Monroe to consider development that will bring 126 new homes to the city

Following a public hearing at tonight’s meeting, the Monroe City Council is expected to vote on a rezoning the will bring a 126-unit mixed-use development to property on Alcovy Street recently sold by the American Legion.

If approved, the rezoning from Professional and Residential to Planned Residential Development  will clear the way for the construction of a development that will include 60 detached single-family homes, 16 attached single-family Brownstones with covered parking (Brownstones – a brown Triassic-Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material used to refer to a townhouse clad in this material), 30 two-bedroom condo flats in two 15-unit three story buildings with covered parking and 20 luxury apartments in a single three-story building, also with covered parking. The resultant density, according to the application, is 7.4 units per acre with more than 3.5 acres (21 percent) of the project retained in open space.

The development, headed by Paul Rosenthal, a local attorney, and owner of Monroe Cotton Mills, will be named Veterans Walk. It is reported to be the first project of its kind in downtown Monroe with multiple different housing options “all in walkable proximity to one another centered around a “beautifully restored historic building serving as the hub of the community.” All publicly dedicated city streets in the community will have double lined sidewalks and street trees with common decorative street lighting. There will be no front-loaded garages with most of the single residences serviced by rear alley drives.

Amenities will include six passive park areas as well as several active amenities, such as a playground/tot lot, a swimming pool with a hot tub, a clubhouse with a large meeting area, a theater room and workout area and the historic fire pit of the American Legion repurposed for the residents. The amenities will be under the control and maintenance of a homeowners association.

A variance also applied for at the back of the development that fronts Greenwood Drive met with some opposition from the Pollock neighborhood on Greenwood Drive. The variance was referred back to the Planning and Zoning Commission and only the rezone will be voted on tonight.

The City Council meeting is a 6 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, at Monroe City Hall located at 215 N. Broad Street. The public is invited.

The full agenda follows.

I.      CALL TO ORDER – JOHN HOWARD

1.     Invocation

2.     Roll Call

3.     Approval of Agenda

4.     Approval of Consent Agenda

a.     September 4, 2018, Council Minutes

b.     September 11, 2018, Council Minutes

c.      September 4, 2018, Executive Session Minutes

d.     September 11, 2018, Executive Session Minutes

e.      September 24, 2018, Planning & Code Committee Minutes

f.      September 6, 2018, Planning Commission Minutes

g.     September 18, 2018, Planning Commission Minutes

h.     September 25, 2018, Historic Preservation Commission Minutes

i.       T-Hangar Build Proposal – To table for an indefinite time. (Recommended for Council approval by Airport Committee October 2, 2018)

j.      Purchase – Automated Side Loader Truck – To purchase from Carolina Environmental Systems for $256,174.00. (Recommended for Council approval by Public Works Committee October 2, 2018)

II.   PUBLIC PRESENTATION

1.     Team Up Mentoring

2.     International Students

III. PUBLIC FORUM

1.     Public Comments

2.     Public Hearing

a.     Rezone – 1190 West Spring Street

b.     Rezone – 318 Alcovy Street and 409 Greenwood Drive

IV. NEW BUSINESS

1.     Rezone – 1190 West Spring Street

2.     Rezone – 318 Alcovy Street and 409 Greenwood Drive

3.     Approval – Chamber of Commerce Contract

4.     Resolution – DD RLF Pimento Investments LLC

5.     Southeastern Power Administration Power Sales Change