By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — At the top of its list of discussion items during a planned Thursday retreat the East Spencer town board will continue the conversation about its much talked about Gateway Plan.

The board will meet Thursday at the Gateway Building, 204 E. Innes St., suite 220. The open meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and is expected to end at 3:15 p.m.

The town’s Gateway plan is designed to create development around and near Interstate 85 at Exit 79 and Andrews Street, located right off the interstate. Andrews Street connects East Spencer to the interstate.

Development of the plan began in the summer of 2014 with discussion of the possibilities for a convenience store similar to Sheetz, a bank, a drug store, fast food restaurant or casual dining restaurant, a department store, and a hotel similar to Marriott.

The board will also:

• Discuss water and sewer strategies. The board has for the past year been searching for a series of smaller leaks in its system. Salisbury-Rowan Utilities provides sewer and water services to the town. Officials also found some who are receiving water that wasn’t being tracked by a meter.

Last year, the town was awarded a $2.4 million grant to rehabilitate its water/sewer system. The grant will cover the cost of improving and replacing failing water lines and valves as well as install new water lines.

• Form objectives and set priorities for the coming year.