Development debate brings hundreds to raucous Weddington town meeting

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — In the town of Weddington, if you talk to most residents, one of the things they appreciate is the small-town feel.

But they say some of the roads and schools are already congested. A new proposed development would be too much.

PAST COVERAGE: Developer causes uproar after proposing rezoning for home community in Weddington

The Weddington Green project would develop land between Providence and Weddington Roads into Weddington Green which would feature 197 homes, a few specialty shops, office spaces, hiking and biking trails, a beer garden, an amphitheater, food truck stalls and an eight and half-acre park.

The proposal -- unanimously recommended by the Town Planning Commission -- has received an outpouring of backlash from locals including a petition with

It was a full house at the All Saints Church in Weddington on Monday night.

Church wasn’t in session, the town city council was.

Not only was the auditorium packed with at least 500 people, there was a line outside and Monday night’s meeting had to be moved from town hall to accompany the large crowd.

It’s a full house and huge crowds outside for Weddington Green Rezoning hearing @GenevieveWSOC9 @gcountswsoc9 @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/gRnzrJXW77
— Joey Williams (@JWilliamsWSOC09) March 14, 2022

Most in town were there to send a message to the town’s council: the proposed development is not wanted.

“It is right on our front doorstep,” resident Kim Topalian said.

Topalian is one of the leaders who organized this fight. One of the things the residents say they fear most is all the additional traffic.

“Right now, we have so much traffic on Providence,” she said. “Providence is a nightmare to take our kids to school, if you leave after 7 a.m. you’re in trouble.”

Some in Weddington have compared the proposal to an addition made in the town of Waverly.

The developer said it would be more like Waxhaw or Davidson with a park.

This quiet piece of land is causing quite the uproar in Weddington. A developer is proposing a 197 home community with a park, amphitheater, greenway. Almost 2,000 residents signed a petition against the development they worry will add to traffic and other problems @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/Q4vsZSnW4f
— Genevieve Curtis (@GenevieveWSOC9) March 11, 2022

“I’m very excited that this many (people) did come out, because what we’re hoping to do tonight is to clear up some of the misperceptions, there are a whole bunch of comparisons that are just false,” Tom Waters, president of the Provident Land Company, said on Monday night.

After the presentation, not many of the residents changed their mind. They see the Weddington Green as a permanent change to their town that they don’t want.

“So our thing is were trying to keep that small town feel instead of having the hustle bustle of Charlotte,” resident Jim Bell said.

The Weddington Town Council had the option to approve a zoning change that would’ve paved the way for the development, but they did not plan to take a vote Monday night.

Instead, the public hearing was an opportunity for the community to voice their opinion.

The council received an earful, but more will be to come. Only about 30 people got to speak during Monday’s meeting, so the public conversation will be continued until the town council’s next meeting on April 11.

(WATCH BELOW: Developer causes uproar after proposing rezoning for home community in Weddington)