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Hickory council unanimously rezones 14-acre parcel near Robinson Road to regional commercial
Summary
On July 15 the City Council approved rezoning petition 25-03 to change roughly 14 acres off Seventh Street Southeast from industrial to C-3 regional commercial; planning staff said access and possible traffic analysis will be evaluated when a site proposal is submitted.
The Hickory City Council on July 15 approved rezoning petition 25-03 to change a roughly 14-acre parcel at Seventh Street Southeast from industrial to C-3 regional commercial. The vote was unanimous.
Bridal Frasier, planning director, said the property is owned by Kinsale Enterprises LLC and the applicant is Marybeth Shanahan. The parcel is vacant, sits just west and contiguous to the rear of the Home Depot on Robinson Road, and is located near Catawba Valley Boulevard and U.S. Highway 70.
Frasier said the change to regional commercial (C-3) would make the site more marketable by allowing a wider range of uses — from big-box retail to small shops, medical offices and multifamily — than the existing industrial zoning. The city’s comprehensive plan, “Hickory by Choice 02/1930,” designates the area as general business and identifies regional commercial as appropriate along major thoroughfares, Frasier told council.
The Hickory Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted 5–1 to recommend approval. Frasier said the dissenting commissioner was concerned about access because there is currently a single means of access from Highway 70 into the site and about proximity to the adjacent Providence Forest medium-density residential subdivision. Frasier said the C-3 zoning would act as a transitional use between industrial and residential and that access and traffic issues would be addressed when a development application is submitted.
Will Clayton, the owner’s representative, told council the owner has prepared surveys and annexation work but “we don't know what's gonna go there yet.” Frasier said, depending on the proposed use, the city and N.C. Department of Transportation could require a traffic impact analysis and additional means of ingress/egress; the parcel is on a DOT road and residential development thresholds (99 lots or fewer) and site-specific requirements will affect any future approvals.
Council took no site-plan action at the meeting; the rezoning was a map amendment only. No individual recorded roll-call vote was given in the meeting transcript; the council approved the rezoning by voice vote with all members saying “aye.”
