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Planning commission backs rezoning to convert Arlington School to apartments and retail
Summary
The Gastonia Planning Commission unanimously recommended rezoning of 1519 North Webb Street to allow a mixed‑use redevelopment of the historic Arlington Elementary School into about 116 apartments and roughly 5,000 square feet of ground‑floor retail, with conditions including sidewalks, buffers, tree‑save requirements and two on‑site cameras tied to the city's real‑time crime center.
The Gastonia Planning Commission voted unanimously May 7 to recommend rezoning 1519 North Webb Street from RS‑8 (single‑family) to C‑2 Conditional to accommodate a mixed‑use redevelopment of the former Arlington Elementary School.
Senior planner Maddie Gross told the commission the 3.52‑acre proposal would redevelop the existing 67,700‑square‑foot Arlington School building and add a two‑story addition to create a total of about 116 apartment units with roughly 5,000 square feet of ground‑floor retail. Gross said staff found the request consistent with the 2019 West Franklin redevelopment plan and the Gastonia 2050 future place‑types map and recommended approval with conditions.
Applicants Sanjeev Bhasin and Harold Jordan told the commission they intend to begin site work as soon as approvals are in hand. "We would like to start yesterday if we can," Bhasin said, and described portions of the roof as collapsed, saying securing and cleaning the building is a near‑term priority. The applicants confirmed they will perform environmental reviews before major demolition.
Conditions the developer agreed to or that staff recommended include a 15‑foot type C buffer between the subject property and Webb Street School, replacing or upgrading sidewalks to the city's five‑foot standard and installing ADA ramps, formalizing parking aisles and spaces, landscape and lighting improvements, and a tree‑save requirement to be met through on‑site preservation, replanting or a fee in lieu. Staff also noted the site plan does not yet show a stormwater pond and that further site planning is needed.
Gross said the developer also committed to installing two on‑site ‘flock’ cameras — one on School Avenue and one on Webb Street — and that those are intended to integrate with the City of Gastonia Police Department's real‑time crime center to allow investigators to retrieve footage if an incident occurs. Staff said the cameras are not intended for continuous surveillance of residents.
Commissioners asked about historic preservation and compatibility with the existing Arlington School character; staff and applicants said the project team has experience with historic renovations and intends to match materials and massing where feasible. A neighborhood meeting on April 14 produced no attendees, staff said.
After discussion, a motion to approve the rezoning and a separate motion adopting the required statement of consistency and reasonableness were made and approved unanimously; the commission forwarded both recommendations to the city council for final action.
The planning commission's recommendation and adopted consistency statement will be included in the packet for the city council hearing on the item.
