Local News - March 2003

Land use plan sets worthy goals

March 28, 2003 - A committee of citizens saw a year’s worth of their hard work on display Tuesday before a rather small audience at the Lincoln Cultural Center. Don’t worry about the small audience. The entire population of the city of Lincolnton will be the benefactors of this panel’s work on a land use plan that goes 10 to 15 years into the future. The depth and detail contained in the plan will be appreciated for years by those who seek a high quality of life while living and working in the city of Lincolnton.

It’s a basic premise of any good business or organization to have a mission — to meet goals that improve upon the past. That’s what the city of Lincolnton had in mind when this committee was asked to draft a plan from the substance of public comments made during two days of public hearings.

 The new plan, which is still open to amendments and is yet to be adopted by the city, offers new directions for development during the foreseeable future. It doesn’t obligate the city to anything, but will serve as a road map.

The plan promotes more residential development downtown — even in the upper floors of businesses — and calls for new guidelines on residential and commercial projects. It calls for more open space and includes measures that will help the city to do more about eyesores.

Community appearance was very important to the committee. The plan directs developers to pursue their subdivisions and shopping areas in eye-pleasing ways. That usually means the developer will have to spend a little more money but local officials point out that such provisions are not new to the area, and are typical in Charlotte outlying areas such as Cornelius.

Policies would be developed for “big box” stores, sprawl would be discouraged and off-street parking would be more eye-pleasing.

At the same time, the plan protects Lincolnton’s historic neighborhoods and maintains the city’s downtown as the hub of cultural activity. It keeps the things we like, and provides for the new things we want.

Similar foresight in land use planning more than a decade ago has served Lincolnton well. Our city still looks good and continues to have the small-town feel we appreciate. Today, we have another plan that should serve us well for at least the next decade. We urge the planning commission and the Lincolnton City Council to adopt this very worthwhile land use plan.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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