[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6190004,"mediaKeyId","5053160-d627dc012255c3c31112acb81f498ada","parentId",5053160,"title","Mount Holly planners review strategic vision plan progress and implementation priorities","audioSeconds",572,"startMs",241000,"endMs",813000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5053160-d627dc012255c3c31112acb81f498ada&start=241&end=813","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5053160-d627dc012255c3c31112acb81f498ada/thumbnail_241000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6190004/Mount-Holly-City/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Mount-Holly-planners-review-strategic-vision-plan-progress-and-implementation-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190004-4435559194b370f7885d4f79bb077f84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008820&Signature=HFqY~FhTsVsB5yjEt51-r5SpDSDJr1I9brwELCd5x4UDHfiWXmNDAz76vObE40fCrN5GtaXCa8~p-2St94GnNyQP3E0ZYaWUS2I2ekHKjVwcK2g87pXeMfxV4lDteTyBjtSqKDL~Myk~mC0t1xakSYlLLgHriWBkb7rv2bylQGeA1keztlSe-U~1sR6Q4BzTIqIL1~cbwimh01u3pi5nPTMxBmZ2ksBspP~sOIATs-3qipL35mnUuemHgNFMvBmVRomoLNcoz8VqI6KIE1-agqpFFkMRciGozubHMjcvGo9ATEplKZ91aCLoj5LA4~i06En4rj2DKkdtGZH2uH5TfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mount Holly, NC","date","2025-06-24T11:28:04Z","article","Planning Director Greg Beal presented an update on the city’s strategic vision plan and implementation records, including completed projects, items in progress and next steps for documenting long‑term milestones, Beal said.

Beal told the council the original community visioning process dates to 2003 and that the city has used the plan to secure grant funds and guide investments; he reviewed past consultants and credited the plan for enabling $2.4 million in direct and indirect grant funding for greenways and conservation projects.

Beal said the earlier plan included 61 goals, of which he reported 49 were accomplished, 10 were in progress and 2 were not completed. He said that a later implementation chapter contains 111 goals and that staff categorized 44 as completed, 16 in progress and 51 remaining. Beal described pivoting of some large‑scale suggestions to more practical projects—citing Tuckasee Park expansion, the dog park and skate park as outcomes—and encouraged council direction on publicly documenting milestones in the city’s ArcGIS hub.

Council members asked about community engagement and the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Councilman Meadows asked how many years were lost to COVID; Beal estimated about two years affected project advancement. Beal and City Manager Blanton both described the plan as a living document and said the city’s comprehensive land use plan (required by state law) and the vision plan together give policy guidance for staff.

Beal outlined the public involvement process for the 2017 update, naming Arnett Muldrow and Associates as the consultant that began work in mid‑2017 with months of background research and multiple public meetings and surveys in October 2017. Beal said the effort included “multiple hundreds of touch points” with downtown and business owners, nonprofit stakeholders and residents.

Beal also demonstrated the strategic plan materials on the city’s online GIS hub, which Planning Department staffer Beth Ann Weinbarger maintains, and noted the hub includes mapping on public art, flood risk and Brownfield redevelopment story maps. Beal asked for council feedback on how staff should package and publish a consolidated list of milestones and policy decisions for public consumption.

City Manager Blanton and council members praised staff work. Blanton and others emphasized the plan’s role in providing a roadmap for city managers and in attracting public‑private partnerships. No formal council action was taken on the presentation, which staff framed as an informational item and a request for council direction about documentation and public dissemination.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session 06-23-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning Director Greg Beal updated the council on the city’s strategic vision plan, summarizing past accomplishments, outstanding goals and the city’s online ArcGIS hub for tracking implementation; councilmembers and the city manager discussed timelines and community engagement impacts from COVID.","taxTitle","Mount Holly City, Gaston County, North Carolina","taxId",52283,"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},6190009,"Mount Holly council directs negotiation with RTR Property Management for 131 South Main",1125,1074000,2199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5053160-d627dc012255c3c31112acb81f498ada&start=1074&end=2199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5053160-d627dc012255c3c31112acb81f498ada/thumbnail_1074000.jpg","/articles/6190009/Mount-Holly-City/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Mount-Holly-council-directs-negotiation-with-RTR-Property-Management-for-131-South-Main","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190009-4745513847c61c335590db1464b6036d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008820&Signature=HGFLvaUxL2wvdzcjEEnwg~4e7~4knEihsS0lNSImzvE7peTQsHizTavldhHXsCJJV0jgWzxxgp~fPHSSkWDHlYDFA-SbicZXbGFWLW-K2SK-rFWoqP2JFsfcLLEBJrqpLjwd2MwWMb5SmHi9O4OXVAOgx6i814WWPlp-2ydhfc9GvzoPqOSrfxxfJGFWeTjXg~A-07x8ZYynURJe2AUhhKgsH63HNB3Q677eZGVFz~vstP9avufD2z7K7mXmxDt5zHFRViX3wtLiZVmEJS4jyZCY6huMRgMjFGYVWE5sbgrFR1TLdLaJmfDA3CgXS1XriD~r-7V7mLE1FmUoyrir~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Holly City Council voted to direct staff to negotiate a development agreement with RTR Property Management for 131 South Main Street after a staff review committee rated RTR highest among three proposals, City Manager Blanton said.

