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Energy United seeks annexation and conditional zoning for Owens Farm Road site
Summary
Energy United requested conditional hybrid light‑industrial zoning and voluntary annexation for roughly 40–48 acres at 175 Owens Farm Road to build an electric utility operations center; planning staff highlighted a required traffic impact analysis to be completed before site‑plan approval and planning‑board conditions limiting some commercial vehicle uses.
Energy United has asked the Town of Mooresville to rezone and annex roughly 40–48 acres at 175 Owens Farm Road for a proposed electric utility operations center, town planning staff said. Patrick Werner of planning and community development outlined a concept plan and associated ordinance request (CZ2607 and AX2601) during the board’s regular meeting.
Werner said the owner is Energy United Electric Membership Corporation and the applicant contact is Steve McCatherine. The site is currently split across county and municipal jurisdictions and, if annexed, would sit in Ward 1. The proposal includes dedication of a public right of way along the property’s northern edge and a reservation of land intended to align with a future East‑West connector between NC‑115 and Shears Road.
The town’s transportation engineer waived the traffic impact analysis (TIA) for the concept‑plan phase to allow rezoning and annexation to proceed to the board, Werner said, but the TIA must be completed before the town approves a site plan. “The TIA is required to be completed prior to site plan approval,” Werner said.
Planning staff described several volunteer conditions the applicant proposed, including a 100‑foot stream buffer depicted on the plan (the town’s standard outside watershed overlays is 50 feet) and narrower driveway/parking configurations that will be finalized during site‑plan review. Werner also said the planning board recommended removing commercial vehicle sales and rental as an allowed use; the applicant agreed at that time.
Several commissioners raised compatibility and transportation concerns. Commissioner West said he prefers to see the completed TIA before final approvals; Commissioner Dingler noted intersection improvements likely will be needed at Rocky River Road and Shears Road if the development creates a fourth signalized leg. Werner confirmed that the TIA and a related developer agreement (MMA) will be completed with the town’s traffic engineer during site plan review.
Werner told the board the project can be served by town utilities and public safety resources and that fire had confirmed response‑time coverage from Station 3. He also noted the site lies in areas the town’s growth maps identify for utility extension.
The board did not take a final vote on rezoning or annexation during the portion of the meeting captured in the transcript. Next steps spelled out by staff include completion of the TIA, a site‑plan review process with refined driveway and parking details, and formal public hearings.
