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INSIDE ▼ Mecklenburg County ABC tops $280M in gross sales
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PAGE 3A Friday, April 17, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 15
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Subdivision could deliver million-dollar homes by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
MINT HILL – Arey Properties plans to develop Reynolds Farm, a 41-lot subdivision that could sprout million-dollar homes on 27.39 acres at 12128 Bain School Road. The name of the neighborhood is a nod to the Reynolds family. “It’s been in the family for at least two generations, and the current ownership group
WHAT'S INSIDE:
is all in their 60s or older, and they’ve reached the point where, although they’ve had numerous chances to sell this in the past, they’ve held off,” Tim Arey told commissioners during the March 12 public hearing. “They didn’t really want to sell it to somebody that was going to try to squeeze too much in there.” Arey Properties had to apply for conditional rezoning to incorporate more lots into the site plan. Commissioners approved the conditional rezoning April 9
without any discussion. Mint Hill zoning allows for 20,000-square-foot lots. Reynolds Farm will average about 16,500 square feet, ranging from 12,800 to 25,000. Green space with walking trails will be toward the west end of the property. Arey Properties is working with Classica Homes on the project. “The last five or six years, I have tried to align our firm with
The area shaded in purple is the proposed site for Reynolds Farm. Photo courtesy of Town of Mint Hill
see SUBDIVISION, Page 3A
Matthews leaders OK security upgrades by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
Giving back Gala raises $3M for children's hospital, 2A
Paying homage 'Mommom' would love this restaurant, 1B
Let's cook Sweet solutions for grapefruit, 3B
MATTHEWS – Town commissioners continue to discuss safety and security features at town hall. They discussed on March 23 entering into a contract with TMT Construction to upgrade the front desk area and Hood Room dais. They approved a contract April 13. Town Manager Melia James told commissioners that the discussion reflects growing concern among staff and previous board members since before the COVID-19 pandemic. “We just live in a different world these days,” James said. “It is a little more volatile, and a lot of municipal buildings are moving to more secured measures to protect staff in the event of an active shooter situation.” Commissioners decided in February to buy a metal detector for board meetings. Mayor John Higdon mentioned that many communities in North Carolina are taking similar safety precautions. “We want to err on the side of caution,” Higdon said. While the front desk area was designed to be inviting to the public, James said it lacks protective barriers to protect staff during the day in the event of an active shooter. A memo she provided commissioners also mentioned the current setup allows for “unrestricted visual and physical access to personnel, equipment, documents and internal workspaces.” Dominic Marmo, safety and IT manager, echoed these sentiments. “The front desk reception area does not align with modern risk management workplace
TMT Construction provided this rendering to the Town of Matthews showing how the front desk at town hall could go behind glass. Included in the project is reflooring of the lobby that includes the Matthews seal. Photo courtesy of Town of Matthews
safety threat mitigation standards,” Marmo told the board. He showed them a rendering of the front desk set back in the mail room and behind ballistic-rated glass. The attendant will be able to talk to the public through a service window and intercom. Ballistic paneling would be added to the dais to allow commissioners to “duck and cover as well as exit,” Marmo said. Quick Hits • The Town of Matthews has been promoting lower 35 mph speed limits along McKee Road,
Pleasant Plains Road and Weddington Road. • Members of the Matthews police and fire departments played students and staff from Crestdale Middle School recently in a series of basketball games. • The Mint Hill Police Department is registering players for its fifth annual Golf Classic. The May 20 event raises money for Special Olympics North Carolina. The agency raised $62,376 for Special Olympics North Carolina in 2025. • Officers Randy Hinkson and Mikailia Baucom have joined the Mint Hill Police Department.
Mint Hill resident offers safety solutions Police earn high by Daniel Laveck Contributor
Mint Hill resident Daniel Laveck told town commissioners on March 12 that he had been struck in the arm by one of three electric bike riders the day prior on the sidewalk next to N.C. 51. Laveck called on police to increase enforcement and on commissioners to enact ordinances regarding e-bikes on sidewalks. He returned April 9 to bring up another concern.
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ast month, I came here to discuss sidewalk safety after being struck by an e-bike rider on the sidewalk of 51. While I definitely don’t want to lose sight of solving that problem, especially since one such rider just struck a pickup truck just down the road in Matthews a couple weeks ago, I did want to bring up another facet of sidewalk safety, and that is
the crosswalks at the 51 and Idlewild Road traffic circle. A few weeks ago, I was riding bicycles with my 7-year-old on the sidewalk of 51, which is legal to do. And at the traffic circle, we always stop and wait to cross until cars yield. And this time, a car did yield. But while we were crossing, another car came flying up behind the first car, honking and trying to squeeze around, upset that they were having to wait. Thankfully, they could not get around or they would have surely hit us. Normally, this would be the part where I segue into ideas for making those crosswalks safer. And I will get there, but first, there’s a little more I wanted to share. I posted about this experience in a local Facebook group and was shocked by the large amount of negative comments acting like I’m the crazy one for even daring to try crossing at that traffic circle, especially
with my child, because of how dangerous it is, even though there is a crosswalk there. It just struck me that we have this infrastructure, the sidewalk of 51 and the crosswalks, that people are just deeming too dangerous to use. I walk or ride my bike on the 51 sidewalk fairly regularly, and it’s not uncommon for me to not encounter a single other person using the sidewalk from Wells to Idlewild (roads). But between careless drivers and reckless, illegal e-bike riders, I guess I’m not that surprised. My brother-in-law lives in Burlington, North Carolina, and also advocates for sidewalk safety and increased walkability and has had some success in getting his city to make changes, which I’m happy to discuss in more detail after. Together, we’ve come up with a few ideas: • No. 1, we could move the crosswalks 50 to 100 feet away from the circle to give drivers
more of a chance to see them. Because driving through there, you’re definitely very focused on other cars in the circle, and then there’s a crosswalk right there as you come out. If someone’s trying to cross, you don’t really have that much time to notice them and yield. I think the problem isn’t just drivers, but also the design of the circle itself. • No. 2, I think we could add those flashing yellow lights, similar to what we just put up for the new Ezell Park, again, for more visibility. • No. 3, I think we should lower the speed limits to 35 mph. All of the road speeds in that circle are 45 mph, and drivers seem to try to not to lose any speed through the circle. Again, reducing the time they have to notice and yield to pedestrians. I know whatever we do with that circle is going to involve Mint Hill and Matthews since see SAFETY, Page 3A
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marks in review by Justin Vick justin@charlottemediagroup.org
MATTHEWS – The Matthews Police Department just received confirmation that it is on the right path. The agency earned a Law Enforcement Risk Management Review Certificate from the North Carolina League of Municipalities. Chet Effler, a public safety consultant with the league, described the process as a “comprehensive agency review of over 40 high-liability areas to ensure the agency adheres to best practices and industry standards.” Areas include police pursuits, use of force, employment practices and training. Law enforcement agencies go through an in-depth policy review, an on-site assessment and observation of operations. Effler’s report on the Matthews Police Department spanned 84 pages. About 200 agencies have pledged to complete the risk review over the past decade but only 105 have completed it, see POLICE, Page 3A