On Monday May 22, 2017, developer Joe Pearson submitted a rezoning proposal to the City Planning Department for the Lineberger family parcel we call Franklin Woods. The City of Gastonia Planning Commission will meet Thursday, August 3, 2017, in the Public Forum Room in the Gaston County Courthouse to rule on this proposal. The Gaston County Courthouse is located at 325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Gastonia. The meeting will begin at 5:30pm. A large public presence will be key to our opposition's success, to show that this issue matters to many folks, not just a few. Any appeal of the Planning Commission decision to the City Council will be heard at their September 19 meeting.
This blog remains opposed to any commercial development of that environmentally sensitive transitional parcel, as neighbors and the City have for several decades. However, on July 28, for the first time in forty years of history and at least six rezoning attempts, City planning staff have recommended a commercial rezoning. The threat to Franklin Woods is real. We will need your presence to lobby against this development with City leaders at scheduled meetings, and we will need your vocal and financial support to obtain help to do so. We have a shorter approval schedule than our last fight over Academy Sports, so we need help now. What can you do? See the information at www.keepfranklinwoods.com
