MOORESVILLE – Town commissioners approved a request Jan. 3 to rezone 173 acres between Faith and Mackwood roads, paving the way for Davidson Day School to build a second campus.

Bill Monroe, president of WGM Design, told commissioners last month that the second campus would house seventh through 12th grades and accommodate Davidson Day’s athletic programs.

The school would use approximately 65 acres, raise construction funds in 2012 and move into the site in 2013, Monroe said. Plans call for academic buildings, a gym, cafeteria and numerous athletic fields.

Commissioners tabled last month’s rezoning request, citing concerns over traffic congestion and the burden the campus might place on the rural area. Mt. Mourne IB School, the Mt. Mourne Volunteer Fire Department and Lowe’s Companies corporate headquarters would be among the site’s neighbors.

While previous discussion focused on Davidson Day’s proposed use of the property, town staff reiterated to commissioners Tuesday that they weren’t voting on specific uses at that time. Any development built on the rezoned property could be required by the N.C. Department of Transportation to make road improvements based on a traffic analysis, according to Senior Planner Craig Culberson.

The land, owned by BB&T Bank, was intended for the 327-home Stafford Subdivision. The site was rezoned in 2006 to accommodate single-family homes with conditions, such as the developer making off-site infrastructure improvements and increasing turn lane distances from 150 to 300 feet. The rezoning removed those conditions.