Graham could be getting another industrial project along Cherry Lane. This time, the property is already zoned for light industrial use, so it won’t need planning board or city council approval to construct whatever the new owners envision (as long as it’s consistent with the existing light manufacturing zoning designation).
Two other parcels on the eastern side of the road were proposed late last year for large warehouse buildings before the developer withdrew the proposal this year. However, all of one of the parcels and part of a second one required rezoning inasmuch as they are currently zoned residential. The newest potential project does not require rezoning.
The 87-acre parcel is located on the western side of Cherry Lane, just before the interstate overpass, with much of the land fronting I-85/40. It is across the street from about 1,000 acres that constitutes the beginning of the Hawfields area industrial park, more formally known as the North Carolina Commerce Park.
The only clue about a possible usage was the term “logistics,” used by Hillsborough attorney Bill Aucoin during brief comments to city council members during their meeting this past Thursday night (April 21). Aucoin represents the developer, who Aucoin said, “hasn’t shared an end-user.”
Nearby areas in the industrial park are home to several large distribution centers – for Walmart, the Lidl grocery store chain, and Amazon. A distribution center for UPS is now under construction.
Read last year’s story on city council and planning board consideration for rezoning of one of the properties:
City council (April 2021): https://alamancenews.com/graham-council-oks-industrial-rezoning-along-cherry-lane-near-i-85-40/
Earlier planning board consideration (in March 2021): https://alamancenews.com/graham-planning-board-frowns-on-light-industrial-rezoning-request-along-cherry-lane/
