[{"_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",6461561,"mediaKeyId","5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a","parentId",5823937,"title","Council reviews 2006 vs. 2023 downtown plans; residents and staff debate 11-acre land purchase and Chestnut Square Park Phase 2","audioSeconds",2625,"startMs",885000,"endMs",3510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a&start=885&end=3510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a/thumbnail_885000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461561/Indian-Trail/Union-County/North-Carolina/Council-reviews-2006-vs-2023-downtown-plans-residents-and-staff-debate-11-acre-land-purchase-and-Chestnut-Square-Park-Phase-2","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461561-77113ea44a82a3673aff7993544d7aaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589490&Signature=lLWDfTo1rhf1UqLHv7zj4CfyUanxbrwFzkzLbSOC-4Qn32~ILPJ0fz0p2NYpYLGmaaLWyYjP6u6y-lCpn0TCcKDsEglZ-zOQ-UYjRccJAld3jUR5-xAjlrdKIT9ZL8q4XKclQyqi8CwnAMDVKoclrIZHgMD0umOYxMCdJebv3fymLh9nwy4OuwhFUqJ2yVWaHtjU3JbwRugdF9MjK5FuM4mCxU-hvttfeQdvgav9QpGViKlL9hvaKkN-lopBA21DzLsYVemTb8m5nKDrYH3D-enpSpUFX8qwnlqILwudMWHYtQp5oA2zXtdJO9~8FXlbD-iV4Lp-URTwqJWJKiNNvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Indian Trail","date","2025-09-24T12:14:34.197Z","article","Town leaders reviewed differences between the 2006 and 2023 downtown master plans and discussed town-owned parkland and Chestnut Square Park Phase 2 during the Oct. 16 meeting, with public comment raising concerns about a prior land purchase and staff summarizing recent park construction.

Why it matters: The downtown master plan establishes zoning, building heights and how the town manages future redevelopment in its core; comments and staff updates touched on whether town-owned property is suitable for a community center, and on the cost and feasibility of park-phase work already under way.

Public comment on land purchase: Resident Dan Schellenkamp told the council he considers the July 11, 2023 purchase of an 11-acre parcel ‘‘an ill-advised purchase’’ and said council members voted to buy the land without reviewing taxpayer-funded due-diligence documents such as appraisals and environmental studies. Schellenkamp said the parcel contains creeks and a sanitary sewer line that limit developable acreage and that the $2,200,000 purchase price is now costing taxpayers more in foregone interest; he urged voters not to re-elect council members who approved the purchase.

Council and staff response: Council members and staff pushed back on claims that the land was unsuitable and said appraisal and market information supported the purchase. A council speaker noted the property had been appraised for more than the purchase price and said a local developer offered $500,000 more than the town’s purchase price; a staff comment in the meeting referenced an appraisal number of $3,800,000. Council members said the town had paid cash for the land and said moving utility lines and other adjustments are common practice when developing large parcels.

Downtown master plan update: Town staff summarized key differences between the 2006 and 2023 plans. The 2023 plan establishes three zoning districts for the downtown (including a downtown core and transitional residential areas), reduced allowable building heights from 75 feet to 50 feet in some areas, and created protections for existing uses such as churches and the VFW. Staff emphasized the 2023 plan includes zoning changes and UDO provisions designed to give the council direct oversight through conditional rezoning if proposed projects exceed specified thresholds.

Chestnut Square Park Phase 2 update: Staff recapped Phase 2 planning and the decision to move stormwater from an underground system under the multipurpose field into a relocated pond to contain costs. The town completed a Phase 2a package that included a detention-pond wall, sidewalk connections and new parking; staff reported $3.19 million spent to date on the larger $7.5 million concept and said roughly $4.3 million remained in the approved funding allocation. Staff described options for adding additional parking (about 40 spaces) if council elects to pursue Phase 2b or changes the design for a future community center on adjacent property.

Provenance: The land-purchase remarks occurred during public comment and resurfaced during council replies; the downtown master-plan presentation and Chestnut Square Park Phase 2 update were scheduled agenda items later in the meeting.

