Planning board approves Town 1 revision adding 1.042 acres at Hambright Road

The Planning Board recommended approval of rezoning petition R2609, a revision to R2207 that adds about 1.042 acres (a holdout parcel) into the Town 1 mixed-use development at the northeast corner of Hambright Road and Mount Holly/Huntersville Road.

Mister Richards entered the staff report to the record and described key cleanup modifications: integration of a holdout parcel into the plan, a requested increase in permitted disturbance of the I‑77 buffer to address grading and drainage, removal of one row of street trees along the thoroughfare in favor of an alternate planting design, and a modest increase in block length tied to relocated pedestrian crossings. Richards said staff supported the revisions with conditions, including maintaining a 50‑foot buffer with mitigation planting.

Ben Geisler of Trenail Development explained the field conditions and erosion near I‑77 that prompted the buffer request and outlined mitigation plans: planting additional trees and using existing hardwoods to screen and stabilize grades. Geisler said the revisions do not add density or square footage and that the previously approved TIA and overall project program remain unchanged.

A motion to approve the planning-board recommendation — including the 50‑foot buffer with mitigation, staff-approved plantings in place of a second row of street trees, and limited increases to block length for topographic reasons — was moved, seconded and adopted by the board.

Next steps: staff will require final planting and buffer mitigation details and resolution of minor outstanding comments before final town action.