Something's weird on Gilead Road - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

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Why Move?When You Can...Remodel!entire home remodelsadditions and sunroomsKitchens • Baths • Master suitesattics and BaseMentsroofing, WindoWs and doorsNorth Carolina, South Carolina Licensed General ContractorInsured & BondedPage 12 • The Herald Weekly • Jan. 15-21, 2010Established in 1988Locally Owned & OperatedCharlotte Business Journal2009 Top 25 Home RemodelerNewsWallace Farm(continued from page 1)Eric Wallace at his family’s composting operation on EastfieldRoad in Huntersville. The facility’s compost rows are seen inthe background.borhoods produces compost, topsoil, pottingsoil and mulch from an estimated110,000 tons of feedstock each year.Residents in those neighborhoodshave raised concerns over the farm’s operationand the smell that accompaniesit. Those complaints began five yearsago, when newly-built homes began toencroach on the almost 200-year-oldfarm. The complaints have picked upagain recently as Wallace Farm seeks torenew its state permit for a compostingfacility.Weston Mentz attended the publichearing and said the state should startslistening to residents.“The state has supported industrialdevelopment but it’s time the governmentbalances its decisions a little morein favor of residents,” he said.He asked officials to approve the permitfor two years instead of the typicalfive years. That would give WallaceFarm enough time, he said, to pack uptheir operation and relocate to anotherarea. Wallace Farm has said it intends• Trendy Style Cuts• Color Specialist• 20+ Years ExperienceGet rid of those winter dry ends!FREEDesignerTrim/Style Cutwith any serviceExpires 2-28-10Gwen StroudSpecializes In:• MulticulturalStyles• Extensions& Relaxers• OrganicStraighteners• All ServicesGuaranteed704-913-4386Huntersville square - 102 n. statesville rd. • i-77 exit 23Have your sayThe state hasn’t said when it willmake its decision on Wallace Farmbut it is accepting public commentuntil Feb. 8. Comments and requestsfor additional information should besent to: Michael Scott, North CarolinaDivision of Waste Management SolidWaste Section, 1646 Mail ServiceCenter, Raleigh, NC 27699-1646 ormichael.scott@ncdenr.gov.The permit application, operationand maintenance manual and siteplan are available for review at theNorth County Regional Library, 16500Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville.to move to another county in NorthCarolina in five years if its permit tooperate on Eastfield Road is approved,according to a June 2009 settlementagreement between the farm and thestate. The state had fined Wallace Farmmore than $11,500 for failing to controlthe stench from its facility.But not everyone thinksthe farm stinks.Donny Oehler liveson Ridge Road, south ofHighland Creek and WallaceFarm. He’s lived innorth Mecklenburg mostof his life.“I think the Wallacesare trying real hard tomake it better,” Oehlersaid … “My granddaddyalways said, ‘if you goingto live beside a hog pen,it’s going to smell like ahog pen.’ ”The Wallace familyhas been farming in thearea since 1825 whenJohn Wallace purchasedland in Cabarrus Countyalong Clarke’s Creek.His old home still standsat the first crossroads onEastfield Road after enteringCabarrus County.By 1883, John Wallace’sgrandson, John RobertWallace, owned an estimated1,400 acres. Throughout theend of the 19th, and into the 20th century,the Wallaces continued to workthe land, growing cotton and raisinglivestock.In 1945, when cotton was no longera profitable crop, the Wallaces begantheir dairy operation. Later, the operationbecame oen of the largest dairyfarms in the state with more than 900cattle mooing and milking at the propertyat one a time.The composting operation – a naturalsideline for a dairy farm full of cows – isno new venture either.In 1990, the farm installed the firstpackaging line and went into the compostingbusiness full time. The dairyside of the farm was leased to anotherfarmer before ceasing operations in thelate 90s. Eric Wallace, his father, John,and his mother, Shelby, now run thefarm. It produces a variety of soils, compostsand mulches that are packagedonsite and sold directly to consumers,large retailers and smaller stores. qHerald file photowww.huntersvilleherald.com
