By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
Owners of land in southern Rowan County said the decision to seek annexation by Kannapolis isn’t intended as a slap at neighboring municipalities.
The seven tracts along Interstate 85 total about 372 acres. If a proposed interstate interchange becomes reality, the property may soon become Kannapolis’ newest economic development project.
But the decision to seek annexation by Kannapolis rather than Landis or China Grove shouldn’t be perceived in a negative light by anyone, said Gary Morton, one of the owners.
“They are all winners,” he said. “There are no losers in this situation.”
The first step in the annexation process was taken at Monday’s Kannapolis City Council meeting where members voted unanimously to ask N.C. Rep. Fred Steen to introduce a bill allowing Kannapolis to annex the property.
The special bill is required by law because the town limits of Landis are closer to the land than the Kannapolis border.
Morton said plans are for the property to be used for job-based manufacturing, distribution and a slight amount of retail space. He said the development will result in the creation of numerous jobs.
The city and landowners must work to find a master developer willing to bring a project to the site before annexation becomes final.
It will be at least September 2011 before that happens.
The development also hinges on construction of the long-proposed interchange at I-85 and Old Beatty Ford Road.
Morton admitted that he and other landowners who make up the GDRM Partnership had discussed annexation with town councils from both Kannapolis and Landis.
He said they opted to seek incorporation from Kannapolis because of the city’s ties to the N.C. Research Campus there.
“We chose Kannapolis to be the quarterback,” Morton said. “We need someone with Kannapolis’ experience to take the lead.”
But he emphasized that he and fellow property owners Doug Patterson and Randal Patterson never looked at the situation as one of choosing Kannapolis over other municipalities.
Morton said he and the others had been working with Kannapolis for more than a year. He said the Research Campus is located only 3 miles from the property, a distance that will make it attractive for those seeking manufacturing or distribution businesses related to the campus.
“We studied this for two years,” Morton said. “We think we made the right decision. This is the biggest and best opportunity for southern Rowan County to get a part of the campus.”
Morton said he and the other property owners are hoping officials from the towns of Landis and China Grove will work with them to get the interstate interchange constructed.
“Anyone with hard feelings, they don’t understand the project,” Morton said. “We’ll be the gateway to Landis and China Grove. Once the project takes shape and jobs are created, everyone will benefit.”
But not everyone seems enthralled with the decision for Kannapolis to seek annexing the property.
Landis Mayor Dennis Brown said he and members of the town’s council had been talking with property developers for months about Landis annexing the land.
“We were committed to the project,” Brown said. “Now, they want to turn around and pull Kannapolis in.”
He said Landis would have been able to have provided water, sewer and electricity to the site within a year.
“We have the means,” Brown said. “We have the desire.”
He said he was unsure of the next step by members of the Landis council. Brown said a called meeting will likely be held within the week, but said Tuesday afternoon that no such meeting has been scheduled.
Brown said he also planned to discuss the situation with Steen, a Landis native and a former mayor of the town.
Steen said he didn’t know of much he could do to make Landis officials happy.
“In a situation like this, we do what the property owner wants, if we do anything,” he said. “I’d encourage all parties to to negotiate what’s best for all towns.”
Steen recalled a time not too many years ago when he filed an annexation bill for Landis for land near The Warrior Golf Club. The land, Steen said, was closer to China Grove than Landis, and China Grove officials weren’t happy with that annexation.
“The roles are just sort of reversed this time,” Steen said.
Still, he said their complaints are legitimate.
“Landis is my hometown,” Steen said. “I understand what they’re saying. I understand their concerns.”
He said he hopes the interchange at the intersection of the interstate and Old Beatty Ford Road becomes reality.
“That possible interchange has been planned for many, many years,” Steen said. “It’s time it was built.”
He said time is of the essence for the annexation bill to get through the N.C. House before being presented in the senate by May 14.
That sets the stage, Steen said, for its approval in September 2011.
Don Bringle, mayor of China Grove, said members of his town board aren’t especially bothered that the tract in question will likely be annexed by Kannapolis. He said the property is closer to the Landis town limits than those of China Grove.
But Bringle said he sympathized with Landis’ concerns.
“It’s definitely going to limit their growth,” he said.
Robert Van Geons, executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, said that what some people are overlooking in this situation is the amount of undeveloped land in the area.
“This is one small piece,” he said. “There’s lots of land out there for all three communities.”