Huntersville planning staff report record construction, rising multifamily permits and push to study northeast area and downtown stormwater

Huntersville planning staff reported that the town’s population is about 70,000 and that permitting and construction remain strong, with an unusually large increase in multifamily projects and a record year for nonresidential construction.

Planning director Brian said the town tracks population by certificates of occupancy and that, after a small state demography adjustment last year, the department is “anticipating a 5% growth rate,” which staff translated into an increase that will put Huntersville “just under 70,000 people.” He said the town recorded 389 single‑family home permits last year and expects single‑family permitting may dip to roughly 300 lots this year. By contrast, staff flagged a major rise in multifamily approvals and permitting, including projects at Birkdale, Old Statesville Road, Hambrite Junction, Vermilion Village and others.

Why it matters: staff warned the commissioners that the permit mix is shifting and that timing differs by housing type. Brian said multifamily projects “take a little bit longer” — often 18 to 24 months — while single‑family homes typically produce certificates of occupancy in 4–12 months. That timing affects when new residents actually appear in population counts and when nonresidential tax bases become realized.

The numbers: staff reported nearly…