Morning Minute: Friday, December 7, 2018

News About and Around Town: There is a Board of Commissioners meeting this Monday, and it’s overflowing with agenda items. At 5:30, before the actual meeting, Commissioners will meet to discuss zoning for the warehouse property on East John St.

Following the discussion, at 6 PM, is a reception honoring Planning Director Kathi Ingrish, who is retiring this year.

During the regular Council meeting, the floor will be open for public comment on several rezoning applications. Application 2018-691 is for a mixed-use development which will include 121 townhomes on three acres at Idlewild and I-485. One property on West John is an application to rezone a residential lot, R-20, to office, O(CD). A third rezoning item, 2018-693, is simply to update the land use code for several properties in Crestdale to match the current Unified Develpment Ordinance.

The Board may vote on several items on Monday, including rezoning property on the Novant Hospital Campus to allow for office building construction. The Small Area Plan Overlays are back, the Board will once again have the opportunity to approve or deny the plans.

Beyond planning, the agenda contains fairly typical meeting items but there are a few worth noting. When NCDOT begins Independence Blvd improvements it will be up to the town to choose and fund pedestrian/bicycling improvements through the corridor. The Board will discuss this Monday night. They will consider the John Street Working Group's design and decide for or against adoption. Another item up for consideration is the 2019 Legislative Agenda, which lays out the expectations of the Town’s role in governing in tandem with the NC General Assembly. 

One Fun Thing: If it’s not snowin’-up-a-storm this Saturday, we’ll be out at The Loyalist (435 North Trade St.) with Good Cup Coffee for our second Hyperlocal Holiday Pop Up of the season! Warm up with a bowl of The Loyalist’s legend(wait for it)ary soup, then stroll the pocket park in the side yard and shop handmade-wares while sipping on the tummy warming goodness of Good Cup cocoa. 

Morning Minute: November 16, 2018

News About (and Around) Town:  The Matthews area House of Representatives (District 103) race has been a real nail biter. At the close of election day current Representative Bill Brawley led challenger Rachel Hunt by 52 votes out of 38,000 cast.

However, after the polls closed there were absentee and provisional ballots to count.  Absentee ballots must have been postmarked by November 6 and received by 5 PM on November 9. Following the absentee ballot count last Friday, Ms. Hunt edged ahead by 64 votes with a tally of 19,102 (Hunt) to 19,038 (Brawley).  

A provisional ballot is cast when there is a question regarding a person's eligibility to vote (see more here: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Provisional-Voting), or if they've arrived at the wrong precinct. Following election day each provisional ballot is researched to determine if the voting issue can be resolved. The research is presented to the Board of Elections and they make the final determination on whether the ballot is eligible and will count. Provisional ballots were verified and tallied yesterday, which resulted in a 68 vote lead by Ms. Hunt over Mr. Brawley. The deadline to certify the election is today at 11 AM.

Since the final tally has less than 1% separating the candidates, Mr. Brawley has requested a recount, which will most likely happen early next week.

One Fun Thing: This Saturday Matthews United Methodist (801 South Trade Street) will have over 80 artists and crafts people selling their handmade goods just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. Ready-to-serve bake sale items will be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table. Lunch will also be available for sale with those proceeds benefiting Christ Our Shepherd Kids. Saturday, November 17, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm