlUc-uagbowty54PoCwbPWofzG11XhdnETsor8Mr2S5KyMHyX9x~36NUhG0Sc5-zSjbEOkZIOiBp98s8v8JI~rizS7enuw5gntrDSTws2MiB6bLG-XhBP5wE8glk-hhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Hickory, NC","date","2025-03-19T15:23:32Z","article","The Hickory City Council unanimously approved rezoning petition 2501 on March 18 to change the zoning of a parcel at 20920 Ninth Avenue Northeast from R-2 residential to Office-Institutional (O&I), clearing the way for a proposed medical-office use.

City Planning Director Bridal Frazier said the property is adjacent to existing O&I zoning and that the petition aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan, Hickory by Choice, and the land-development code. Frazier said the planning commission held a public hearing on Feb. 26 and voted unanimously to recommend approval; at that hearing only the owner spoke in favor and no citizens spoke in opposition.

Frazier described the parcel’s context near Bell Hollow Shopping, Publix and other professional offices and said the area has undergone recent commercial and high-density residential development. He told council the parcel is located on a major thoroughfare and “is immediately adjacent to an existing office,” which supported the rezoning to O&I rather than continued residential use.

A council member asked whether stormwater regulations would apply if the property is paved for parking. Frazier replied that because the project appears to be under an acre, “Phase 2 does not apply,” and that staff had not seen definitive plans; he said staff would examine stormwater and parking when specific plans are submitted. Frazier also said the applicant described the intended use as a relatively low-traffic medical office (physical therapy and licensed massage therapy were mentioned) and that planning staff would review access and parking during site plan review and any required DOT access review.

No members of the public spoke at the council hearing on the rezoning. A motion to approve petition 2501 was made, seconded and carried unanimously; the names of the motion maker and seconder and individual roll-call votes were not specified in the meeting record.

Future permitting, stormwater review and access approvals will be handled in subsequent development-review steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hickory City Council Meeting - March 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Hickory City Council unanimously approved rezoning petition 2501 on March 18 to change the zoning of a parcel at 20920 Ninth Avenue NE from R-2 residential to Office-Institutional, a change staff and the planning commission said is consistent with the comprehensive plan.","taxTitle","Hickory City, Catawba County, North Carolina","taxId",3980,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6119495,"Council approves voluntary annexation of 5.35-acre Springs Road parcel for townhome project",497,670625,1168335,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711751-accb4bd49be9967be73310a94f02fb95&start=670&end=1168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711751-accb4bd49be9967be73310a94f02fb95/thumbnail_670625.jpg","/articles/6119495/Hickory-City/Catawba-County/North-Carolina/Council-approves-voluntary-annexation-of-535-acre-Springs-Road-parcel-for-townhome-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119495-36cf6374da50d6870b0184b1e32d086a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773352898&Signature=dGDyOmMMMjdjlYyWkvUHE0G-TIWFrBvE7cAuxscSTx-gMIYf0dRTE-EhwZqDFV5zEpHY4oa7rj9Qf6cz16VinmJ0zrLly3LDakP0qxrHNjbgfx6OtgQsZh4s-WgSj8M3yK2XkicxiKhrXZKy6dkZKf--GGEaaLj5BRsl6DSbL9SswyqnO0VDx8vLL91PGVAfN~qnhjU5UbNwCaICIy-wINNU0~zgsZJzYoFeLdAv2XX0rzrTR2v~artDt3ZSzqN1jbaN8vwZ8zYUl~KU9Br5vZQ3SonYKjert2zcuQ23q~5DLRO5g~OMt3-mTeRoY56h25X-C~~pbnlltDOikdp9gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hickory City Council on March 18 unanimously approved a voluntary noncontiguous annexation of a 5.35-acre parcel at 3390 Springs Road Northeast to allow a townhome development by Legacy Home Builders LLC.

Planning Director Bridal Frazier told council the annexation \"is being sought to gain access to public utilities,\" noting sanitary sewer would be available to the parcel and that water service already exists. Frazier said staff had determined the petition complies with state annexation statutes and recommended approval.

Frazier presented maps showing the property’s context: portions of nearby land are county-zoned, the area includes Neighborhood Commercial (NC), R-3 (medium-to-high density residential), and R-2 (low-to-medium density residential) designations, and the parcel would be noncontiguous to current city limits. Frazier told council that, based on staff review, annexing the property would not reduce public-service levels below acceptable standards.

