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PAGE 2A Friday, Feb. 4, 2022 • Vol. 15 • No. 5
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Resident says he got raw deal on rezoning by Justin Vick
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P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261
MINT HILL – The Mint Hill Planning Board is recommending town commissioners deny a rezoning request that could lead to a convenience store, financial institution or a number of other uses at 5011 Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road. Luther and Shelby Jones Jr. hope to rezone their 1.5 acre lot from residential to general business after realizing their home would need $87,000 in upgrades. They have owned the property for a little over a year. “This one is kind of unusual,” Planning Director John Hoard told the board. “We don’t see this type of rezoning much here in Mint Hill.” Typically, town leaders review conditional rezoning requests, which include site plans, but this is a conventional rezoning, which doesn’t have a specific use. So commissioners have to decide on whether a slate of uses is reasonable for the property. “Even if the applicant promises anything,” Hoard advised, “we can’t hold him to anything. We can’t place conditions on it. It is a yes or no to the rezoning.” Some of the uses allowed in general business, such as a convenience store, would require a conditional rezoning, Hoard said. Conditional rezonings require approval from commissioners. Luther Jones Jr. said the town has approved rezonings elsewhere. He mentioned nearby homes have businesses operating out of them. “You people are letting people get land changed and everything. And me, I can’t do it,” Luther said. “I feel like I am being discriminated. I am a red-headed stepchild that came in here.” Luther told the planning board that an attorney in Matthews told him that the couple of 64 years would have little to no chance of getting the property rezoned. Planning Board Member Eric Tyson asked Jones if he had tried selling the property as it is currently zoned. Jones said he did. The planning board ruled that the proposal was inconsistent with the Mint Hill Land-Use Plan and that a commercial use would be disruptive to the area’s residential setting. Commissioners will decide on the rezoning at their Feb. 10 meeting.
justin@cmgweekly.com charlottemediagroup.org
WHAT'S INSIDE:
Target market Hospital expects patients from towns, 4A
Matthews leaders want to know if the deer that residents are seeing come from one family or if there are many families in town. Knowing how many there are will help them identify a strategy. CMG file photo
Matthews wants to explore increased deer sightings by Justin Vick xx@cmgweekly.com
Memory lane We continue to look back at last 20 years, 2A
Spiritual shelter Some turn to faith for mental health, 1B
Great taste Breweries help charity with beer release, 1B
MATTHEWS – Town commissioners hope to conduct a deer count to determine if residents are seeing the same herd exploring their yards or if Matthews has a problem with overpopulation. Commissioner Renee Garner received an email from a constituent regarding deer control. She Garner called the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation for guidance. Hoover The two organizations partner on annual hunts at nature preserves in the county. One preferred guns as the means for deer control. The other preferred bow and arrow. Garner suggested the town count how many deer there are to determine if control is needed. Commissioner Gina Hoover contacted a few organizations, too. “Unfortunately, with what
A deer smashed through the window of a south Charlotte home 12 years ago. Photo courtesy of Hawthorne Management Company
I’ve learned, we are creating this problem through development,” Hoover said. “When you’re building these pretty little subdivisions and we have our nice manicured lawns and pretty little flowers, well it’s become a buffet for the deer.” She was told about a birth control product that can be administered to female deer by hand or dart gun. Male deer can be sterilized, too. Both procedures can be
“
expensive. Culling deer may lead to survivors creating even more offspring, which could create a bigger problem, she said. Hoover said the optimal solution, citing the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, is the lethal removal of female deer, which can be done through a sharpshooter program. see DEER, Page 5A
(Deer control) would be very controversial here because we have about half of our citizens that love the deer and half of them don't want their gardens to continue to be eaten. • Mayor John Higdon
Death of Cheslie Kryst puts spotlight on 'strong people' Justin Vick Managing Editor
I was goofing off on Twitter when I saw the New York Post identified a woman that jumped from a mid-rise building in New York City as Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst. Wait a minute … is that – dern! I didn’t know Kryst, but I was aware of her
Carolina roots. She was a track athlete at the University of South Carolina, worked as an attorney in Charlotte, won Miss USA 2019 and became a contributor for EXTRA. She was beautiful, confident and seemed to have an undeniable trajectory toward stardom. “Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength” read a statement from her family. “She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined. Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on EXTRA. But most im-
portantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague – we know her impact will live on.” Her death affected many people, including local and national media, politicians and celebrities, such as Academy-Award winner Viola Davis. Mayor Vi Lyles tweeted that she had lunch with her in addition to engaging in charity events. Lyles described Kryst as proud “to be a working attorney in Charlotte.” Several organizations from the Charlotte area posted tributes of Kryst, including Atrium Health, Autism Charlotte, Dress for Success Charlotte and Sky Zone Pineville
I wondered what would motivate her to jump from a building. I watched some videos on YouTube of some of her colleagues on “EXTRA” for clues. They seemed as shocked as I was. Retired NFL star Nate Burleson, who worked with her on “EXTRA,” encouraged “CBS This Morning” viewers to “check on your strong friends.” This has become a major theme of the news coverage of Kryst’s passing. Conventional wisdom is that suicide is something weak people do. I know from exsee VICK, Page 5A
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