Proposed Davidson development could bring traffic problems

By Blaine Tolison

DAVIDSON, N.C. — A push for new homes, offices, and stores in Mooresville that could flood nearby Davidson with traffic.

Lindsay Mann and her family moved to the Davidson area for the small town feel, but she worried big city traffic is coming with more development.

"It's been a great move for us, but the traffic pattern has to change," Mann said.

The town of Davidson will bear the brunt of a new project, known as Lake Davidson, being considered by the town of Mooresville.

The Mooresville's planning board still needs to approve the request by a developer for a massive 130-acre community.

The development could include hundreds of homes, townhomes and condos, along with office and retail space that would be built at Bridges Farm Road and Highway 115, which is a few miles from downtown Davidson

This is an area already inundated by commuters trying to avoid traffic on Interstate 77.

"People getting on 115 trying to re-route,” Mann said. “So, any sort of development that is that big is going to cause everything to slow down."

Studies already project big problems on Highway 115.

The town's traffic analysis indicated the highway would have unacceptably long traffic delays.

"If we weren't in such great communication with Mooresville, it would be a real concern,” Davidson Mayor John Woods said. “It would actually be scary."

Woods said his town's planning board is currently working with Mooresville's planning board to do what's best for residents but admitted that Mooresville has ultimate control over the Lake Davidson project.

"It's a bit of a challenge for us to communicate that and to be at the table," Woods said.

Residents will be able to voice their concerns to town leaders the public hearing on the development on May 11.

The Mooresville planning board recommended the town board approve a rezoning request by the developer of Lake Davidson, but officials said the traffic impact analysis is in the draft phase currently.

Officials said it will be changed and will likely include more improvements to traffic patterns. It must be approved by the towns and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

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