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Published: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 / Updated: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 11:37 AM

Bank, offices likely coming to Steele Creek

STEELE CREEK -- 

Offices and likely a new bank branch will be coming to N.C. 49 and Grand Palisades Parkway, pending rezoning.

Rock Hill-based River Rock Properties wants to rezone 2.63 acres of vacant land to create two buildings with up to 25,000 square feet of space.

The property is on the south side of York Road at Grand Palisades Parkway and Langston Drive. A public hearing is scheduled March 18.

“We’re just sort of filling in the hole,” said Walter Fields with The Walter Fields Group, who explained office use fits the zoning. “We’re not doing a fundamental change in land use.”

The site plan submitted to county zoning staff shows two buildings, the smaller one nearer the corner of N.C. 49 and Grand Palisades with the larger just east, with about 50 parking spaces. Fields said specific tenants haven’t been identified and won’t be until after zoning approval. He expects a “bank and some other office building.”

Only a handful of residents showed up last week at a public presentation about the plan. Most of their concerns focused on traffic. Fields said he understands since residents see school property being developed just beside the parcel and having learned of more homes coming to The Palisades. His project will be “just a fly in that” traffic increase, he said.

Across from McDowell Nature Preserve, more than 115 acres owned by Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools are being developed for an elementary school and park, along with a future high school. In December, the district announced the $12.3 million elementary school would open in 2014. According to the district, wetlands mitigation and site clearing will continue until mid-March.

There also are 50 acres being developed by Toll Brothers and 90 acres by Standard Pacific Homes for residential construction in the same area.

Lake Wylie Baptist Church sits within all the new development. Member David Grose said he sees how traffic could be a concern, but also how it could benefit others.

“We’re all about sharing the Gospel with people,” he said. “The more people we can get in here to hear the Gospel, the better we’re doing.”

Fields said some businesses thrive on high traffic while other, non-impulse buy businesses like medical offices, may do better in quieter settings.

“The bank kind of splits the difference,” he said. “We’ve brought a good plan forward.”