********************Update********************

Republic Development Group has filed a new site plan reducing the Ballantyne Affordable Housing site to 86 units.

Click here to download and print the revised plan.

Ballantyne, NC – The rezoning issue in the news for the Ballantyne area has gained a lot of community attention. Many are saying [...]]]>

********************Update********************

Republic Development Group has filed a new site plan reducing the Ballantyne Affordable Housing site to 86 units.

Click here to download and print the revised plan.

Ballantyne, NC – The rezoning issue in the news for the Ballantyne area has gained a lot of community attention. Many are saying that Ballantyne residents simply do not want low income in their backyard. That really does not tell the whole story. The Ballantyne Scoop has been present at many of the community and government meetings regarding this issue and this is what we have learned.

Residents of the Ballantyne area met Monday night to discuss the rezoning request for a piece of land situated at the corner of Johnston Road and Providence Road West. The rezoning request has caused quite a stir in the Ballantyne area with residents clamoring for more information. The meeting was pulled together by a group called Johnston Road Community HOA. Their email contact is JohnstonRoadCommuntiyHOA@gmail.com. This group is made up of 11 surrounding neighborhood HOAs.

The meeting was called to help brief area residents on the rezoning process, what their rights are, and to share available details on what is proposed for the track. Republic Development has requested, on behalf of the property owner, that the property be rezoned from its current commercial designation to multi-family residential. If the rezoning is approved, this would clear the way for apartment style buildings to be erected.

Republic Development has also submitted an application to the Federal Housing Authority to qualify the site for affordable/low income tax credits for the property. If approved, the site would become Ballantyne’s first property of this type. The approval from the FHA is contingent on the rezoning request being approved.

Residents seemed most concerned about the impact this multi-family development would have on already overcrowded schools and roadways. Other issues on residents minds were the potential for increased crime and what affect it could have on already decreasing home values in the area.

According to a local realtor, as of last week there were at least 20 homes in the surrounding area that are currently in foreclosure. Many homes have gone through a short sale. There has been an increase in vacancy rates in the current apartment complexes that are located in the area. Property values have dropped dramatically in the Ballantyne area over the past year and residents seem sincerely concerned this will not help them rebound.

The track that is set for rezoning is located on one of the busiest intersections in Ballantyne. It has no immediate access to public transportation or sidewalks to accommodate pedestrian traffic. In an earlier meeting, the developer said they were hoping to provide a place to live for those in the service industry working in Ballantyne. According to the Charlotte Housing Authority this could not be considered in the application process for potential renters.

The only entities that can file a protest petition with the City Council are the adjacent landowners, of which there are 3. According to those present at the meeting, these landowners plan to file the protest petition which will force the City Council have 75% of members voting for the rezoning request for it to pass.

Not everyone in attendance at this meeting was opposed to locating such a development in the area. One resident spoke about how Charlotte had successfully implemented scattered site housing plans in the past, including in areas such as South Park.

If the rezoning request is approved and the Federal Housing money comes through, the CHA will purchase the land and contract out the management of this mixed income development.

City Councilman Warren Cooksey of District 7 (Ballantyne area) has said he will hold off taking a stance on the issue until all of the public meetings and comments have been made.

Dates of note:

• February 22, 6:00pm – Community Meeting with CHA and property developer at Harrison United Methodist Church.
• March 18, 6:00pm – City Council Public comment session. Call ahead if you are interested in addressing the council.
• April 19, 6:00pm – City Council set to vote on the rezoning application.

**Reporters Note: Caroline Adams is a resident of the Ballantyne area.

caroline@ballantynescoop.com

2010 Ballantyne Scoop The Scoop Network