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County approves up to $2,000 share for Sugar Hill roadway study to spur commercial recruitment
Summary
McDowell Economic Development Association briefed commissioners on workforce, housing and commercial recruitment needs and the board approved up to $2,000 from county funds to help pay for a Transportation Impact Assessment for the Sugar Hill/Meadow Lane area.
Chuck Abernathy of the McDowell Economic Development Association updated the board on economic development work, including a housing shortage and plans to attract retail and restaurants. After the presentation, commissioners authorized a county contribution toward a Transportation Impact Assessment (TIA) intended to support commercial recruitment along Sugar Hill Road.
Abernathy said the EDA operates with limited staff and funding but is the county’s point of contact for the state Department of Commerce. He described the county’s economic priorities as industry retention and expansion, commercial recruitment and workforce development. He said housing shortages constrain growth and cited a study (Neil Gurney’s group) that estimated McDowell County was about 900 homes short before Hurricane Helene and might be closer to 1,300 after the storm.
Abernathy described a focus area for commercial recruitment extending from the Walmart/Fairview interchange back toward Meadow Lane; he said a TIA could support a traffic signal at Meadow Lane that would enable 8–9 parcels to be marketable to retailers. He said a professional TIA would cost about $12,000 and recommended splitting the cost among the city, county and property owners. The county manager and officials discussed sharing the estimated cost; a motion to authorize county involvement at up to $2,000 passed.
Commissioners also discussed a separate traffic concern around the I-40 interchange near Old Fort, where new commercial development and visitor use around Catawba Falls have increased traffic. The board agreed to send a letter to the N.C. Department of Transportation requesting study and improvements at the Catawba River Road/Exit area; staff said DOT would welcome a letter of support.
Ending The board approved the county’s share of up to $2,000 for a TIA for the Sugar Hill/Meadow Lane area and agreed to send a letter requesting DOT study improvements at the I-40/Old Fort interchange; Abernathy and others said housing remains a core barrier to recruiting and retaining workers and employers.