Ending: Staff repeatedly framed downtown redevelopment as contingent on property owners, market forces and future council decisions; no formal rezoning or land-sale actions were taken in the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 23, 2025, Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council received a staff comparison of the 2006 and 2023 downtown master plans, heard public criticism of a July 2023 11-acre land purchase intended for a community center, and got an update on Chestnut Square Park Phase 2 construction and parking.","taxTitle","Indian Trail, Union County, North Carolina","taxId",53176,"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},6461565,"Indian Trail authorizes up to $450,000 for Morris Park water-line interlocal agreement with Union County",162,2419000,2581000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a&start=2419&end=2581","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a/thumbnail_2419000.jpg","/articles/6461565/Indian-Trail/Union-County/North-Carolina/Indian-Trail-authorizes-up-to-450000-for-Morris-Park-water-line-interlocal-agreement-with-Union-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461565-741f681546cadc75abc3fd91360971f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589490&Signature=GsJdzYsomDYC90nw1BKgWvYrPihwrxZgXL2Clbg7FJjke19M6HFqo0CERR8jWJkFZqAip8d4B-E6xwIv9CleTYBSP~BKI1apUjxVvkRDeye3KMX2oKZjtAroE9lEqpRcNFeS9TaBIjNOmPst1u~SYvenq9eHFf6JF1jSbuTutaBy5v6i8rVt15OTvs7xb4wP3iNZVaDfwu7v-wU-DMLxbVPuRQGWQEy5OxLNztTfUBaEa1UfvQs7I9o8wrNJSjpRFCNUmPmu99WLdzoZfFZymUzuu8-Xu2PSH50B5N9tSZ8mjhRuFMrnujT9ni2ZAcT3m7ExF3p9tZAehzeCZemvyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Indian Trail authorized its town manager to execute an interlocal agreement with Union County to extend a water line to Morris Park, with the town’s financial exposure capped at $450,000, officials said during the Oct. 16 council meeting.

Why it matters: The water-line extension is intended to address local water-quality needs for Morris Park residents; the town’s share of $450,000 will be subject to a later budget amendment and legal review, town staff said.

Town staff said the county completed design work in-house and the project is ready to go to bid. At the meeting the council instructed the manager to finalize a sample interlocal agreement, subject to approval by the town attorney, and to return a formal budget amendment for council review at the next meeting.

The meeting record shows Council member Dennis Gay recused himself from the vote. During the proceeding Gay said he would ‘‘recuse myself,’’ and the council accepted that recusal before taking the motion. The motion to authorize the manager to execute the interlocal agreement passed by unanimous vote of the remaining council members.

Staff said the interlocal agreement will be patterned on prior town–county water-line agreements (the town previously partnered with the county on Emerald Woods and other lines) and that the town’s share will be paid under terms negotiated with the county. The manager noted the sample agreement will include term dates and staff said the county will provide a projected project completion date to include in the final agreement.

Provenance: The discussion began with a staff summary of the county’s design and funding plan for Morris Park water-line improvements and concluded after the council voted to authorize the manager to sign the interlocal agreement.

Ending: Town staff will return a final interlocal agreement reviewed by the town attorney and a budget amendment for council approval at a subsequent meeting.","Council authorized the town manager to sign an interlocal agreement with Union County for a Morris Park water-line extension, with Council member Dennis Gay recusing himself before the vote.",{"_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},6461569,"Indian Trail council approves amended Complete Street ordinance amid CSX, utility delays",1714,2288000,4002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a&start=2288&end=4002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a/thumbnail_2288000.jpg","/articles/6461569/Indian-Trail/Union-County/North-Carolina/Indian-Trail-council-approves-amended-Complete-Street-ordinance-amid-CSX-utility-delays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461569-836b571c65a293a6f5936f82534118e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589490&Signature=Y-uW~nM0y7bqO~k9busCJTY1NGAebKMdNk-Hl3kM96Sfzkp-3rkfQSE5Nn4qgWWciFoRyc24p1w85YG35r9Ny7lfPtuAmcbyksawsUK-EQhJNqV~V1Ybgy6HsN8dZs~7c6y32q731Tcp24Psc-HGpuMZ-y6YrHtlfAWrii5RlMRiHs3BAe4WdYK5q0p81QQIxLzwYKZo-rpMhRuaaiHj78FaxNXLeAc3f5fwb9vJj3-wP1uNfPbRxZue746i6PrvtbCCXOKoplrsguBTPhGez-VZ6YkUQIzv8ENaJNBzAosOKfx54uXO2EgZmWefmnBAuLETD5vxYz0slc4QkEW5aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Indian Trail Town Council voted unanimously to approve an amended ordinance and corresponding budget amendment for the Indian Trail Complete Street Project, council members said during the Oct. 16 meeting.

The vote cleared funding to continue design work and right-of-way actions on the project, which staff warned is on hold in part because CSX requested an updated review and additional consultant work. Todd Hunsinger, a town staff member who presented the update, said the town has received a new CSX request for payment and that the second NCDOT submittal package is on hold pending that work.

Why it matters: The Complete Street project covers traffic signals, sidewalks and utility relocations through the town center; delays and added costs could affect a multi-million-dollar funding and reimbursement agreement with NCDOT and the schedule for related downtown work.

Hunsinger told the council that CSX asked for an updated review after the town submitted its second package and that CSX’s consultant ‘‘want[s] more money,’’ creating a two-month delay while an amended agreement was negotiated. He said NCDOT also returned comments that required coordination, particularly on signal phasing tied to DOT work at Gribble and Matthews-Indian Trail intersections. Hunsinger said the water-main relocation (from the east side of the railroad to the downtown intersection) will be completed first; a gas-main relocation in the same corridor will follow.

