DAVIDSON – The Davidson Board of Commissioners heard presentations and made plans related to economic development Tuesday night, Oct. 12.
The board approved two amendments related to development in the consent agenda.  One was an amendment to an agreement with Community Housing Partners that will allow renovations to the Oak Hill apartments.

“Our main concern in this project has been that the Oak Hill apartments remain affordable and become officially part of the affordable housing capacity in Davidson,” Town Manager Leamon Brice said in the manager’s report.

Second, because the town received an anonymous contribution for street repairs and resurfacing, the board approved an amendment to the budget to account for the donation.

Davidson does not allow alcohol on the Village Green or other public areas, without a specific event exception.  The board permanently exempted Concerts on the Green from this restriction and modified the ordinance to require exception requests at least 30 days before.

Jerry Broadway, executive director of the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corporation, gave a presentation about the region’s plans with ABB, the Swiss company planning to build a cable manufacturing plant in Huntersville.

Davidson owns 15 percent of the industrial park, and will therefore benefit from ABB’s new plant, Broadway said.  ABB hopes to break ground on the site in spring 2011, and plans to be in production by May 2012.

Commissioner Brian Jenest asked Broadway how his development corporation might help Davidson’s expansion.

“I think each town is a little bit different.  Davidson has a lot of possibilities,” Broadway said.

Other board news

The board also took the following actions:

• Approved a 5-foot easement to allow Artisan, next to Town Hall, to install windows along the town’s property line.

• Approved a second easement at Fisher Farm to conserve a stream that runs through the property.

• Discussed modifying the criteria for nonprofit funding requests.