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Huntersville approves greenway contract, Habitat land funding and several town policy updates
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Huntersville Board of Commissioners unanimously awarded a construction contract for the North Mecklenburg Park Greenway, approved a $1.2 million budget appropriation, authorized $160,000 to Habitat for Humanity for land acquisition, and adopted changes to public comment rules, candidate filing fees and town branding.
Huntersville’s Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 unanimously awarded a construction contract for the one-mile North Mecklenburg Park Greenway and approved related budget and nonprofit funding measures, along with several municipal policy updates.
The actions matter because the greenway will create a new pedestrian connection between nearby neighborhoods and North Mecklenburg Park, the Habitat funds are earmarked for land to develop homes affordable to households at or below 80% of area median income, and the policy changes clarify how and when residents may speak at town meetings ahead of a busy hearing calendar.
The board voted to award the greenway construction contract to Eagle Wood Incorporated after staff reported receiving five bids and said the bids were higher than the engineer’s estimate. Michael Jaycox, a town staff member who presented the item, said the increase stemmed in part from a regional surge in similar projects that has tightened contractor availability and pricing. Jaycox said the greenway will "connect Hamptons, Harvest Point and CVS commercial developments on Sanford Road into North Meck Park" and described the project as providing connections for "thousands of homes." The board then approved a budget amendment to appropriate $1,200,000 from the town’s fund balance for the greenway’s construction.
The board also approved a nonprofit funding agreement with Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region Inc., appropriating $160,000 to be used "for the use of acquiring land to develop affordable housing" for households at or below 80% AMI. The council approved a corresponding budget amendment to record the land revenue and expense. In presenting the item, a town staff member described the funds as intended to support acquisition of property to be developed for sale or lease to low- and moderate-income buyers.
Commissioners approved changes to the town’s public comment and public hearing policy. The revision clarifies that speakers should not expect replies from elected officials at the dais, that speakers under 18 are not required to read or share their address, and that sign-ups to speak close five minutes before the meeting begins. Town staff said the policy language was intended to reduce confusion about sign-up timing and ensure equitable opportunity to speak; staff also said communications will be sent to alert residents before the next major hearing, which includes a rezoning for Birkdale.
The board set candidate filing fees for the 2025 election at $50 for mayoral candidates and $25 for board of commissioners candidates. The board also approved adoption of new town branding guidelines covering the municipal logo, graphic standards and typography. Several commissioners used closing comments to thank staff and highlight a successful Martin Luther King Jr. celebration held the prior day.
Separately, commissioners heard a status update about landscaping required for a Walden berm that carries a Feb. 1 installation deadline. Planning staff said the developer is coordinating materials and installation through its landscaping team and that the town will withhold permission to proceed with certain parts of the project until the landscaping is installed; staff noted possible weather delays.
Votes at a glance - 10A — Award construction contract for North Mecklenburg Park Greenway to Eagle Wood Incorporated: motion to adopt resolution carried unanimously (mover/second not specified in transcript). Staff said five bids were received and costs exceeded the engineer’s estimate. - 10B — Budget amendment: appropriate $1,200,000 from fund balance for North Mecklenburg Park Greenway construction: approved unanimously (mover/second not specified). - 10C — Nonprofit funding agreement: appropriate $160,000 to Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, Inc., for land acquisition to develop affordable housing for households at or below 80% AMI: approved unanimously (mover/second not specified). - 10D — Budget amendment: appropriate $160,000 of land revenue/expense to record the Habitat agreement: approved unanimously (mover/second not specified). - 10E — Amend public comment and public hearing policy (clarify responses from officials, address disclosure for speakers under 18, close sign-ups five minutes prior): approved unanimously (mover/second not specified). - 10F — Set 2025 candidate filing fees: $50 for mayor, $25 for board of commissioners: approved unanimously (mover/second not specified). - 10G — Adopt new town branding guidelines: approved unanimously (mover/second not specified).
What the board did not decide tonight: there were no public hearings on the agenda and no substantive policy changes beyond the items listed above. Staff said they will communicate the public comment policy changes ahead of the upcoming Birkdale rezoning hearing. The town also indicated a likely ribbon-cutting for the greenway later in the year, pending construction schedule.
