Voting Wards Change For 2,200 In Mooresville

MOORESVILLE, NC,None — About 2,200 Mooresville residents were shifted from Ward 4 to Ward 2, when commissioners voted Monday night to alter two of the town's voting districts.

The updated boundaries ensure that between 24 and 26 percent of the town's population lives in each of Mooresville's four wards, town documents show. The town is required by statute to balance the voting districts following each U.S. Census, Town Manager Erskine Smith said.

"We try to make them as equal as possible," he said.

The strong growth in Ward 4 prompted the alterations, Smith said.

Two areas that had been part of Ward 4 are now part of Ward 2. The first is the area bordered by U.S. 21 to the east, West Plaza Drive to the north and Talbert Road to the west.

The second is bordered by U.S. 21 to the west, West Wilson Avenue/West Lowrance Avenue to the north and South Main Street to the east.

The rest of Ward 2 is unchanged, as are the boundaries for wards 1 and 3.

The updated districts will be forwarded to the Iredell County Board of Elections, so that agency can notify affected residents about the change in wards, Smith said.

In other news:

Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of a conditional-use permit at the former Burlington Mill building on South Main Street. The permit deals with the project's second phase that includes 178,000 feet of "mercantile space," according to town documents.

Merinos Home Furnishings Warehouse recently became the building's first tenant since Burlington Industries ceased making textiles there in 1999, and commissioners heaped praise on owner Michael Bay when he appeared before the board Monday night.

"You have backed up everything you promised," Commissioner Chris Carney said.

Commissioners voted 5-1 to not issue a conditional-use permit to allow auto sales at 420 E. Plaza Drive. Commissioners voting in favor cited safety concerns as well as concerns that the use would not be in harmony with the neighboring properties.

Commissioner Mac Herring cast the lone vote against denying the requested permit.

WSOC