Board hears annexation and rezoning request for Willow Creek parcel; owner outlines medical office plan

The Spencer Town Board of Aldermen heard public testimony May 8 on a petition to annex and rezone a roughly 20.25‑acre parcel addressed as 1230 Long Ferry Road along Willow Creek Drive.

At the start of the public hearing, staff said the owner of the property and the applicant's engineer were present. The applicant, Myra Wilson of Complete WellCare Source, LLC, told the board she purchased the site to house administrative operations, HR and training functions for her behavioral‑health business and that the location would not be used as a client treatment facility. "I wanted to just bring something here to Salisbury for just to open it up and so we can better the community," Wilson said.

Town staff described the planned development as a three‑story building of about 30,000 square feet with first‑floor retail and offices above; initial investment was described in the presentation as roughly $12,000,000 with occupancy projected for October 2026. Staff said a small isolated one‑acre piece of the parcel fronts Long Ferry Road and that most of the land currently is zoned C85 inside Spencer, but a small sliver lies in Rowan County's jurisdiction and is zoned RA; as required once annexed, that portion would be rezoned to C85 to match the remainder.

A neighboring property owner, Justina Renee Miller of 1370 Long Ferry Road, urged the board to consider agricultural preservation. Miller said the surrounding land includes a 35.28‑acre tree farm and warned that annexation could raise the tax rate materially for adjacent parcels and increase traffic near existing commercial development. "We want to keep Rowan County more farmland use and agriculture places," she said.

Technical questions focused on stormwater, parking and traffic. Bridal Crutchfield, a civil engineer with Timmons Group representing the applicant, said the site plan includes an on‑site stormwater detention pond and a parking runoff collection system. Crutchfield said no DOT traffic impact analysis has yet been required; the project was expected to generate patterns similar to a medical office building, with steady daytime trips and modest morning and evening peaks.

Board members clarified that North Carolina's annexation law allows only voluntary annexation — property owners must petition for annexation — and staff confirmed this petition applies only to the identified parcel. The board moved to close the public hearings on annexation and rezoning; the items will return for formal consideration at the board's regular meeting next Tuesday.

The board did not take a final vote on annexation or rezoning at the May 8 pre‑agenda meeting.