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INSIDE ▼ Calendar includes fall festivals
OCTOBER 21
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Friday, October 17, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 42
thecharlotteweekly.com/mmhweekly
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Developer pulls plug on data center rezoning petition By Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – A rezoning application to bring a data center to Matthews has been withdrawn. Public opposition for the proposal has grown since the Sept. 8 public hearing. Commissioners sought to reopen the public hearing Oct. 13 to hear more input from the public. However, the development team withdrew the rezoning petition a week prior. “The development team for Project Accelerate has requested withdrawal of its rezoning petition,” a spokesperson for Crosland Southeast
said on Oct. 7. “This will allow additional time to explore options.” Mayor John Higdon said Oct. 13 that it’s been frustrating not being able to discuss the data center rezoning publicly. The town’s Unified Development Ordinance prohibits the elected leaders and planning board members from discussing a pending rezoning petition until after the public comment period. Higdon thanked residents for their engagement on the issue. “Your voices were heard loud and clear,” Higdon said. He also dismissed claims from an online commenter that said he secretly supported the
project. “The facts tell a different story,” Higdon said. “As a matter of fact, last Tuesday, I called the developer, encouraging him to withdraw it because of overwhelming public opposition. Commissioner (John) Urban and I followed up that evening just prior to the chamber debate and successfully secured the agreement to withdraw.” Higdon also said he gave an interview to a local TV news station suggesting he wouldn’t support any data center in Matthews. Commissioner Renee Garner also thanked the community for bringing facts to the debate, acknowledging that she learned a great deal about data centers from the experience.
MATTHEWS PLAYHOUSE CONJURES UP SCARES IN HAUNTED TRAIL
MATTHEWS – Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts will present its seventh annual Haunted Trail, which serves as the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser.
The spooky outdoor experience takes place from Oct. 24 to 27 behind the Matthews Community Center. Children can enjoy a milder Not So Spooky version as well as a Halloween Fun Zone. Local food trucks will be on site each evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. Limited edition Haunted Trail and Matthews Playhouse merchandise and $1 raffle
tickets will be available for purchase. Tickets to the Haunted Trail can be purchased at the gate. The nightly schedule is as follows: • Not So Spooky Trail (5:30-7 p.m.): Designed for children ages 6 and older, this kid-friendly version of the trail offers a gentler experience. Admission costs $10 per person and includes access to the Matthews Playhouse Halloween Fun Zone. • Halloween Fun Zone (5:30-7:30 p.m.): Families are encouraged to come in costume and enjoy trunk-or-treating, crafts, face painting and more.
Admission is free (ages 2-12) for the Halloween Fun Zone only and does not include entry to the trail. • Full Fright Trail (7:30-9:30 p.m.): This version of the trail is for those seeking a more intense experience. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Parents are advised to use discretion when bringing younger children. Admission costs $10 per person. Organizers are looking for volunteers. Sign up to help at https://www.matthewsplayhouse.com/volunteer-sign-up. On the web: matthewsplayhouse. com/haunted-trail
Caption Photos courtesy of XXXXXX
“This is probably the most public input I ever received on a project,” Commissioner Ken McCool said. “I wanted to thank the public for their input. I think this is a win on the public’s behalf.” Meanwhile, it’s back to the drawing board for property owners of the 123 acres at East John Street and Campus Ridge Road. They have the option of applying for another rezoning application if they want to develop something other than residential uses. Commissioner John Urban said during the Sept. 22 meeting that a previous attempt to put a neighborhood center there, with a mixing of housing and shops, was met with opposition.
Festivals to host Children’s Entrepreneur Market
CHARLOTTE – The Children’s Entrepreneur Market, a nonprofit initiative that empowers children through entrepreneurial experiences, has announced upcoming events in the Charlotte area.