Town staff outlined proposed additional design costs and scope changes. In his presentation Hunsinger identified several items that increased consultant fees: additional utility-design work added for the Town Center water-main relocation, added work from a utility subcontractor (Hine Engineering) omitted in an earlier scope, and extra coordination costs for CSX permitting. Hunsinger said the package being presented includes $104,279 requested to move the design phase forward and account for those added tasks.

Staff also restated the project’s funding context: NCDOT has approved reimbursement for a portion of the project and staff reported a $1,180,000 reimbursement approval tied to right-of-way work. Hunsinger told council members the county’s Warren sewer connection is estimated at $1.5 million and the town’s reimbursable share for water/sewer design work is roughly $500,000 — amounts the town will refine when the project is bid.

Council discussion touched on timing and process. Council member Dennis Gay pushed back on claims that sewer or creek locations made the project unbuildable, saying, ‘‘you can move the sewer line. It is done every day.’’ Other council members asked how long the project has been under development; staff said planning and funding discussions date to the late 2010s and that right-of-way and utility issues often extend schedules.

The ordinance amendment and budget amendment as presented were approved by motion; recorded vote counts were not enumerated in the meeting text but the chair announced the motion carried unanimously.

Provenance: Topic introduced during \"Old business: Indian Trail Complete Street Project, amended ordinance and budget amendment\" and the presentation and vote concluded later in the meeting when council took the motion to approve the amended ordinance and budget amendment.

Ending: Staff said it will circulate pre-construction and right-of-way notices to the council when CSX and NCDOT milestones are set; Hunsinger asked council to expect additional reimbursement and condemnation decisions as the project moves into final design and construction.","Council approved a budget amendment and ordinance amendment for the Indian Trail Complete Street Project after staff warned of delays and extra design costs stemming from CSX review, NCDOT comments and utility relocations.",{"_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},6461555,"Council OKs half-field rental option for Indian Trail turf field beginning January 2026",168,4292000,4460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a&start=4292&end=4460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823937-57b416ebfdd2ea39d305c346838f6e4a/thumbnail_4292000.jpg","/articles/6461555/Indian-Trail/Union-County/North-Carolina/Council-OKs-half-field-rental-option-for-Indian-Trail-turf-field-beginning-January-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461555-1c45240c3b49c3e17281fbc04a927b27/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589490&Signature=GAB4W-QoTjenvKVbniQ42Z3g8rlgoiOC2DSZ4poMn4qG-HZM3OLl9ypnV7czKS4XRHS9N1L9-J~rwutNcSUKJT04NqiGI3rhvBl79xn844yc4GU49vuw-hv4H66bh7Hg1VE0gjM7yMbVxCHUTxs7dW7bpB4YJx7iAIk0Es5fz6UDdRUasysjlNlg6wTn1LUB9Z0xQtli~QHG~7s0Ij066NrAwXpRrjntrjascq07i9WcLZ5eUjSVeIAI0sr9ctRsG-kMMBvNiyK7SEgOFUeM3gz9NbwZK-GlZRg2qj~xv8gAKaVb3udFXYTs-6owDVFK~IFojA3bkQX9sv3-19YYLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Indian Trail Town Council approved a change to the parks fee schedule to allow half-field rentals of the town’s turf field, with the change effective for the 2026 rental cycle.

Why it matters: Allowing half-field rentals can increase youth-sports and community access to the turf field by enabling two smaller practices or events to co-exist, town staff said.

Park staff explained that the new reservation option will let the town divide the existing field into halves so groups can request either a full-field reservation (which retains priority for full-game needs) or a half-field reservation. Parks staff said residents retain priority in scheduling (6-week reservation window) and nonresidents keep a 4-week window; no change was proposed to resident/nonresident priority rules.

The proposed fee schedule sets half-field rates at $30 per hour for residents and $45 per hour for nonresidents; the full-field rate remains unchanged. Parks staff said the change responds to user requests and that routine field maintenance and regular condition checks will continue; a contractor (Motz Group) performs periodic turf sanitation and inspection.

The motion to adopt the new fee schedule carried by voice vote; council recorded unanimous support when the chair asked for affirmations.

Provenance: Parks staff introduced the half-field rental proposal during a parks update and the council approved the fee schedule change later in the meeting.

Ending: Staff said they will contact prior renters and begin scheduling for the 2026 season under the new rules.","Town council approved a fee-schedule change to allow half-field turf rentals (residents $30/hour; nonresidents $45/hour) so two smaller groups can use the field simultaneously; the full-field option remains.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reviews 2006 vs. 2023 downtown plans; residents and staff debate 11-acre land purchase and Chestnut Square Park Phase 2

Indian Trail authorizes up to $450,000 for Morris Park water-line interlocal agreement with Union County

Indian Trail council approves amended Complete Street ordinance amid CSX, utility delays

Council OKs half-field rental option for Indian Trail turf field beginning January 2026