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Council approves cul-de-sac closing for county fueling, a $10M equipment expansion grant and a transit fare hike; several hearings continued
Summary
At its Dec. 17 meeting the Gastonia City Council approved a county cul-de-sac closure for an emergency fueling station, authorized a Level 1 investment grant tied to a $10 million equipment investment (Project Panther 25), and approved a transit microtransit fare increase effective Jan. 1, 2025 (vote 6–1). The council also continued multiple rezonings to Jan. 21.
The Gastonia City Council took several formal actions Dec. 17:
• Cul-de-sac closure (Business Park Court): Council adopted a resolution to close a former cul-de-sac so Gaston County can build an emergency fueling station (two 2,500-gallon tanks to serve county and city emergency vehicles). Staff recommended approval and the council adopted the resolution unanimously.
• Project Panther 25: Council approved offering a standard Level 1 investment grant to a manufacturing expansion in Gastonia Technology Park that proposed a $10,000,000 investment in machinery/equipment. City staff noted the project does not add new positions; the grant is structured as a five-year reimbursement after upfront tax payments. Motion carried unanimously.
• Transit fare increase: After a required public hearing the council approved a microtransit base fare increase from $2.00 to $2.50 and a reduced fare increase from $1.00 to $1.25, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Staff reported 727 survey responses: 38% supported the increase, 37% opposed, 49% said they would use the service as often, 14% said they would stop using it. Council discussion focused on equity, promotional discounts and service reliability; the measure passed 6–1.
• Consent agenda: The 15-item consent agenda (including the Flock OS contract described separately) passed unanimously.
• Hearing continuances: The council continued two land-use public hearings — 1111 East Garrison Boulevard (rezoning request) and the Industrial Pike I-3 CD request — to the Jan. 21, 2025 meeting to allow additional staff/applicant/neighborhood discussions and revision of site plans and conditions.
These decisions set an immediate agenda for staff follow-up (contract finalization, negotiation of incentive terms, and refinement of site-plan commitments in the rezoning matters).
