By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Top officials of three southern Rowan towns and county officials will meet Thursday evening to talk about the future of thousands of acres along the Interstate 85 corridor.
Kannapolis has requested special state legislation to annex nearly 372 acres near Old Beatty Ford and I-85.
The special legislation is necessary because the land is closer to Landis than Kannapolis. The property owners, GDRM partnership, plan a commercial development.
The property is near the proposed site of an I-85 interchange with Old Beatty Ford Road.
Landis officials are opposed to the Kannapolis annexation.
Robert Van Geons, executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission, said Monday there is a lot more property along I-85 in the southern area than just the GDRM tract.
He estimated there is more than eight square miles, with some land closer to China grove, some closer to Kannapolis and some closer to Landis.
“We wanted to have forum to start a conversation about the greater corridor … an open and honest conversation,” Van Geons said, suggesting there are opportunities for the towns to partner in the development.
He emphasized the meeting isn’t about the GDRM property but to look at the greater area and possibly start building cooperative efforts to serve the area.
The mayors and top officials of Kannapolis, Landis and China Grove have been invited along with Carl Ford, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, and other key county officials, including Ed Muire, county director of planning and development.
Jim Beamer, director of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities, has also been invited. The utility company provides water and sewer service to China Grove and Landis.
Van Geons said he has asked officials to bring current utility maps.
GDRM partners Doug Patterson, Randal Patterson and Gary Morton are also expected to attend.
The meeting starts at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at the Tadlock South Rowan Regional Library.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.