County-town flap
deepens
Commissioners rezone land for industry; town proceeds on
residential
Union County commissioners voted Monday to rezone land near the state line for light industrial use even though Waxhaw leaders have already annexed the land and have other plans for it.
The county's move is the latest in an ongoing controversy over the land, just north of N.C. 75. Waxhaw plans to have a developer build a high-end residential neighborhood there; the county wants 327 acres of it to pursue building a two-state industrial park with Lancaster County.
Waxhaw can apply its own zoning to the property at any time within 60 days of annexing the land, but county commissioner Stony Rushing said Tuesday that he wants the commissioners' decision to send a message to the town.
"I hope that Waxhaw will rethink what they're doing and let that become light industrial," said Rushing, who made the motion to rezone the property.
Waxhaw Town Administrator Mike Simpson said that's unlikely. He said the location simply isn't the right place for an industrial park because it would be too close to houses. He said the town is moving forward with plans to rezone the land despite the county's recent decision.
"I think it's just a show of force, that's all I think," Simpson said.
He said the new neighborhood would help Waxhaw by bringing in amenities and more residents. The developer has agreed to build a recreation center for the town, along with a public swimming pool, park and ball fields, Simpson said.
Waxhaw had been moving forward with the property owners' annexation requests, while the county had been seeking the rezoning. The annexation issue came before Waxhaw leaders last month, before the rezoning request made its way to county commissioners.
Rushing said Tuesday that the county needed to move forward with the rezoning because that's "what we had planned."
Commissioner Hughie Sexton said during Monday's meeting that he favored the county following through on the issue.
"If the citizens of Union County need one thing, it's less residential and more commercial," Sexton said.
Commissioner Clayton Loflin, who cast the lone dissenting vote against the rezoning request, said he believes the county is "beating a dead horse" by rezoning the land.
"I think it's time to lick our wounds and learn from our mistakes and go on and reach out to the town of Waxhaw," Loflin said.
The county and Waxhaw had been working together on plans for an industrial park in the Waxhaw area. But officials disagreed over the location. County Manager Mike Shalati said the town, Union County and Lancaster County, S.C., agreed the disputed site would be the best location.
Simpson said that location was never discussed as a possible site. Instead, he said, they talked about a site just south of N.C. 75.
Simpson said the town is open to working with the county on other potential locations for an industrial park. But, he said, "we're willing to work as a team; we're not willing to be dictated to."
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