Board of Commissioners — Cornelius, NC
Date: 2025-08-21

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
 August 4, 2025
 MINUTES


PRE-MEETING – 4:30PM
Mayor Washam to call the Pre-meeting to order at 4:40PM.
   Closed Session Pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(5) PID #00753116
 Mayor Washam called for a motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to GS 143-318.11(5)
 PID #00753116.

 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to go into Closed Session at 4:40PM. Commissioner
 Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

Upon return from Closed Session at 5:39PM, the following item was discussed:
  Agenda Review
 Manager Grant gave an overview of the 6PM agenda.

Commissioner Carney made a motion to adjourn the Pre-meeting at 5:56PM. Commissioner Osborne
seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

REGULAR MEETING - 6:00PM

1. CALL TO ORDER
 Mayor Washam called the meeting to order at 6:07PM.

2. DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
 All commissioners were present at the meeting.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
 Commissioner Johnson made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner
 Carney seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

4. MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
 Mayor Washam led the pledge after a moment of silence was observed.

5. CITIZEN CONCERNS/COMMENTS
 Mayor Washam invited the public to speak.

 Natasha Witherspoon along with Lisa Mayhew-Jones announced the new location for the
 Smithville Community Coalition (SCC) located at 19721 South Ferry Street. They brought an
 SCC t-shirt for Mayor Washam in exchange for a $50 donation.

 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 1
6. REPORTS
 Asst. Manager Beardsley reported on the following:
 • Bailey Road sidewalk construction has begun and will be complete before the start of the
 new school year.
 • Washam Potts resurfacing by NCDOT is set to begin on Aug. 12th and should take 4 days
 to complete.

7. EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
 A. New Employee Introduction - Tuyen Truong
 Planning Director Burhans introduced Tuyen Truong to the Board. She started with the
 Planning Department on June 30th as a Planner I position.

8. PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT
 A. REZ 06-25 Old Statesville Rd
 Planning Director Burhans presented the rezoning request made by Blue Heel Development
 to rezone an 8.25-acre site located off Hwy. 115 south of Washam Potts from Neighborhood
 Residential to Conditional Zoning. The rezoning will allow 31 single-family lots to be
 constructed, a 25–30-foot tree preservation buffer, 9 spaces for overflow parking, a public
 street with access to Hwy. 115, and an easement preservation for a pedestrian walkway to
 connect to Barnette Avenue. The community meeting held on July 22nd had 16 attendees that
 supported the overall project and tree preservation, but expressed concerns with the
 pedestrian connection to Barnette Ave., an affordable housing component, and the
 preservation of natural areas for wildlife.

 Mayor Washam invited the applicant to speak.

 Mr. Matt Gallagher with Blue Heel Development presented the rezoning and illustrations of
 what the homes could look like.

 Commissioner Johnson asked what the price point of the homes will be. Mr. Gallagher
 stated that the price range will be around $700K-$800K+.

 Commissioner Higgins expressed concerns with visibility along Hwy. 115 for ingress/egress.
 Mr. Gallager explained that there will be a deceleration lane (extra lane on Hwy. 115
 designed to allow drivers to safely slow down as they prepare to exit, without disrupting the
 flow of traffic on Hwy. 115).

 Commissioner Carney asked if on-street parking will cause issues if guests choose not to
 utilize the proposed overflow parking spots. Mr. Gallagher stated that the street is designed
 for two travel lanes and on-street parking; however, homes with detached garages will have
 ample driveway space for guests.

 Mayor Washam invited the public to speak, and the following were heard:

 Kim Sherrill – 19722 Feriba Place, expressed her support of the project that includes the
 enhanced buffers and natural areas.


 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 2
 Jeff Morey – 19409 Barnette Avenue, expressed his opposition of the project due to the
 density.

9. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL
 A. REZ 03-25 Jetton Rd (Cashmere)
 Mayor Washam called for a motion to reconvene the public hearing for REZ 03-25
 Cashmere.

 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to reconvene the public hearing. Commissioner
 Higgins seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 Planning Director Burhans gave a quick overview of the proposed rezoning request made by
 Adam and Iryna Jones (Zaika Group, LLC) to construct a 6-story mixed use building located
 at the corner of Jetton Road Extension/Bethel Church Road. He explained that since the July
 21st public hearing, the conditions document has been refined to include architectural
 enhancements for the project along Jetton Road, the use of safety/parabolic mirrors on the
 garage located off Jetton Road, and a stormwater pond maintenance agreement
 acknowledgement.

