A major mixed-use project in a northern Charlotte suburb has cleared a key regulatory hurdle.

The Huntersville Planning Board voted Wednesday to back a rezoning proposal for a $200M mixed-use development from WLA Enterprises Inc., The Charlotte Observer reported.

Knox Crossing, proposed for a 44-acre site near the Lake Norman intersection of Sam Furr and Old Statesville roads, would reportedly bring nearly 500 apartments and townhomes to the town and around 82K SF of commercial development. It would be anchored by a 45K SF grocery store.

The board voted 6-3 in favor of the project.

WLA first filed a rezoning request in early January, seeking Transit Oriented Development Residential Conditional District and Highway Commercial Conditional District designations for the site, the Charlotte Business Journal reported.

But the planning board initially denied the request, noting several required improvements, including a phasing plan for commercial development to occur alongside residential construction as well as upgrades to architecture, road infrastructure and green space elements.

The town’s board of commissioners will make a final decision on the rezoning proposal at its March 17 meeting.

Knox Crossing’s development team — led by Kevin Rogers of WRS Inc., a local real estate investment firm — is negotiating with three major grocers to anchor the development, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

WRS had estimated it will take two years to complete the project after rezoning approval, according to the CBJ. The company has other developments across the Southeast, including the Shoppes At Mallard Creek in Charlotte. 

Last December, the town allowed developer Peak Development to rezone 21.3 acres at 17220 Old Statesville Road for Station South, a 348-unit residential community with around 25K SF of commercial space.

A high-profile trio of developers is trying to convince a Charlotte-area local governing board to okay a significant zoning request. The team of Jamestown, North American Properties and Nuveen Properties is hoping to change the current Huntersville zoning for a property at Birkdale Village to allow for a $180 million project that would include a 125-room hotel, 150 apartment units, 122,000 square feet of office space and 26,000 square feet of retail.

The new office building, which includes ground-floor retail space, would be developed at the site of Birkdale’s existing Barnes & Noble store.

The 150-unit multifamily project would be developed at the current site of Dick’s Sporting Goods. That building would also include ground-floor retail space. Plans available in town records show that a new parking deck would be developed behind the office building. The hotel would be built across from it.

Strategic Capital Partners (SCP) has sold two buildings at its 77 Beltway industrial park in Huntersville. Cabot Properties paid $105.5 million for the properties, which totaled 821,000 square feet. The buildings sold to Cabot are 505,513 and 315,896 square feet.

The Charlotte Business Journal reports that SCP still has land holdings at 77 Beltway and plans to develop a third building there. The building will likely be around 200,000 square feet, and SCP hopes to start construction next year.

Colliers International’s Rob Speir, Lawrence Shaw, and Justin Smith are leading leasing efforts for 77 Beltway on behalf of Cabot. Carroll Daniel Construction was the general contractor for the project. JLL represented Strategic Capital Partners on the capital markets side of the project.

SCP has been active in the Charlotte market in recent years. The developer is also behind Rock Hill Commerce Center in York County. In early 2023, SCP sold the first phase of that project for $93.25 million.