Huntersville Planning Board recommends proposal for more homes in Bellington plan

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Updated at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28

HUNTERSVILLE — The Huntersville Town Planning Board on Tuesday recommended the OK of a proposal by Hopper Communities of Charlotte to increase the density of its already approved Bellington single-family housing development.

Instead of building 88 homes on about 42 acres on Huntersville-Concord Road, Hopper now wants to add twelve more homes, bringing the total to an even 100. The proposal would mean the average lot size would shrink.

The original plan called for 62 lots to average 60 feet wide and 26 lots to average 90 feet wide. New drawings show 84 homes on the smaller lots, with only 16 on the larger lots.

During a Sept. 20 community meeting, 17 Huntersville residents voiced concerns about the impact the increased density would have on nearby neighborhoods and roads.

After the community meeting, Huntersville senior planner David Peete recommended in a staff report to the Planning Board that the altered project go forward as long as Hopper provide adequate open space in the development. On Tuesday, the planning board unanimously recommended the proposal be approved by the town Board of Commissioners.

Peete’s report says that the proposal would increase Bellington’s density from 2.14 homes per acre to 2.4. The report notes that the proposed density in Bellington is not as dense as the nearby Centennial subdivision, which has 2.59 units per acre.

The Town Board of Commissioners is scheduled to take final action on the proposal on Dec. 3, but Peete on Wednesday said the developer might seek a delay until January.