 Mayor Washam invited the applicant to speak.

 Mr. Jones gave a brief overview of the proposed rezoning and the benefits the project will
 bring to the area that has been rundown for over 26 years.

 Mayor Washam invited the public to speak.

 The following speakers were in favor of the proposed project as it will support local
 businesses in an area that has been abandoned/undeveloped for decades:
 • Jamie Rolewicz – 18205 Town Harbour Road
 • Wooten Van Loo – 19720 Jetton Road
 • Denis Bilodeau – 17915 Kings Point Drive
 • Kane Rogers – 19546 Greentree Way
 • David Judge – 19708 Charles Towne Lane

 The following speakers were opposed to the proposed project due to the building height and
 not meeting what the Land Use Plan calls for in that area:
 • Mimi Hooker – 18713 Daymark Drive
 • Larry Cook – 17800 John Connor Road
 • Stan Ott – 18717 Daymark Drive
 • Kenny Colbert – 18741 Daymark Drive
 • Stephanie Kennedy – 21500 Lake Point Lane

 Mayor Washam asked Mr. Jones to explain the plan for maintaining the retention pond. Mr.
 Jones stated that at first, he was not aware of a retention pond agreement but has since agreed
 to share in the responsibility of the pond maintenance. He also shared that it is time to put
 the master association agreement back together so that all owners share in the responsibility
 of maintaining the pond. Planning Director Burhans explained that there is a private
 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 3
agreement that obligates the Cornelius Village Center property owners to be partners in the
pond maintenance that is currently being maintained by the Lake Norman Courtyards
community. So, as a condition to the rezoning the applicant has acknowledged the agreement
for maintenance.

Mayor Washam questioned what can be done about the dangerous road conditions along
Greentree Way that leads to Daymark Drive. Deputy Manager Herron explained that
although Greentree Way is a private road, the Town does have an interest in safety but is
limited to enforcement due to the road being private. The Town is continuing its efforts in
what can be done to make that safer for the residents along Daymark Drive.

Commissioner Higgins suggested that the Town consider adding pedestrian crossings along
the corridor for the safety of pedestrians and traffic calming.

There being no other questions from the Board, Mayor Washam called for a motion to close
the public hearing.

Commissioner Higgins made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Johnson
seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

Mayor Washam called for a motion to approve or deny an Ordinance to amend the zoning
map.

Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Johnson seconded the
motion.

Commissioner Johnson stated that she is excited to see the project add value to the area after
decades of it being rundown.

Commissioner Sansbury stated that he is excited about the project as it improves the corridor
but asked for clarification on “setting a precedence” for future development. Deputy
Manager Herron stated that each Conditional Zoning stands on its own merits, so there is no
precedence set.

Commissioner Osborne stated that he is opposed to the project because it does not meet the
Land Use Plan set by the Town.

Commissioner Carney thanked Deputy Manager Herron for the earlier clarification on setting
a precedence and stated that he is in favor of the project.

Commissioner Higgins stated that he is in support of the project and looks forward to the
improvements along the corridor.

Mayor Washam called the question.




 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 4
 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve Ordinance #2025-00881 to amend the
 zoning map to include REZ 03-25 with conditions. Commissioner Johnson seconded the
 motion, and it passed 4-1. Commissioner Osborne was opposed.

 Ordinance #2025-00881 is hereby made part of the minutes by reference.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve Resolution #2025-01175 declaring REZ
 03-25 with conditions is consistent with the Town’s Land Use Plan and is in the best interest
 of the public. Commissioner Carney seconded the motion, and it passed 4-1. Commissioner
 Osborne was opposed.

 Resolution #2025-01175 is hereby made part of the minutes by reference.

B. REZ 04-25 Aftonshire Homes
 Mayor Washam called for a motion to open the public hearing on REZ 04-25 Aftonshire
 Homes. The public notice is attached hereto.

 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to open the public hearing. Commissioner Johnson
 seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 Planning Director Burhans presented a rezoning request made by Fund 26-Dogwood, LLC to
 rezone a .349-acre parcel located behind Oak Street Mill/near the entrance of the Mill Creek
 community from Neighborhood Residential to Conditional Zoning to allow for 3 single-
 family lots. The three lots will front Aftonshire Drive and may contain accessory dwellings
 in the rear, they will have a 2-story height limit, and a 6´fence along the side/rear perimeter.
 The applicant is not the builder. The community meeting held on June 5th and had five
 attendees of nearby residents who expressed concerns with stormwater drainage, separation
 of homes, and visitor parking. The Planning Board, during their July 8th meeting,
 recommended unanimous approval with conditions and consistent with staff.

