[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6466132,"mediaKeyId","5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2","parentId",5825716,"title","Commissioners debate Southpointe Park parking fees and county permitting fees; motion to add specific parking-item to agenda fails","audioSeconds",608,"startMs",4826000,"endMs",5434000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2&start=4826&end=5434","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2/thumbnail_4826000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466132/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-debate-Southpointe-Park-parking-fees-and-county-permitting-fees-motion-to-add-specific-parking-item-to-agenda-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466132-8a5e548d4f969c77aa42c1b1748e54c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166269&Signature=Cyjb1kjEVhD5SGRALTs4rRMmm3Psgq6BKLgGFN4C0GQrmwHZ70qMLnUWobziCWje9uCAw72VHyqDuC-EG3EDnQ0tSzL-LRGgg4tgA50wtT06Jkvsc9zMK1XHe0aFmFkOmqnIGcp7yUzYa4lrYiDMHW4ravz95m3OeYqVHCMLu2XIjG0hmkNNhdZEH3BI3sC~n5phOBG50lL6kFLdVyMX9Mhw70s-ZtQe~CM0yBu2-pmnX6BnSgYfeO3pMWp8CH6EtVzgiUgjeEkPYCguptEH5OFolBk1hKGFIBCs6536rdJj6xVc3r8B1qHavfqhNrhcEM8v1uYZEYpNffelRbjf0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gaston County, NC","date","2025-09-24T17:00:44.15Z","article","Board members spent an extended portion of the meeting debating user fees for Southpointe Park and the county’s building and development fee schedule.

Commissioner Richard Bailey asked the board to consider eliminating the $7 daily vehicle access fee for Gaston County residents at the Southpointe Park access point, arguing that no other county parks charge parking fees and that the fee could depress use by local taxpayers. Bailey said shelter rentals and overnight RV fees were more logical revenue sources than day parking fees and suggested trialing reduced fee levels.

Parks and recreation staff and the county manager urged patience. The county’s parks director, Michael, said the access fee program had only been in effect two months and that the parks staff had not yet collected enough data to judge sufficiency; he reported roughly $8,300 in vehicle access user fees for July (about $6,200) and August (about $2,100) since the policy began on July 1. The county manager said fee revenues were intended in part to help fund new park-maintenance positions and to reduce property-tax subsidies for park operations.

Commissioner Alan Fraley and Commissioner Bob Hoges said the park is a unique amenity with higher maintenance needs and potential overnight rental plans; they opposed immediately rescinding the access fee without more operational data. Fraley said the county’s fee structure was new and that staff needed a full year of data to evaluate changes.

Bailey sought unanimous consent to add a separate agenda item to revisit Southpointe Park access fees and consider amending the fee schedule specifically for parks. The board voted on whether to add the discussion item to the meeting agenda; the motion to add the item failed on a 6–1 vote to add (meaning the board did not reach unanimous consent to add it to that meeting). The larger motion to amend the building and development fee schedule then proceeded; after discussion the board recorded a 5–2 tally on the fee-schedule amendment (vote recorded in meeting transcript). Commissioners asked staff to return with a fuller analysis of costs, revenue and recommended fee levels at a future work session.

Commissioners also discussed courthouse parking fees in a separate pass: the board asked staff to prepare an analysis of reinstating or revising parking fees at the courthouse and to return that analysis at a work session.