The decision follows a months‑long process under N.C. law involving an earlier upset‑bid sequence and a later request for proposals (RFP). Blanton told the council the RFP process was intended to give the city flexibility to evaluate proposals based on factors beyond price, including alignment with long‑term planning goals and job creation.

The motion to authorize negotiations was made by Councilman Meadows and seconded by Councilman Huff. The vote was 3 in favor, 2 opposed; Meadows, Councilman Craig and Huff voted yes, Councilwoman Harris and Councilman Reeves voted no.

Blanton summarized the RFP record: the city initially declined to sell the property under the upset‑bid process governed by North Carolina General Statute 160A‑279, accepted a bid of $762,500 from a Charlotte group (referred to in staff materials as the Muni/Scott Abrams offer), then received an upset bid from the Mount Holly Historical Society for $815,000. After rejecting those offers, the council designated the property for negotiated sale under N.C. Gen. Stat. 158‑7‑1 and issued an RFP that closed May 29; the city received three proposals in the RFP window.

The three proposals and the amounts disclosed by staff were:
- The Muni (Scott Abrams): $762,500; proposed coworking, studios, event and maker space.
- J and M Holdings (Mr. Vargas): $500,000; proposed mixed use with retail and professional offices.
- RTR Property Management (Billy Rick): $600,000; proposed mixed use with an anchor restaurant, residential units on the top floor and office/tenant space.

A staff review committee that included Assistant City Manager Brian DuPont, Planning Director Greg Beal, City Engineer John Ford and Economic Development Director Matt Black evaluated proposals on experience, downtown vision alignment, development approach and financial readiness. Blanton said RTR scored highest on a weighted system, citing its local track record, a planned mixed‑use program that staff estimated would create as many as about 70 jobs and a proposed investment of approximately $2.5 million to renovate the building.

Councilman Meadows objected to moving forward because the earlier upset bid left the city with a higher one‑time cash offer of $815,000. He raised taxpayer concerns and presented staff figures estimating roughly $3,250 in annual property tax revenue if the building had remained on the tax rolls, saying taking the $815,000 would have represented many years of tax revenue upfront.

Councilwoman Harris also questioned the scoring/point system and said the city had turned down “a lot of money.” Supporters of the staff recommendation, including Meadows (who also spoke in favor) and Councilman Craig, emphasized RTR’s local investments downtown, the projected increase in weekly activity downtown and the proposal’s longer‑term economic benefits, which Blanton and Meadows described as a combination of property tax, sales tax and ABC (alcohol beverage tax) revenue.

Blanton noted the RFP process also considered the city’s goal of preserving the building’s historic and architectural integrity. He reminded council that the city has been relocating the Mount Holly museum from 131 South Main to the municipal complex: design work by Creech and Associates was approved for $68,000; initial demolition by MC Moore was authorized at $94,449; and a later construction contract with Pinnocks was described in staff remarks as about $684,000, with Blanton stating the combined MC Moore and Pinnocks total at $786,834 and an expected upfitting completion date of Sept. 30, 2025.

Blanton said if negotiations with RTR fail the city attorney would return to council for direction on whether to pursue one of the other proposals.

The council’s motion directs staff and the city attorney to begin negotiation of a development agreement with RTR Property Management; it does not finalize a sale. Blanton said a negotiated agreement would be followed by a public hearing and, if agreed, execution of a purchase and sale agreement.","After reviewing three proposals for 131 South Main Street, the Mount Holly City Council voted to direct staff to negotiate terms with RTR Property Management, citing local reinvestment, mixed-use plans and preservation commitments despite objections about lost upfront proceeds from a prior upset bid.","actionData","errors"]

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Mount Holly planners review strategic vision plan progress and implementation priorities

Mount Holly council directs negotiation with RTR Property Management for 131 South Main