 Mayor Washam invited the applicant to speak.

 Mr. Martin Kerr representing for the applicant thanked staff for the assistance throughout the
 process and was available to answer any questions the Board might have.

 There being no questions from the Board, Mayor Washam invited the public to speak.

 Kim Sherrill – 19722 Feriba Place, expressed her support for the project and welcomes
 single-family homes vs. townhomes.

 Dr. Brandon Lokey – 19733 Feriba Place, expressed his support for the overall project, but
 wished affordable housing would be considered.

 There being no further comments, Mayor Washam called for a motion to close the public
 hearing.



 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 5
 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Johnson
 seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 Mayor Washam called for a motion to approve or deny the rezoning.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve Ordinance #2025-00882 to amend the
 zoning map to include REZ 04-25 with conditions. Commissioner Johnson seconded the
 motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 Ordinance #2025-00882 is hereby made part of the minutes by reference.

 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to approve Resolution #2025-01176 declaring REZ
 04-25 with conditions is consistent with the Town’s Land Use Plan and is in the best interest
 of the public. Commissioner Carney seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 Resolution #2025-01176 is hereby made part of the minutes by reference.

10. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL
 A. Transportation Advisory Board Appointments
 Planning Director Burhans gave an over of the two appointments to the Transportation
 Advisory Board (TAB) that will fulfill vacancy terms. He explained that Danny Watson will
 fill a partial term from February 2025 to February 2028 and Bob Bruton will fill partial term
 from February 2022 to February 2026.

 Commissioner Osborne made a motion to approve the appointments of Danny Watson and
 Bob Bruton to the Transportation Advisory Board as presented. Commissioner Carney
 seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 B. Medic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
 Manager Grant stated that due to concerns regarding Medic’s response times to patients, the
 amount of time the fire department is tied up on non-emergency calls preventing or slowing
 responses to fire & rescue calls, and the level of funding received from Medic for the first
 responder services provided, the Town and Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire Dept. have
 been working with the other municipalities and fire departments in Mecklenburg County to
 achieve improvement in these areas. The Town and Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire Dept.
 provided notice of termination of the agreement with Medic with termination occurring as of
 August 15, 2025. He explained that the MOU will extend the termination date for an initial
 period of 90 days to allow a study to commence, extend again for 180 days to allow for the
 study to be completed and allow time for recommendations to be considered for the FY27
 Mecklenburg County budget, and finally ending on June 30, 2026. The Town will evaluate
 the progress being made at each juncture to determine if the fire department will remain
 under contract to provide first responder services.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve the MOU (memorandum of understanding)
 as presented and provide the Town Manager and Attorney with the authority to finalize the
 terms & conditions and execute it. Commissioner Osborne seconded the motion, and it
 passed unanimously, 5-0.

 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 6
 C. Establish Infrastructure Capital Reserve Fund
 Finance Director Niswonger explained that the Town's Investment Policy indicates pursuant
 to North Carolina Session Law 2011-180, House Bill 442, the Town, in addition to the
 authority granted in G.S. 159-30, is authorized to invest and reinvest any of the Town’s
 restricted or unrestricted capital reserves as so designated from time to time by the Board of
 Commissioners as authorized by State law for the State Treasurer in G.S. 147-69.2(b)(1)-(6)
 and (8). This proposed new Infrastructure Capital Reserve Fund allows funds to be invested
 in these vehicles.

 Commissioner Carney made a motion to approve Ordinance #2025-00883 establishing an
 Infrastructure Capital Reserve Fund as presented. Commissioner Sansbury seconded the
 motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 Ordinance #2025-0083 is hereby made part of the minutes by reference.

 D. Substation Distribution Feeder Materials Contract
 Electric Systems Manager David Lucore explained that ElectriCities and its engineer,
 Southeastern Consulting Engineers, Inc. bid materials necessary to connect the new
 substation to the distribution lines that will serve the Town's electric system upon the
 completion of the new substation. The bids were opened on July 10th, and Border States was
 the low bidder with a contract price of $209,375.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve the contract with Border States as
 presented and provide the Town Manager and Attorney with the authority to finalize the
 terms and conditions and execute the contract. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion,
 and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 E. Substation Distribution Feeder Construction Contract
 Electric Systems Manager David Lucore explained that ElectriCities and its engineer,
 Southeastern Consulting Engineers, Inc. bid the labor/construction necessary to connect the
 new substation to the distribution lines that will serve the Town's electric system upon the
 completion of the new substation. The bids were open on July 10th, and Power Grid
 Distribution Services, LLC. was the low bidder with a contract price of $320,101.42.

