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Votes at a glance: rezoning, trail plan, CPACE authorization and Project Nexus incentive approved
Summary
At its April 22 meeting the Gaston County Commission approved multiple items: a conditional rezoning for a 0.41-acre parcel (REZ-00206), a Carolina Thread Trail master-plan amendment to add the Stowe Connector, county participation in a CPACE program, and a Level 4 incentive grant resolution for Project Nexus (finalist).
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners completed several formal actions during its April 22 meeting, voting unanimously on multiple public-hearing items.
REZ-00206: Christopher S. Long (Southside Church Road parcel) Planning staff presented REZ-00206, a conditional rezoning request to change a C-3 general commercial parcel with corridor overlays to R-2 single-family moderate with a minimum lot size set at 17,860 square feet (the existing lot area). Planning staff said the request was inconsistent with the comprehensive land use plan but supported because adjacent residential uses already existed. The planning board unanimously recommended approval. The board approved the rezoning; motion by Commissioner Bob Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Jim Bailey; clerk recorded the vote as unanimous.
Carolina Thread Trail amendment: Stowe Connector Commissioners approved an amendment to the Carolina Thread Trail master plan to add the approximately 1-mile Stowe Connector Trail on the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden property. The Carolina Thread Trail Executive Committee and the Belmont City Council had previously approved or endorsed the amendment; the Gaston County Planning Board recommended approval 8-0. Commissioner Scott Sheehan moved approval; Commissioner Jim Bailey seconded. Vote: unanimous.
CPACE participation authorization The board approved a resolution authorizing Gaston County to participate in a Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditures (CPACE) program. Donnie Hicks, executive director of the county Economic Development Commission, said the enabling legislation had recently been signed by the governor and that CPACE is designed to help commercial property owners finance energy- and water-efficiency or green-energy retrofits with longer-term, lower-interest financing. The board recorded unanimous approval; motion by Commissioner Bob Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Scott Sheehan.
Project Nexus: Level 4 incentive grant The board approved a resolution to authorize a Level 4 economic development incentive under North Carolina General Statute 158-7.1 for "Project Nexus," a company for which Gaston County is a finalist.
According to the EDC presentation, the company anticipates creating about 701 jobs at an average salary of about $52,000 and a total company investment of roughly $435 million, of which about $100 million would be the purchase price for an existing facility (on the tax rolls). The resolution referenced a $268 million investment figure; EDC staff explained the total investment submitted to the state is larger. Donnie Hicks said a local decision by the company was expected by June, with operations targeted for the first quarter of 2027. The board approved the authorization unanimously; motion by Commissioner Bob Hovis, seconded by Commissioner Scott Sheehan.
Ending: The votes were recorded as unanimous by the clerk on each item. Several of the items had prior Planning Board or executive-committee endorsements; staff noted that final permitting, financing arrangements and company selection remain contingent on follow-up steps.
