High Rock Raceway townhomes plan on hold for grading plan

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Plans for construction of more than 100 townhomes at the planned High Rock Raceway in Spencer are awaiting county approval of a grading plan.
High Rock Development submitted a grading plan to the county earlier this month for the entire 107-acre tract off U.S. 29, a portion of former N.C. Finishing Co. property.
Rowan County rejected the plan, according to Lloyd Pace, county enforcement officer.
“Basically, they were trying to do too much at one time,” he said. “They need to do it in phases.”
The plan was reviewed by WSP Sells of Mooresville, the engineering firm hired to assess erosion-control plans. The firm recommended the project be done in phases.
The county is also requiring more catch basins to avoid runoff into a stream that runs through the property and flows into the Yadkin River.
The county sent the plan back on Dec. 16 and met with Dave Risdon, president of High Rock Development, and others involved in the race track project last week.
Pace said the overall grading plan deals more with the area where the townhomes will be built.
“They are pushing to start the condos,” Pace said.
The project involves construction of 120 luxury two-story townhomes around the track, which include observation decks for watching races on the planned 2.15-mile world-class road course.
According to High Rock Raceway officials, more than 100 of the townhomes have been sold.
High Rock officials recently announced a price hike for the townhomes with one-bedroom units selling for $300,000 and two-bedroom units going for $360,000.
Raceway officials have given several dates for the track’s opening, with the latest being July 2009. Securing financing has delayed construction.
Thus far, the county hasn’t received any plans dealing with the track portion of the project.
Once the requested modifications to the grading plan are completed, it will be submitted again to the county, which has 14 days to complete a review.
Pace said the developer has resolved other issues with the county, state and Army Corp of Engineers related to grading, wetlands restoration and related concerns.
“There’s no conflicts at the moment,” Pace said. Spinnaker Grading is working to maintain the existing catch basins.
Risdon could not be reached by telephone Tuesday.