A council member asked whether an intersection at Cool Park and Springs Road would be used as an entrance and exit to the development; Frazier said that had been discussed with NCDOT but that definitive plans had not been provided to city staff. Council members also asked about buffering requirements; Frazier said buffers between commercial and residential uses can be required (for example, a 10-foot buffer) while no city buffering requirement applied between the street and residential uses unless the developer provided it outside the right of way.

No members of the public spoke in favor of or in opposition to the annexation during the public hearing; the planning commission had also reviewed the petition. Councilmember motioned and seconded approval; the motion carried unanimously. Individual roll-call votes and the names of the motion maker and seconder were not specified in the meeting record.

Staff recommended approval and did not identify required changes to the annexation at the time of the public hearing. Any site-specific plans, access details and DOT encroachment agreements will be reviewed during subsequent permitting and development-review steps.","On March 18 the Hickory City Council voted unanimously to approve a voluntary, noncontiguous annexation of 5.35 acres at 3390 Springs Road NE. Planning staff said the annexation is sought to access public sanitary sewer and that the petition complies with state annexation statutes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6119501,"Windshire Ridge homeowners oppose proposed widening, urge council to seek redesign",232,204680,437390,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711751-accb4bd49be9967be73310a94f02fb95&start=204&end=437","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711751-accb4bd49be9967be73310a94f02fb95/thumbnail_204680.jpg","/articles/6119501/Hickory-City/Catawba-County/North-Carolina/Windshire-Ridge-homeowners-oppose-proposed-widening-urge-council-to-seek-redesign","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119501-7d8016ca8376a22ca57e0a29bb201538/orig.mp4?Expires=1773352898&Signature=dO5Uu~SMTQd23mWFUfenNF1HoZ1~5D1FlfIyjJBlo1-GiMvlM8K4uyT0QCehmv6gohYVXpdraC2SDKvca1eX6j7aHMJUSUshCPAXaEAhMvXEi~nvlXm-W0tSyJ6-ITeIimkJfF7QmzzHJAq3LXotcEw5oljqIumMEwqL9LFcT0CQG8p9muoSv6viUj761VKEaWMwDqQ61H68EH-zedXEpRkPSpejoMup1~O--xuxX-iR4q2g7BdUTSsGnhMH~Cgpcx703D4NhYvCquyfj84xKgqdmlJ-0puV8HM~iwPE9mP5iykg7dtWIDsqHMuk8MYjVd8PBjIty14DdOO6GO9q6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Frances White, speaking for Windshire Ridge homeowners, told the Hickory City Council on March 18 that residents oppose a project the state Department of Transportation describes as a “super street.” White said the work would widen three streets in the Springs Road area and urged council action.

White said he was speaking “on behalf of the 111 homeowners who own properties at Windshire Ridge” and said the project would turn “a peaceful residential, mostly residential neighborhood … into a property that’s dissected by a super highway. Now, the state DOT calls it a super street, but it’s really a super highway.”

White said he and other neighbors had submitted questions to NCDOT and to city staff and had received no responses. He told the council he had filed “23 questions to the DOT” on the project and asked the council to pass a resolution asking that the design be changed to “be more friendly to the people.”

The remarks came during the meeting’s public-comment period; council members did not take formal action on the item during the meeting. Mayor Ghescomb interrupted White when his allotted three minutes had elapsed but allowed him a brief conclusion; White closed by asking the council to “pass a resolution” and to redesign the project.

No other members of the public spoke on the road widening at the hearing. City staff did not present a DOT plan or a staff recommendation during public comment, and no council motion or vote on the project was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The comment provides a record of neighborhood opposition and of unanswered questions to the DOT that could be incorporated into future staff briefings or formal requests to NCDOT. The council did not indicate a timeline for staff follow-up during the meeting.","A Windshire Ridge resident told the Hickory City Council on March 18 that 111 homeowners oppose a North Carolina Department of Transportation plan to widen three streets in the Springs Road area, and asked the council to pass a resolution calling for a redesign.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council rezones Ninth Avenue parcel to Office-Institutional for proposed medical office

Council approves voluntary annexation of 5.35-acre Springs Road parcel for townhome project

Windshire Ridge homeowners oppose proposed widening, urge council to seek redesign