Council annexes 27.2 acres on Hurst Drive and rezones site for light industrial use

Salisbury City Council voted May 6 to annex approximately 27.2 acres at 272 Hurst Drive and to rezone the property to the City of Salisbury Light Industrial (LI) district with a conditional-district overlay, following a joint presentation by planning staff and a public hearing.

Planning staff said the voluntary annexation and rezoning petition submitted by MWI Property Group covers tax map 409, Parcel 006 and part of Parcel 017 and is within Salisbury's growth area and a previous growth agreement with Granite Quarry. Staff circulated the proposal to city departments and reported minimal general service impacts; the fire department noted added demand for fire inspectors and potential future staffing at Fire Station 6. Water and sewer extensions required to serve the site would be the developer's responsibility, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation determined a traffic-impact assessment would be needed and that the timing of area development could trigger a traffic signal or turn lane.

The applicant's master plan proposes a large industrial facility and accompanying site elements. Staff's presentation said the plan proposes a "231,404 415 square foot" industrial building (transcript phrasing), 252 parking spaces and 41 trailer-stacking spaces; access points are not final and may connect to Webb Road and a planned Lane Parkway extension. Staff estimated development could represent about $19 million in private investment and projected annual tax revenues of about $120,547 if developed. The city's technical review committee and planning board recommended approval; staff recommended assigning the future land-use place type "production and processing."

After a public hearing where the developer explained the types of tenants sought (manufacturing, distribution and similar users) and answered questions about air quality and service impacts, council adopted an ordinance to extend the corporate limits and a subsequent motion to rezone the property and to assign the "production and processing" place type. Council approved the annexation and rezoning by voice vote during the meeting.

City staff noted that sewer and water extensions are the owner's responsibility and that the development will be served by NCDOT roads. Council amended the rezoning motion on the record to include the future land-use place type assignment.