Jake Palillo at Lagoona Bay/Waterside community meeting
Sept. 13. By Dave Yochum. Developer Jake Palillo and Bi-Part Development are pulling the plug on the 263-acre Lagoona Bay/Waterside project on either side of Hwy. 73 east of Hwy. 115.
The property, currently farmland, is expected to go back on the market. Its hallmark feature was the “Crystal Lagoon” as well as commercial, retail and residential components just west of Mayes Road.
The development was valued at $800 million.
“As the Lagoona Bay/Waterside project comes to an end, our love for Huntersville and wanting to make it better doesn’t. The Lake Norman area is home to me and my family,” said Palillo, the developer of the highly successful Bailey’s Glen active adult community and Symphony Park, a luxury independent living complex on Hwy. 73 that opens early next year.
It was first reported by Cornelius Today and Business Today last October that Palillo planned the Lagoona Bay mixed-use project to cap off a long career as an entrepreneur and developer. It had the support of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.
Opposition and social media
But after a year-long struggle to seek rezoning—amidst opposition from some members of the community during an election year—Palillo said the project does not financially work with a scaled-back plan to meet the current zoning.
“Our passion for Huntersville has not changed,” said Palillo, who is also the owner of Cornelius-based South Creek Construction.
Both the town’s planning staff and planning board had recommended denial of Palillo’s rezoning request because it was not consistent with the 2040 Community Plan.
Calling Huntersville an “amazing community,” he said the town “is at a point where they need to finally realize they are no longer a small rural community and figure out what they want to be.”
Palillo: An entrepreneurial approach to development
He said the days of sketching out zoning plans on a white board with casual input from ordinary citizens should come to an end.
Quotable
“They need to bring in experts and properly plan for the future. They need to understand North Carolina’s growth plan is no pain, no gain, meaning you don’t get new roads or schools until you really feel the pain. Allowing social media to create this plan will end poorly for the Town and its residents,” Palillo said, explaining that impact fees—which are not allowed in North Carolina—would solve the problems caused by rapid growth.
“Sadly that is in the hands of the Realtor and builder lobbyist hands,” he said.
We apparently are satisfied with the way it is, better yet the way it used to be. Expansion is not always the answer, look at New York. The expansion has created high taxes, overcrowding and people leaving because of it. That’s what us coming.
Posted by Mark Francis | September 13, 2023, 12:28 pmThe people have the right to voice their opinions and are not always in favor of new developments…especially when they have lived here for a long time and they are still trying to adjust to all the new developments and longer than usual drive times. Maybe there will be another more welcoming place for this project to be built. Everything happens for a reason…and sometimes the developer doesn’t realize that until later.
Posted by swh | September 13, 2023, 1:00 pmThe people have the right to voice their opinions and are not always in favor of new developments…especially when they have lived here for a long time and they are still trying to adjust to all the new developments and longer than usual drive times. Maybe there will be another more welcoming place for this project to be built. Everything happens for a reason…and sometimes the developer doesn’t realize that until later.
Posted by Sue Hallman | September 13, 2023, 1:01 pmNo pain no gain for who ?
No gain for you.
Posted by Richard E Purrell | September 13, 2023, 2:48 pmIts already too busy here. Until they fix the roads its going to be a living hell for the rest of us.
Posted by Richard | September 13, 2023, 5:01 pmGood. We need more apartments and breweries. And pickle ball courts.
Posted by Apartment god | September 13, 2023, 9:31 pmthat was funny……
Posted by Joe a vagnone | September 14, 2023, 10:59 amThank goodness this debacle is history.
Posted by Lynn Gibbons Beddow | September 13, 2023, 10:31 pmResponse to the Article about the Lagoona Bay/Waterside Project:
disappointing, it highlights some crucial issues in the process of development and rezoning in our local towns. It’s clear that Palillo had a vision for this project and a passion for improving the community he calls home. It’s also important to remember that he’s a respected member of the community, and this project was his investment, not the town’s.
The difficulties faced by Palillo during the year-long struggle to seek rezoning are emblematic of the challenges many developers encounter when trying to bring innovative projects to their communities. The fact that the town’s planning staff and planning board recommended denial based on inconsistency with the 2040 Community Plan suggests a need for better alignment between the town’s development goals and the desires of local entrepreneurs.
One key point that Palillo raises is the need for a more systematic and expert-driven approach to planning for growth. The town has undoubtedly changed over the years, evolving from a small rural community into something more complex. This transition demands careful consideration and planning.
Palillo’s suggestion regarding impact fees as a way to address the issues caused by rapid growth is worth discussing further. While impact fees aren’t currently allowed in North Carolina, exploring alternative funding mechanisms for infrastructure development is essential. This could help ensure that the community isn’t overburdened by the consequences of growth while also respecting the financial risks that developers like Palillo take on.
In conclusion, the frustrations expressed in response to this situation are not just about the success or failure of a particular development project but about the process itself. It’s important for the towns to foster an environment where local entrepreneurs are encouraged to invest their time and resources in creating projects that can benefit the community. A more collaborative and respectful approach to development could lead to more innovative and successful projects that align with evolving needs or our towns; No matter how loud a group can yell & post……. Palillo’s dedication to the town and his vision should be acknowledged, and lessons should be learned from this experience to improve the development process for the benefit of all residents.
Jake you have my respect & admiration ……
Posted by Joe a vagnone | September 14, 2023, 11:15 am