The park-fee discussion included concerns about public safety and maintenance: some commissioners said open no-fee access could increase vagrancy and policing needs, while others argued fees may deter county residents. Several board members emphasized that the parks program has only recently implemented the fee structure and that staff should be given time to present a full-year set of data and operational recommendations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gaston County Board of Commissioners September 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners debated Southpointe Park vehicle-access fees and a proposed change to the county building-and-development fee schedule at the September meeting, with a motion to place a Southpointe-specific item on the agenda failing and staff directed to present a fuller analysis later.","taxTitle","Gaston County, North Carolina","taxId",4853,"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},6466128,"Votes at a glance: Gaston County actions on economic incentives, transportation grant, pump station transfer, appointments and tourism funding",340,3570000,3910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2&start=3570&end=3910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2/thumbnail_3570000.jpg","/articles/6466128/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Gaston-County-actions-on-economic-incentives-transportation-grant-pump-station-transfer-appointments-and-tourism-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466128-64f63e127e6567dcaf02d7c224f5379f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166269&Signature=QL8jJgJrWtn1BUthM81GFRHDWKnBmMYKrKrBKETNjJT7G01jlFEWjBrzDFWpWITtV918IooAbcJynWhIoj8Z5Ux5ukxhRuucORaNVF2wQ62msDYZo62dxeMdIb91m7XPS6QbbeYTlH7c3brCDxxAgFV-K9jCmk9ZRqV26godFjaH8r~7oM2m1HYARXTcTcWMZjGwZq7GpkCDZ30LPPcXYJ7lXRNsWmEI8mxc8gTj8fJbJNvKW4KqVUd3rm9fHAFM~sO0p8A2TTJY0Z9efv6Uzlm9jsess0KbPekDAK549EzhKr6HIiVsL7Oag0VtbdO3IjUefK1P6qGk3JUPoZl6SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gaston County Board of Commissioners took multiple formal actions at its September meeting. The board voted on economic development agreements, a transportation grant application, a pump-station site transfer, tourism funding for a shade structure at Fraley Field in Cherryville, and a set of appointments. The key outcomes are summarized below.

Edgewood Industrial incentive amendment: The county’s economic development staff requested an amendment to a 2022 incentive package with Edgewood Industrial Phase 1 Owner LP (Trinity Capital Partners). Lisa Summey, assistant director of the Economic Development Commission, said the developer is reconfiguring the project from a two-phase plan to a single phase of roughly 500,000 square feet and a projected investment of about $60 million. The board voted unanimously to amend the agreement to allow a Level 4 incentive (a 10-year grant) and to extend performance deadlines so the developer has additional time to complete the project.

Project C and C (level-1 incentive): The board approved a level-1 incentive grant for Project C and C, a local company proposing more than $4 million in machinery and equipment investment to support retained jobs. Assistant director Lisa Summey said the level-1 program is a five-year tax reimbursement that begins at 90 percent and declines to 50 percent by year five. The board’s vote on the Project C and C economic development agreement was unanimous.

NCDOT PTD FY27 community transportation grant: Michael (assistant director of social services) presented a grant application for the NCDOT Public Transportation Division’s FY27 community transportation program. The county will apply for $235,261 in grant funds with a required local match of 15 percent ($35,290). The grant would fund administrative salaries, training, travel and scheduling software for the Access program, which provided roughly 30,429 trips in FY25. The board approved the application and authorized required assurances and the local match; the vote was unanimous.

Pump station/site transfer (AC item): The board approved the recommended site and associated agreements for a sanitary sewer pump station that will be transferred to the Town of Dallas for ownership and ongoing maintenance. County representatives said they will use decorative fencing and plantings to screen the station from the adjacent homeowner’s view. The board approved the project unanimously.

Fraley Field shade structure (tourism funding): Tourism staff described two regional American Legion tournaments hosted in Cherryville and the economic benefit from “heads and beds” (hotel-night spending). The tourism advisory board recommended using tourism fund balance to support a shade structure at Fraley Field to continue attracting regional and state tournaments. Commissioners approved the recommendation unanimously.

Appointments and miscellaneous: The board confirmed a series of appointments to county advisory boards and commissions and reappointments; motions and votes on appointments were recorded as unanimous in the meeting transcript.

