Planning board recommends rezoning of Charlotte Pipe parcels to light industrial

The Indian Trail Planning Board on Monday recommended approval of ZM20250031, a direct rezoning request to change two Regional Business District parcels totaling about 13.9 acres on Brickyard Road to Light Industrial.

Staff said the rezoning would align the newly purchased parcels with the owner's existing light-industrial zoning on its primary property and with surrounding uses. Tyler (senior planner) told the board the parcels are presently split from a larger property and that one lot contains a minor open shelter and the other is vacant and heavily treed. The town's future land use map designates the area as industrial, and staff concluded the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan and reasonable and in the public interest.

Resident Vic Thomas asked whether an existing mining overlay would be removed. Tyler said the overlay was created years ago when mineral-rights permits were active and that revocation of the related state excavation permit is a separate, state-level process; staff said the property owner had been working with the state and that the permit revocation appeared to be in its final stages. Planning Director Brandy Dees said the town had been aware of efforts to remove the mining designation and that it has been a lengthy process.

Board member Jennifer Morrow moved to recommend approval of the zoning map amendment as presented; Kim Sandoval seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried. Because this is a direct rezoning (not conditional), staff noted that a range of uses allowed “by right” in the Unified Development Ordinance for Light Industrial could apply if the council approves the rezoning.

The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to Town Council for final action. If Town Council approves the rezoning, any change to the mining overlay would still require the state-level permit revocation before the local overlay could be removed.