GRANITE QUARRY — The Granite Quarry Town Council implemented several zoning changes during the meeting on Monday, which included allowing usages such as farmer’s markets and firearms sales to the neighborhood development overlay districts or main street districts.

The first change allows for farmer’s markets, firearms sales and furniture repair shops to be allowed in the Traditional Neighborhood Development Overlay district by right. 

The TNDO district is aimed at promoting neighborhoods using pedestrian-oriented transportation and mixtures of housing, community buildings and stores or workplaces. Planning, Zoning and Subdivision Administrator Rick Flowe made sure to note that the TNDO was an overlay district, which means that it is only available via a special request that must be brought before the town council.

Previously, firearms sales were only allowed in strictly commercial or industrial zoning districts while farmer’s markets were only allowed in the Main Street district, Civic district and mixed use districts.

Two other changes were recommended by the town’s planning board, adding firearms sales to the Main Street District and adding general contractors offices to the Mixed-Use 2 district. The MS district is aimed at development and revitalization of the town’s downtown corridor and allows mainly for workplaces, shops, services and high-density housing. The MU2 district is aimed at promoting residential, retail or office space in “infill” areas, which are vacant or underutilized areas in town.

The recommendations from the planning board are the result of discussions from the adoption of the town’s current development ordinance in 2023. At the time, the members of the council expressed a desire to have the planning board members continuously review the ordinances and make sure that they remain up-to-date.

“About a year-and-a-half ago when (town council members) were going through the adoption process on the new development ordinance, there was some discussion about revisiting and making sure that we remain current and we kind of test ourselves periodically. That directive to revisit the use table in a year is what I’m reporting on tonight,” said Flowe.

The ordinance amendment also added changes to the language surrounding open space requirements, including that open spaces required as part of proposed development projects would be protected by being named permanent conservation land.

After Flowe’s presentation and the ensuing discussion, the members of the council voted unanimously to approve the proposed amendments.

In other news from the Granite Quarry Town Council meeting:

• The town officially began the annexation process for two properties, one at 260 Tingle Road and one at 3006 Old Concord Road. The council approved resolutions setting public hearings to discuss the annexations for the meeting on Feb. 10.
• The council approved a resolution supporting the installation of new welcome road signs for the town, which would highlight the East Rowan High School baseball team’s state championships. The signs would be paid for and maintained by Granite Quarry, but the town requires N.C. Department of Transportation approval for installation.
• The town council awarded the bid for design services for the Granite Civic Park renovation project to Charlotte-based engineering firm Benesch. Town Manager Jason Hord said that Benesch was chosen from four firms that submitted bids, and that no base bid was tied to the proposals. The council directed Hord to negotiate with Benesch, and any contract would come before the council for approval.