Votes and next steps: For adopted EDAs the county manager and chair are authorized to execute documents implementing the board’s approvals, subject to final attorney review. For the transportation grant, the county will proceed with the application steps and, if awarded, accept the grant with the required local match. Staff will return to the board with any required contract documents, RFPs or procurement actions for construction and project implementation.","The Gaston County Board of Commissioners approved amendments to an industrial incentive agreement, a local machinery tax-grant for a county company, a state community-transportation grant application, a sanitary pump-station site transfer, and tourism funding for a shade structure during the September meeting.",{"_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},6466137,"Gaston County commissioners approve two residential rezoning requests after public hearings",1123,1614000,2737000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2&start=1614&end=2737","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2/thumbnail_1614000.jpg","/articles/6466137/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Gaston-County-commissioners-approve-two-residential-rezoning-requests-after-public-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466137-23e94f837f8165108aa4fc76321bd225/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166269&Signature=PguGJn8g9C5A5X0psvpy9m3bL3MzN6RaXYnTJm09ZKpiQehmyM6Wblj~VUw5gZgISiu2fDnYFuAZdylaUeoKPHKr~qnXkVXt485d~Hn5kSfnm74P-alWtMX6nNzPf-oT-RTkQbQ5ScqTEXuG7IHOx03g17J9q1Z6SiywLEu772LxCbK2cledqVQH8Ig-65pNrlbgkoJZhTRz08B3TFYteGMrB2u6LKwPLxj0emaZDEyGFiSbBrzEp86KpfgHvKMKFdPCGSzWNSrcBXndOLnuzcr9ZfGbM0R95psLZ41CHjd-n3UYEXUZOVdKK7F1oJ6u-ATwk8ad7RfpfjlbrLKvdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gaston County Board of Commissioners voted to approve two separate zoning map change requests following public hearings at its September meeting.

For REZ25-03-25-00223, applicant Mackenzie Myers sought to rezone a 4.06-acre parcel at 220 F L Myers Road from R-1 (single-family limited) with a US overlay to R-2 (single-family moderate) with the US overlay. Planner Jamie Lizzie said staff noted two manufactured homes on the lot and that the applicant has contracted for removal of the original home; staff recommended approval and told the board that the planning and zoning board had unanimously recommended approval 7–0. Commissioner Tom Keiger moved to accept the planning board’s recommendation; Commissioner Bob Hovis seconded. The board recorded a vote of 5–2 to approve the rezoning.

Several residents spoke during the later rezoning, REZ25-04-01-00225, which involved a parcel at 130 Georgia Bell Avenue in the Belmont area. Planning staff Payton Wiggins said the property had been released from Belmont’s extraterritorial jurisdiction in 2024–25 and that staff supported rezoning from the county default R-1 district to RS-20 (single-family 20,000 sq. ft.) to better match surrounding lot sizes. The planning and zoning board recommended approval 8–0.

Marco Swalborn, an adjacent property owner, told the board he was concerned about traffic and lot sizes; he said Peach Orchard Road has frequent accidents and that smaller lots could reduce nearby property values. William Somerville, a resident across the street, asked whether “single-family” could permit attached townhomes; staff clarified that the RS-20 district would not allow townhomes by right and that duplexes would require larger minimum lot sizes under county rules.

Laura Hamilton, owner of Land Use Consulting LLC and representing the applicants, told the board the property owners intend to subdivide the parcel into two lots initially and wanted RS-20 to preserve future options. Wiggins and Hamilton said, depending on health-department approvals for wells and septic systems, RS-20 could yield up to three or four lots at most.

Commissioner Scott Sheehan asked whether applicants had firm plans for the number of future lots; staff said the applicants presently intend to subdivide into two lots and wish to retain flexibility for later subdivision. The board voted 6–1 to approve the RS-20 rezoning.

Both approvals carry the conditions and standards of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance; staff said no permits would be issued for new construction on the REZ223 parcel until confirmation that the older manufactured home had been removed.

The board also received staff reports that there are no funded nearby NCDOT transportation projects affecting either site, that both parcels will be served by wells and septic systems, and that the rezoning decisions are consistent with applicable small-area and comprehensive-plan designations.

