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Zoning requested New development a possibility in Belmont By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Yet another residential development could be heading Belmont’s way. Recently presented to the Belmont Planning and Zoning Board, the plans call for 810 highend homes to be built on 670 acres of the Seven Oaks Foundation land. This includes five miles of shore along Lake Wylie between the South Fork River and Catawba Creek. Roads that would access the development would include South New Hope and Lower Armstrong roads. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is nearby to the north. The Seven Oaks developer is New York-based Northwood Investors. The plans were done by Merrick and Co., engineers and architects. In addition to the homes, the development would also feature two 23-acre commercial zones, and a 10-acre park that would be turned over to the City of Belmont. Trails for hiking and bicy-
By Alan Hodge Plans are in the works for a possible 380-home development on Mountain Island Lake on property near Mount Holly owned by fine arts patron Andreas Bechtler. The development would be built at the end of Horseshoe Bend Beach Rd., which is off Hwy. 16 near the Riverbend Steam Station. Interestingly, the same narrow, twisting, two-lane street is where Mountain Island Charter School had planned to build a new facility last year. However, that idea ran into opposition from a variety of sources including folks who live in the Stonewater development already in place on the road, who cited potential problems such as ingress and egress of emergency vehicles and heavy traffic as reasons the school should be located elsewhere- which it was. However, Mount Holly City Manager Danny Jackson believes there is a difference between the school and Bechtler’s plans. “The home construction would be phased in rather than the school which would have had all its traffic added
Schools bells ring
at once,� he said. Jackson said that developers for Bechtler have not formally approached the city for zoning or other hearings. The exact location at the end of Horseshoe Bend Beach Rd. where the 380 or so upscale residences are planned is known as Little Italy for its geographical resemblance to the “boot� of that European nation, only instead of jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, this toe sticks out into the lake. Little Italy has been Bechtler’s artistic hideaway for over a decade. The development consultant on the project addressed the Mountain Island Marine Commission recently and assured that body the integrity of the lake would be one of the highest priorities and would include 100-foot buffer zones, two times the state minimum, double rows of silt fence during construction, and a network of trails and waterfront parks. The development would span three miles of shoreline with 65 lots on the water. Duke Energy manages Mountain Island Lake and allows docks up to 120 feet long, but can shorten that figure it need be.
the train that was in Stowe Park in the 1950s and 60s. “Many people who grew up in Belmont have fond memories of the train that circled the park,� said Debi Goldsmith, auction chairperson. “We currently have the engine, which has been completely restored, in a warehouse. We are now raising money for the restoration of a passenger car and a train depot to be built on our property on Catawba St. Our See BHS, 3A
Ward charged By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
See ZONING, 5A
Dinner, silent auction Sept. 21 The second annual Belmont Historical Society dinner/silent auction will be held on Sat., Sept. 21. The money raised will go toward building a permanent home for the Stowe Park Special,
75¢
cling would be part of the package as well. Home lots would be in the one-acre range. “This is a large number of houses but a lower density of development than Belmont typically sees,� said Adrian Miller, Belmont assistant city manager. “The two ‘future commercial’ areas could develop with neighborhoodscale retail, office, or restaurant uses to serve this part of Gaston County as the area develops. The plan also includes the Catawba Lands Conservancy properties that contain a segment of the Carolina Thread Trail, which will provide walking trails with scenic views of Catawba Creek and the wildlife along the shore.� The land would have to be annexed by Belmont and infrastructure such as water and sewer provided. Currently, Belmont’s water and sewer lines end just before the South Fork River bridge on Armstrong Road. Then there’s fire and police service to consider.
Mansions on Mtn. Island Lake? Alan.bannernbews@gmail.com
Volume 78 • Issue 35 • Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Photo courtesy Tom Nencetti
Gaston County kids went back to school on Monday. In this photo Ashleigh Burns and Cooper Shank get on the bus taking them to class at Belmont Central Elementary.
Gaston County police arrested a Stanley man last week and booked him on a long list of breaking and entering charges. Matthew Ryan Ward, 27, 32 E. Chestnut St., was charged with 22 counts of breaking and entering and another 20 counts of larWard ceny after breaking and entering. He was also charged with 22 counts of conspiracy. He was placed on $500,000 bond according to the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office website. Ward’s charges were in connection with a series of break-ins in Mount Holly, Stanley, and Dallas. The break-ins were in garages, sheds, and carports dating back to April 4. Items taken included a variety of lawn equipment such as weed eaters and leaf blowers. At the time of his arrest last week, Ward was on probation for earlier larceny and probation violation charges dated June 27. According to Gaston Sheriff’s Office records, Ward has been arrested on numerous other occasions. See WARD, 3A
Whitesides immersed in hustle and bustle of Asian culture ALAN HODGE alan.bannernews@gmail.com
When Trey Whitesides, 22, son of Monroe and Sandy Whitesides of Belmont, decided he wanted to take on a challenge and learn a new language he bypassed the usual Spanish or German courses and plunged headfirst into a lingo most Americans would struggle to wrap their heads, and tongues, around. Trey’s talk of choice is Chinese and the desire to become fluent in it led him this summer on the trip of a lifetime to that nation on the other side of the globe where he was immersed in the See WHITESIDES, 3A
UNC-Charlotte student Trey Whitesides of Belmont just got back from a summer in China where he studied the language and culture. In this shot he’s seen touring the Great Wall.
Large crowd enjoys Music Fest Nice weather brought a large crowd to Saturday’s second annual Between 2 Rivers Music Festival in Belmont. The event was held on Glenway St. behind Friends Sports Bar, Belmont General Store, and Glenway Premium Pub. Groups that performed included the Corey Hunt Band, Baylor Drive, On the Border, and the Piedmont Boys. Festival proceeds went to benefit Levine Children’s Hospital.
Event sponsors included Sunbelt Rentals, McKenney Family Dealerships, Car-
olina Orthopedic, C&C Scrap Iron and Metal, Watson Insurance Agency, Bel-
mont Federal Savings and Loan, and WebWright Carolina.
Photo by Alan Hodge
Lily Harmon and Marley Prato, both eight-years-old, took advantage of some of the amusements at the Between 2 Rivers Music Festival.
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