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Growth slow, sure at Exit 42
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Published: August 24, 2009
By the end of 2010, residents will get their first glimpse of the new businesses promised by the signs popping up around Exit 42.
Construction on the Walmart in Troutman Towne Center and the 80-room Country Inn and Suites is expected to begin early next year.
Developers said the approval process Troutman put in place will help traffic flow on U.S. Highway 21 in the long run.
Right now, the development along the exit off Interstate 77 consists of three fast-food restaurants, Lowe's Home Improvement Center and two gas stations.
Town manager David Saleeby said development along the exit slowed due to the recession, which allowed officials to take things slowly and avoid some of the issues plaguing other exits along the interstate.
"They've done a great job to make sure they are taking care of their local citizens," said Brian Fletcher, a partner with North Point Resources LLC, which is developing Troutman Towne Center. "We do our best to try to fulfill what they are looking for."
Saleeby said all of the developers are complying well with the town's land-use plan and the unified development ordinance (UDO).
The UDO was modified recently so the 80-room Country Inn and Suites near Arby's could have one parking space per room, said Jim Leonard, owner of JR Leonard Construction and a partner in Troutman Hospitality.
"We've been anxiously trying to get this through," Leonard said. "It has been a long process and it continues to be."
Leonard expects the hotel project to go smoothly from now.
Troutman Hospitality plans to start construction at the beginning of 2010, and Leonard hopes it will be done by the end of that year.
The construction plans and engineering for the new Walmart in North Point's Troutman Towne Center are currently under way, Fletcher said. The outparcels for the restaurants and retail space are being marketed to potential clients.
For now, North Point is only developing 40 of the 85 acres located off the northbound side of the interstate. The development includes space for a Walmart, restaurants, a hotel and additional retailers and room to grow, Fletcher said.
Despite the sign in front of the property announcing the large retailer and the documents filed with the town about the store, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokesman Chris Neeley said the preliminary paperwork was still not complete and the project wasn't finalized.
"We would like to have a store there," he said.
One of the town's requirements for new retail developments, like Troutman Towne Center, is internal roads to connect the businesses to the main highway instead of having several driveways. Saleeby said these roads are required to be paved up to the property line to accommodate future development.
"With the Walmart development there are three entrances," Saleeby said. "None of those entrances would go right to a business."
Each development is required by the N.C Department of Transportation to make road improvements. When Lowe's was built, the home improvement retailer had to pay for a portion of the road to be widened.
The same applies to North Point Resources as it completes the new Walmart, Saleeby said.
"They are planning this thing in a fashion that takes in consideration the traffic flows," Fletcher said. "They've been cautious and diligent to ensure that what they end up with is tasteful."
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