Retailers tend to go where other retailers are. So it’s no surprise that Concord Mills, a 1.4 million-square-foot collection of outlets, shops and entertainment venues, is having a ripple effect near its Interstate 85 interchange in Cabarrus County.

Smart retailers, service industries and builders want to draw off traffic that’s already going somewhere. Concord Mills will draw 14 million to 18 million visitors a year, so it stands to reason that big-box retailers, hotels, restaurants, medical clinics, apartments, service stations, free-standing stores, conference centers and even entertainment parks will follow.

The magnet that is Concord Mills already has spawned plans for a 700,000-square-foot power retail center across from the mall. Another developer proposes a 349-acre mixed-use collection of 3,249 houses and apartments, 1.5 million square feet of office space and 700,000 square feet of retail at the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus county line.

Bassett Furniture plans a 25,600-square-foot store on the I-85 side opposite Concord Mills. A six-story Hampton Inn and a four-story Holiday Inn Express are under construction diagonally across I-85 from the new mall. An Embassy Suites will be attached to Concord Mills.

Other establishments in the works, under construction or near completion include the Kings Grant Urgent Care Center, West Cabarrus Church, Sleep Inn and Suites, SpringHill Suites, Bob Evans restaurant, Roadhouse Grill, TGI Friday’s, Schlotzsky’s Deli, Steak `n’ Shake, Hooters and Razoo’s Cajun Cafe.

The Business Journal recently reported that retail sales at this interchange of I-85 will eventually total $1.2 billion a year. The business magazine says it will effectively double the retail revenue now generated by all other businesses in Cabarrus County.

Leaders in Rowan and Salisbury can look with tax-revenue envy toward Exit 49 on I-85. A major development such as Concord Mills and all that comes with it could be called their “Field of Dreams.” But they should also look southward for a sobering lesson in how growth happens and why having a plan in place for when it occurs is important.

Two years ago, there was nothing at Exit 49, not even an exit. In five years, a fair-sized city of people will live, work and reside within a two-mile radius of Concord Mills. Developers and builders, more so than local officials, decided this was the place. Now Concord and Cabarrus County, while enjoying the extra revenue, will have to catch up with roads, schools, law enforcement and infrastructure.

But even worse, Concord Mills establishes the outpost for urban sprawl. Charlotte will connect to it from the south. Concord will connect to it from the north. There’s no turning back. For Salisbury (and Rowan County), there’s still a window of opportunity to direct and manage growth to places it should go, while leaving some space to breathe.

It will take courageous planning, iron will and hard swallows.