The nationwide program provides a marketplace and customers for youth ages 5 to 17 to sell their products, ranging from lemonade stands and gourmet cinnamon rolls, to hand-crocheted animals and 3D-printed objects. These kids-only markets provide young entrepreneurs with a low-risk environment to launch businesses, sell products and develop critical life skills. The next event on the schedule is Mint Hill Madness, which takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 17 or 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at Mint Hill Memorial Veterans Memorial Park, 8500 Fairview Road. There will be multiple events in the Charlotte area this year, with three additional markets scheduled through December. “We are thrilled to bring the Children’s Entrepreneur Market to join great events in the Charlotte area like Mint Hill Madness in 2025,” said Lynée Fife, executive director of the organization. “With vibrant small business communities in Charlotte, this market is the perfect opportunity for kids to become business owners for a day, gain real-world experience, and develop confidence, independence and responsibility all while having fun.” The markets are open to the public. Community members are encouraged to attend and support young entrepreneurs by shopping locally and celebrating the creativity and hard work of Charlotte’s youth. Parents can register their children for a booth at an upcoming market at ChildrensEntrepreneurMarket.com. Upcoming markets The Children’s Entrepreneur Market has been accepting registration for the following Charlotte area events: • Mint Hill Madness, 4-8 p.m. Oct. 17 or 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 18 at Mint Hill Memorial Veterans Memorial Park, 8500 Fairview Road, Mint Hill. • Autumn Family Market, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 9 at Cox Mill Elementary School, 1450 Cox Mill Road, Concord. • Touch-a-Truck, 3-6 p.m. Nov. 22 at Waxhaw Downtown Park, 301 Givens St., Waxhaw. • Winterfest, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 5 at Chestnut Square Park, 320 Chestnut Pkwy. Indian Trail.
Novant Health to build out hospital campuses CHARLOTTE – Novant Health has received approval from the City of Charlotte to continue building out its hospital campuses in Ballantyne and Mint Hill.
CHARLOTTE – Novant Health has received approval from the City of Charlotte to continue building out its hospital campuses in Ballantyne and Mint Hill. Two separate rezoning petitions were filed, each requesting amendments to previously approved site plans for the hospital campuses. Charlotte City Council approved both petitions Sept. 15. Davis Moore filed a petition for the 40 acres encompassing Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center. The petition sought an additional 56,000 square feet in medical office uses for a total of 107,000 allowed on site, according to
city planner Joe Mangum. The petition also sought another 13,000 square feet of institutional uses and 48 beds for a total of 216,000 square feet and 96 beds. Bridget Grant, a zoning leader with Moore and Van Allen, spoke on behalf of Davis Moore and Novant Health during the Aug. 18 public hearing. “This is really just a testament to how well the hospital is doing in this location,” Grant told the council. “Everything is fully built out on the site except we've got a building pad that's there that was anticipated for us to expand the hospital and the facilities.” Everything else stays the same, Grant said. “This really just gives us the ability to add a new building along the site's frontage.” Ed Driggs, who represents
the Ballantyne area on the council, said during the public hearing that the city appreciates Novant Health’s investment. “We knew that more was going to be happening at this location, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody,” Driggs said. “It was really, as I recall, about (certificates of need) and things like that. And so we're just realizing the full extent of what was discussed before. I think residents will be grateful to have this medical facility option.” Since Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center sits in Charlotte’s jurisdiction, David Powlen had to petition the city for a site plan amendment. He requested increasing the allowable square footage of business uses to increase from 37,000 to 59,500. The site plan has been amended to allow for “up to
RE-ELECT JOHN URBAN Matthews Town Commissioner
Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center staff celebrated May 2 the completion of an emergency department expansion that included the addition of 19 more rooms. Photo courtesy of Novant Health
59,500 square feet of gross floor area of general and medical offices, retail, restaurant and personal services uses of which no more than 25,000 square feet of gross floor area may be used for retail and restaurant uses.” “This does keep the site’s entitlements consistent with
what's already approved on the site and allows for continued investment in critical healthcare infrastructure,” city planner Holly Cramer told the council Aug. 18. Marjorie Molina, who represents District 5 on the council, noted how the I-485 area has exploded with retail and
housing over the past decade. She said it’s a good thing that people in the far east have a hospital they can access. “In addition to a hospital use, there are restaurants and all of these different amenities that are kind of happening concurrently, which is heartening,” Molina said.
“John Urban is endorsed by All previous Mayors of Matthews going back more than 32 Years!” Relect John Urban on Tuesday Nov. 4th! www.votejohnurban.com