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Exit 42’s future examined at meeting

Russell Ledbetter | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | Feb. 28, 2008

At a meeting to discuss the future of the area near Exit 42 off Interstate 77, Iredell County planners asked residents, developers and other stakeholders for their input.

They got an earful.

By day’s end, county and town planners had enough information to begin work on a cohesive plan for the Exit 42 area, County Planning Director Ron Smith said.

“It was the first time all the agencies got together,” Smith said. “Everyone put their cards on the table.”

About 100 property owners, developers, investors and representatives from the Greater Statesville Development Corporation, N.C. Department of Transportation and Iredell-Statesville Schools assembled for the meeting Tuesday in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall.

“I think it was a huge success because all the key stakeholders were able to get together and inform one another about our collective efforts,” said Troutman Town Manager David Saleeby.
Thee meeting covered development trends, utilities, transportation and schools.

“It opened up the conversation between developers and government agencies and was a great day of information sharing,” Saleeby said.

Attracting businesses to the area was a key issue brought up during the meeting. Some officials said success in that area was tied to issuing liquor permits.

Troutman voters will decide in May if restaurants can sell liquor. The outcome of that vote will determine the quality of businesses that come to the area, according to investor Mike Heinen.

“We have to get the community going, or we are in trouble,” Heinen said.

He noted that without liquor permits, the only type of eateries to move to Troutman will be fast-food restaurants.

“I use the philosophy: What type of restaurant does a family want to go to after church?” Heinen asked. “If they want to go some place more upscale like a Red Lobster, let’s say, they’ll still probably have iced tea. They might not have a drink, but those are the quality of restaurants and hotels that will come only if the liquor vote passes.”

Meeting participants pointed out that accessing new businesses from the highway is a pressing matter.

Those present were turned loose with instructions to design the Exit 42 development area. Many noted traffic patterns and proposed Flowerhouse Loop - which isn’t a loop - get the chance to live up to its name.

“Everybody’s buying into the whole loop idea as a connector” between Flowerhouse Loop and Simpson Road, Smith said.
“Connectivity of a circle is logical. Look at any kind of urban area,” said Iredell County Real Property Manager Steve Ervin. “If they’re advanced, they have a loop.”

County planners intend to take the information gathered from the all-day sessions and complete a rough draft of the county master plan.

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