Mecklenburg County invited the public to provide input on how it should shape the Edgewater Farm community space development.
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — A 38-acre slice of open farmland in Huntersville could soon be transformed into a community space that blends conservation, recreation, and agriculture, and Mecklenburg County is asking the public to help shape the vision.
The property will be known as Edgewater Farm. It sits off Brown Mill Road near the intersection of Beatties Ford Road and North Carolina Highway 73, one of the area’s fastest-growing corridors. Though the county acquired the land years ago, plans to develop it are only now coming into focus.
“That area in particular is growing at such a rapid rate,” Erin Stanforth, the sustainability and resilience manager for Mecklenburg County, said. “We heard from residents it was important not only to preserve for agricultural focus but also the ecological and biological needs of the site.”
Two proposed master plans for the site are now under review. Both would maintain the land’s rural character while introducing agricultural programming, passive recreation space, conservation efforts and educational opportunities.
“There’s a real absence of passive recreation spaces in the northern half of the county,” Stanforth added, noting the dwindling amount of farmland in that region.
Neighboring the property is Woodring Farm, where owner Anne Rust says she’s already seen the pressures of development creeping in.
“A lot of the agricultural areas are going away,” Rust said. “It’s sad to see what’s happening to this area.”
The county hopes Edgewater Farm Park will not only preserve a way of life, but also create a path forward for new farmers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
“The hope is the site not only becomes a place for current farmers, but also potential new farmers,” Stanforth said.
Stanforth added that the county has 10,000 acres of active farmland.
A public feedback session is scheduled for June 3 from 5–7 p.m., though officials say the event has already reached full capacity. All materials from the session will be posted online for anyone unable to attend in person.
Once all the public feedback is gathered, the goal is to have a completed master plan in August. There is some funding set aside to implement the first phase of the plan. Currently, it will be a multi-year, phased-out process.
Stanforth hopes that phases two and three of the site could be implemented in five or six years.
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