Some residents not on par with Topgolf development in north Charlotte

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By Joe Bruno

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of north Charlotte residents are fighting a proposed Topgolf on a 65-acre plot next to Interstate 85.

A developer wants to put a Topgolf, 395 apartments and 45,000 square feet of restaurants and retail off West Mallard Creek Church Road.

The development would be adjacent to the Claybrooke subdivision.

"It absolutely blew us away," Marek Sysca, the neighborhood association president, said. "This is all about safety for the community, property values for the community and of course traffic."

Under the proposal, the complex would connect a current dead-end neighborhood street, Galloway Road, with West Mallard Creek Church Road.

Neighbors said the increased traffic will make the quiet street loud. They also worry about increased traffic at all hours of the night. Topgolf facilities are open until midnight Sunday through Wednesday and until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"We love the quietness, we love the safety; we don't want it to change," Syska said.

The project has support from the local business community, according to the executive director of University City Partners, Darlene Heater.

Fifty percent of people working in Research Park also live in University City.

Heater anticipates the complex and apartments will be attractive to nearby major employers.

"It is an opportunity for us to raise the development bar, and we're not letting these developers off easy," Heater said.

Residents also expressed concern over Topgolf's lighting. The developer attempted to quell those fears by saying the course's lighting will face I-85 and the front lighting will face West Mallard Creek Church Road, not the neighborhood.

The developer also said there will be a 75-foot buffer to prevent apartment renters from being able to "see into backyards" as neighbors fear.

Claybrooke residents said their fight is inspired by residents on Sharon Lane who convinced Charlotte City Council to not allow townhomes on their street.

Topgolf is currently building its first location in Charlotte in Steele Creek. It is set to open in early June.

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