NewsOfficials look for good deal to begin Westmoreland complexby Frank DeLoachefrank@huntersvilleherald.comCORNELIUS – While the competitionwill no doubt be heated when baseballand softball players finally step onto thenew diamonds, the contest appears justas tough among contractors vying to buildthe first phase of Cornelius’ WestmorelandAthletic Complex.Fifty contractors attended a Jan. 6 prebidmeeting to ask questions and see moredetailed plans for the future multi-milliondollarcomplex at Westmoreland Road andWest Catawba Avenue. “I’ve never seenthat many contractors attend a pre-bidmeeting,” Troy Fitzsimmons, the town’spark superintendent, said recently.He hopes to see low bids when they’reopened Friday, Jan. 15. If all goes well,park officials want to recommend a bidto the Cornelius Board of Commissionerson Feb. 1, and Fitzsimmons hopes to startwork “as soon as possible.”The first phase includes two unlightedbaseball-softball fields, a combinationrestroom-picnic shelter-storage buildingwith an unfinished concession area, aplayground, 80 parking spaces and a newroad leading from Westmoreland.Work crews should finish the first phaseby the end of the year, but the work onthe large regional complex is only beginning.The second phase of Westmorelandwill essentially double the first, and theathletic complex sits adjacent to the undevelopedRobbins Park Preserve.Part of a residential development by SimoniniBuilders, the preserve is an evenlarger tract of forest and former farm land.Draft plans call for adding two more baseballfields; two multipurpose fields thatcould host lacrosse, soccer and footballcontests; two tennis courts; an 18-holedisc golf course; and a network of milesof trails that will connect with the newlyopened McDowell Creek Greenway.Although still years away, Fitzsimmonsalso hopes to develop a 5-kilometer championshipcross-country course that mightrival McAlpine Park in Charlotte.But the complex will come togetherpiece by piece. After the town completesthe $1.2 million first phase this year:• The $2.3 million, second phase of theWestmoreland complex may be completedas early as June 2011. The second phaseincludes two more ball fields, lights for allfour fields, 80 more parking spaces, a townmaintenance building and the addition ofleft-turn lanes on Westmoreland Road.The sod for new ball fields needs time togrow, and the fields won’t necessarily openafter the work crews are done.• The initial work on the RobbinsPark Preserve is under way, as SimoniniBuilders and the town constructentrance roads off Catawba Avenue.This summer, work crews should breakground on two tennis courts, a multipurposefield, playground, restroom-picnicCornelius officials hope to begin construction of the first phase of the Westmoreland AthleticComplex, in blue, this spring and finish work by the end of the year. Officials hope tocomplete the second phase, in red, of the $3.5 million complex by June 2011.shelter and the beginnings of the trailsystem. The town expects to spend $1.4million and finish that work by the summerof 2011.• Park and recreation officials haveproposed undertaking the second andCourtesy of Cornelius PARC Departmentthird phases of Robbins Park in fiscalyear 2012 and 2013. Fitzsimmons saidhe’s contacted local Boy Scout groups,hoping prospective Eagle Scouts willhelp put together the preserve’s dirt-trailnetwork. qWe’ll check it for FREE!Visit: www.cottman.comYour TRANSMISSION andTOTAL AUTO CARE EXPERTSAsk About Our 24-Hour FREE TOWINGFactory Scheduled MAINTENANCENATIONWIDE WARRANTY(we accept most extended warranties)FINANCING AVAILABLE (o.a.c.)10 % OFFON ? FREEANY GENERALTransCheck21 PLUSREPAIRWe’ll Check it for FREE Inspection(MAXIMUM $50 DISCOUNT)INCLUDES ROAD TEST & ELECTRONIC SCANOne coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers.Valid at Participating Locations Only.Must present coupon at time of vehicle drop off.COTTMAN TRANSMISSION EXPIRES: 3-31-10One coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers.Valid at Participating Locations Only. Must presentcoupon at time of vehicle drop off.COTTMAN TRANSMISSION EXPIRES: 3-31-10One coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers.Valid at Participating Locations Only.Must present coupon at time of vehicle drop off.COTTMAN TRANSMISSION EXPIRES: 3-31-10CORNELIUS 18927 STATESVILLE RD. • 704-987-8666MOORESVILLE 361 E. PLAZA DR. • 704-662-9688INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED • HOURS OF OPERATION: OPEN M-F 8 TO 6 SAT 8 TO 1 (call center for details)®www.huntersvilleherald.com The Herald Weekly • Jan. 15-21, 2010 • Page 13
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Something's weird on Gilead Road - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

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