The planning department record and the planning board recommendations were entered into the meeting record during the hearings.","The board approved two zoning map changes — one rezoning a 4.06-acre parcel in the Ramlo/Dallas area and another to apply RS-20 zoning to a Belmont-area parcel — after staff presentations, public comments and planning-board recommendations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466142,"Gaston County orders demolition of unsafe house at 3014 Birchfield Lane after inspectors document more than 30 code violations",543,2807000,3350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2&start=2807&end=3350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825716-c996b82ca7f9996f61b6a79dca4471e2/thumbnail_2807000.jpg","/articles/6466142/Gaston-County/North-Carolina/Gaston-County-orders-demolition-of-unsafe-house-at-3014-Birchfield-Lane-after-inspectors-document-more-than-30-code-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466142-7415164646b63590e7781753ad35c9b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166269&Signature=Jt4GGPap6XyTokdQL4dKlPMzWGeFwLTMbzpNIp6apGQbIgNhHVLoX3lEizUtD36TZAp25KyXrK~9IHSIsidWM94Xs78bD-GuhgPGjpDAlPj~pvyyFSvbiLK5PqNO54QOg~7xZgtoChDES1kdM5U5bTDNBtyoqA81so1LAI8TJH1eGGnRlNCYnyCBdm6rQRqAsrb6g4QFytpofoFFIEcqsDmkRrgjK2zOXrLGZDiYNisSzCB~-PkxUZe54s4AmUed-Lt~RM4fxTOuqTViVV9ZuIKiIFf0uAw~OIG3hQY4on9vzmneylRSwfJmDS1WogAONkmmGeExrhEboPDx70o7YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gaston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance on the evening of the board’s September regular meeting authorizing county staff to abate and demolish structures at 3014 Birchfield Lane in Gastonia after an administrative hearing found the property unfit for human habitation.

The county’s planning and zoning director, Jana Kemberlou, told the board staff found “over 30 minimum housing violations” at the property and that code enforcement had conducted multiple inspections. Kemberlou said staff attempted repeated outreach, that the homeowners did not attend the administrative hearing, and that the final date to appeal the hearing order had passed.

“The administrative hearing details were sent to the property owners; however, no one attended on their behalf,” Kemberlou said. She told the board staff estimated more than $47,000 in repairs would be required to bring the structures into code compliance and that, under the county ordinance, a structure is considered dilapidated when repair costs exceed 50 percent of the tax value.

Kemberlou said staff documented repeated problems at the site, including exposed wiring, removed interior walls, lack of functioning water, missing light fixtures and piles of debris dumped behind the house. She said county staff recorded more than 50 photographs during a July inspection and that neighbors have repeatedly complained to county departments and law enforcement.

“Since February 2023 our department has processed six code enforcement cases on this property and completed more than 27 inspections,” Kemberlou said, adding that the county had paid more than $33,500 last summer to clean up the site during prior enforcement work.

Commissioners asked whether the structures were occupied; Kemberlou said the granddaughter had moved out and the grandson had been removed from the home, and there were no legal residents currently living at the address. Commissioners also asked about the presence of a detached outbuilding; Kemberlou said the site includes a detached garage or storage structure in addition to the primary dwelling.

A county official moved to accept the violation order and the board then voted to adopt the ordinance permitting demolition and abatement. The board instructed staff that any costs incurred to abate the property would be placed as a lien against the parcel and collected as provided by county policy.

Several commissioners and members of the public discussed how the county would carry out demolition work. One attendee suggested the structure could be used for controlled fire-department training; county staff and other commissioners said modern rules and structural instability make that unlikely and that the county’s landfill contractor would likely remove the materials. Kemberlou said the county intends to publish a formal request for proposals for abatement work in accordance with procurement rules.

The ordinance applies only to this parcel and follows the county’s minimum-housing enforcement process: inspection, notice, an administrative hearing and, if the property is not brought into compliance, a board-adopted ordinance authorizing county abatement. Kemberlou told the board staff performed an inspection the day of the meeting and noted no changes since the previous inspection.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the demolition ordinance; the county will place any abatement costs as a lien on the property and proceed with a competitive contracting process for demolition work.

The county’s administrative record for the case, including the inspection report and photographic evidence, is in the staff packet for this meeting and was entered into the record during the public hearing.

For residents, the county emphasized that abatement orders are an enforcement tool after attempts to secure voluntary compliance; staff said they prefer to avoid displacing residents but that the code’s remedial process sometimes results in demolition when repair is impracticable.","After inspections found more than 30 minimum-housing violations and no successful appeals, the Gaston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance allowing the county to abate, vacate and demolish the dwelling at 3014 Birchfield Lane in Gastonia.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners debate Southpointe Park parking fees and county permitting fees; motion to add specific parking-item to agenda fails

Votes at a glance: Gaston County actions on economic incentives, transportation grant, pump station transfer, appointments and tourism funding

Gaston County commissioners approve two residential rezoning requests after public hearings

Gaston County orders demolition of unsafe house at 3014 Birchfield Lane after inspectors document more than 30 code violations