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Board continues Sherrills Ford shopping-center rezoning after community opposition and Planning Board rejection
Summary
A rezoning request for a proposed 75,000 sq ft shopping center on roughly 17.22 acres was continued to Jan. 20, 2026 after the applicant requested a continuance and after staff and the Planning Board recommended against approval; residents expressed traffic, septic and viewshed concerns.
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners continued the advertised public hearing on two shopping-center rezoning requests affecting the Sherrills Ford area to Jan. 20, 2026.
Attorney Jason White told the board one applicant asked to continue the item to allow the applicant to attend at a later date; the board voted 4-1 to continue that portion of the hearing. Assistant Planning Director Laurie LoCicero then presented a second rezoning application by T. Cooper James and Associates to rezone three parcels totaling about 17.22 acres from R-20 to PD-CD to allow a shopping center anchored by a combined grocery and farm/garden supply store. The concept plan showed three commercial buildings totaling roughly 75,000 square feet, including a 59,000-square-foot anchor with a 19,250-square-foot outdoor fenced display for the farm/garden use.
LoCicero said the project is in the WS‑IV Watershed Protection Overlay and would request the high-density option; the concept indicated about 48.3% built-upon area and two stormwater ponds. The Planning Board held a public hearing on Nov. 24 and voted 9-0 not to recommend approval. Staff opposed the rezoning, citing proximity to residential districts, inconsistency with the Comprehensive Plan’s medium-density residential future land-use designation for the parcels, septic-system concerns (public sewer is approximately 1.5 miles away), and potential for unintended commercial sprawl.
Several residents who spoke during the hearing reiterated concerns about traffic, safety and rural viewsheds. After discussion the board continued the hearing in progress until Jan. 20, 2026 so that applicants may be present and additional information may be provided; public comment remains open for that date.
