News

Mills River may get more business on NC 280

By Bill Moss, Published: December 11, 2015

MILLS RIVER — Mills River could see more development in an area of N.C. 280 that has already seen the farm community's most robust retail growth.

The Mills River Town Board on Thursday authorized a rezoning of 20 acres on the east side of 280 between Valley Ag and the QP gas station. The land is under contract for sale, and the new owner could announce a project on the site soon.
Will Buie of WGLA engineering, representing property owner James C. Moore, said the parcel is suitable for commercial use and is one of the few large parcels in that area that can be developed. About half the 20-acre parcel is in the floodplain or the Mills River water supply watershed, which restrict building. The other part is suitable for commercial, he said, in the area along N.C. 280 that has already transitioned to business use with the Ingles shopping center.
“If you travel along the corridor along 280 the vast majority is in a flood plain or a floodway,” Buie said. “Could it be developed in the future? It’s possible but it has conditions that are going to make it difficult to develop. This property is unique because about 13 to 14 acres is located outside the flood area and about half is outside the water supply area. You’re not going to find that in many cases.”
“That has become a de facto gen business area,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to provide another resource in the community through this rezoning. I think this is an opportunity that you could see one single planned development on the 20 acres.”
Under the existing neighborhood commercial, a developer might subdivide and build multiple smaller buildings.
Development of the south half of the parcel “is going to be limited by those natural features — the water supply watershed and the floodplain,” Buie said.
Moore said he could not identify the buyer or what may go on the site.