Drexel board approves townhome agreement, eyes downtown master plan

The bulk of the Drexel Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday evening focused on new development and planning for the future of the small town’s downtown area.

Following a public hearing, the board approved a development agreement with the developers of a 13-unit Burns Street townhome project. The agreement makes sure the developer covers sewer, water, sidewalks, roadways, and other infrastructure in the event that the project isn’t completed.

The hearing was continued from the July 7 meeting, giving the developer time to consult with their legal team. At Tuesday’s meeting one resident, Danver Robinson, spoke regarding the townhome development itself, stating that it will be adjacent to his home.

“Our home sits right in the middle of that field, and it’s been a big change as far as the view is concerned,” Robinson said. “We had trees and rabbits that would run back and forth all day long, birds flying all day long, and deer coming in our yard … we called that our Garden of Eden.”

Though he said he and his wife Annette were first concerned about the development, he said they love the Drexel community and are not going anywhere. He added that he would just like to see a better visual of the plans for the project for peace of mind.

Planner Daniel Odom said he is working with the developer to obtain a more detailed 3-D rendering to share with the Robinsons. Odom is the town’s contracted planner with the Western Piedmont Council of Governments.

DOWNTOWN MASTER PLANNING

As outlined in Drexel’s strategic goals, Town Manager Bill Carroll kicked off discussions about starting the process for a downtown master plan, using a $10,000 grant received from ElectriCities to help fund the project. The board gave Carroll the go-ahead to finalize and publish a Request for Qualifications for firms to submit their proposals.

“This is a big enough project where I don’t even think it’s a bad idea for the board to interview some of these people because this is going to be a staple of the next 10 years of the town,” Carroll said.

ALCOHOL SALES AT CONCERTS

The board once again approved alcohol sales for Grow With Drexel’s downtown concerts. The group received permission from the board back in April for a concert at the end of May, but with a few concerts coming up this fall, Carroll said the vote on Tuesday evening will cover upcoming concerts on Sept. 19, Oct. 10, and Oct. 17.

Mayor Pro Tempore Scott Coe was the only dissenting vote. While approved by the board, Grow With Drexel still must get permission from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Like the previous spring concert, the plan is to sell beer and seltzers, while requiring identification checks and drink limits. The downtown park will also be sectioned off with entry points and Drexel officers will monitor the events.