HOPE MILLS — The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners tonight is expected to revisit and vote on a proposed 384-unit apartment complex on Elk Road.
The board meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The apartment complex, known as The One at Hope Mills, would be at 3680 Elk Road. The plan was submitted by The Charleston Group on behalf of Fayetteville Christian Schools Inc.
Concerned residents of The Pinewood Lakes subdivision, which borders the planned apartment complex, attended the last board meeting and voiced concerns about traffic into their neighborhood.
The neighborhood was built in the 1960s and is popular with retirees.
The chief concern raised by residents was an access gate from the apartments into their neighborhood.
The developer plans to connect the two developments by an emergency gate and assured residents the gate would only be accessed by emergency first-responding vehicles, according to Chancer McLaughlin, the town’s Planning and Economic Development director.
They also expressed concerns about potential flooding.
At the last meeting, several Pinewood Lakes residents said their yards flood whenever it rains due to the neighboring Walmart water retention pond. Neighbors said they were promised by the town and developers that wouldn’t happen. Residents complain, they said, but nothing is done about it.
McLaughlin said everything was taken into account, and the development would not happen until the developer satisfies the requirements for each building permit.
The One at Hope Mills development has two retention ponds in its development plans.
At the last meeting, the board asked McLaughlin if another area could be found for the required second (emergency) access to The One at Hope Mills development.
The board decided at that time to delay the vote in an effort to hear McLaughlin’s findings.
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Also on Monday, the board is expected to hear an update on the Public Safety Building by its architect Scott Garner. Garner is expected to present a USDA report.
Under new business, the board will consider authorizing the town manager to execute a memorandum of understanding between the town and the T.J. Robinson Life Center in the budgeted amount of $4,000.
The board also will discuss the idea of staggered four-year terms and an election cycle move to even years.
Under the consent agenda, the town will consider approval for the town manager to enter into a contract agreement to provide engineering services for roadway and drainage improvement on Pringle Way.
According to a memo from Public Works Director Don Sisko to Town Manager Scott Meszaros, the town received American Rescue Plan Act funding in the amount of nearly $2.4 million for street repairs. Pringle Way, in the Golf Acres subdivision, is the street that has the lowest rating, according to the 2019 Streets Paving Survey. Public Works posted Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) from engineering firms to provide design, bidding and construction phase services.
“Three qualifying bids were received, with MacConnell and Associates providing the lowest responsible bid,” Sisko says in the memo.
Items on the consent agenda are usually approved without discussion.
The board is also scheduled to hold a closed session to discuss personnel matters.
Jason Canady covers Hope Mills for CityView. He can be reached at jcanady@cityviewnc.com.