 Commissioner Higgins made a motion to approve the contract with Power Grid Distribution
 Services, LLC as presented and provide the Town Manager and Attorney with the authority
 to finalize the terms and conditions and execute the contract. Commissioner Carney
 seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

11. CONSENT AGENDA
 A. TIA and Traffic Engineering Contract (Approved 5-0)
 B. Annual Settlement of the Tax Collector Tax Year 2024 (FY25) and Order of Collection for
 Tax Year 2025 (FY26) (Approved 5-0)
 C. Tax Refunds = $143.75 (Approved 5-0)
 st
 D. Approve Closed Session Minutes - July 21 (Approved 5-0)
 E. Approve Regular Meeting Minutes - July 21st (Approved 5-0)

 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 7
 Commissioner Sansbury made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
 Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

12. COMMISSIONER CONCERNS
 No concerns were expressed.

13. ADJOURNMENT
 There being no further business to discuss, Commissioner Johnson made a motion to adjourn the
 meeting at 8:27PM. Commissioner Carney seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously, 5-0.

 Approved this 18th day of August 2025.



 ATTEST: Woody Washam, Jr., Mayor



 Lori A Harrell, Town Clerk




 08/04/25 Regular Meeting
 Page 8
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 AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION
 Account # Order Number Identiﬁcation Order PO Cols Depth

 50310 IPL0256149 Legal Ad - IPL0256149 2.0 36.0L


ATTENTION: Rechelle Ward North Carolina } ss
21445 Catawba Avenue Mecklenburg County }
CORNELIUS, NC 28031 Before the undersigned, a Notary Public of said County and State, duly
accountspayable@cornelius.org authorized to administer oaths affirmations, etc., personally appeared,
 being duly sworn or affirmed according to law, doth depose and say
 that he/she is a representative of The Charlotte Observer Publishing
 Company, a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
 of the State of North Carolina, and publishing a newspaper known as
 The Charlotte Observer in the city of Charlotte, County of Mecklenburg,
 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING and State of North Carolina and that as such he/she is familiar with
 Town of Cornelius the books, records, ﬁles, and business of said Corporation and by
 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC reference to the ﬁles of said publication, the attached advertisement
 was inserted. The following is correctly copied from the books and ﬁles
 The Town of Cornelius Board of Commissioners will hold a Public
  Hearing on Monday, August 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM in Town Hall on of the aforesaid Corporation and Publication.
 the following item:
REZ 04-25 Aftonshire Homes: Request by Fund 2626-Dogwood, LLC, to amend 2.0 insertion(s) published on:
the zoning on approximately 0.34 acres of property at 21726 Aftonshire Drive. 07/25/25 Print, 08/01/25 Print
The parcel is further identified as Mecklenburg County PID number 00521122.
The proposed rezoning is from Neighborhood Residential (NR) to Conditional
Zoning (CZ) to create a 3-lot single-family subdivision and associated acces-
sory buildings. Current Use: Vacant. Current Zoning: Neighborhood Residential.
Proposed Use: Single Family Residential. Proposed Zoning: Conditional Zoning.
PID: 00521122.
IPL0256149
Jul 25,Aug 1 2025

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 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
 Town of Cornelius
 21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC

 The Town of Cornelius Board of Commissioners will hold a Public
  Hearing on Monday, August 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM in Town Hall on
 the following item:
REZ 04-25 Aftonshire Homes: Request by Fund 2626-Dogwood, LLC, to amend
the zoning on approximately 0.34 acres of property at 21726 Aftonshire Drive.
The parcel is further identified as Mecklenburg County PID number 00521122.
The proposed rezoning is from Neighborhood Residential (NR) to Conditional
Zoning (CZ) to create a 3-lot single-family subdivision and associated acces-
sory buildings. Current Use: Vacant. Current Zoning: Neighborhood Residential.
Proposed Use: Single Family Residential. Proposed Zoning: Conditional Zoning.
PID: 00521122.
IPL0256149
Jul 25,Aug 1 2025