EDITORIALS

Delay lake rezoning

Huge project on Wylie needs more water safeguards

Mecklenburg County commissioners have been asked to decide tonight on a huge rezoning near Lake Wylie that would allow a development of homes, a golf course, offices and a shopping center. With important questions raised about the impact on the lake's water, the commissioners should avoid a quick decision and keep pushing for stronger environmental protections.

The developers of The Palisades want permission to build about 4,100 homes, 100,000 square feet of offices and 210,000 square feet of retail space - about the size of Cotswold Mall - on 1,500 acres at the far southwestern edge of the county. In size it would rival the huge Highland Creek development at the county's northeast border.

Most of the land is owned by Crescent Resources, the real estate subsidiary of Duke Energy, which created Lake Wylie in 1904 to generate electricity. Crescent plans to develop the northern end of the tract and sell 945 acres to Robert C. Rhein Interests Inc. for a golf course development.

Some water quality experts have serious concerns about the development, which would be in the lake's critical watershed. Lake Wylie's water quality is worsening; South Carolina has rated several sections "impaired" - meaning polluted. Although not much of The Palisades fronts on the water, the land is steep and drains directly into the lake and eight coves. Riverkeeper Donna Lisenby, an environmental advocate, worries most about the proposed golf course, because it will likely mean major grading and tree removal on steep slopes. Her prediction: "It's gonna be a disaster."

Mecklenburg County's water quality program manager, Rusty Rozzelle, is also concerned, particularly about pollution in the eight coves. It's in coves, he said, where water quality problems first show up.

Mr. Rozzelle and Ms. Lisenby praise the developers for agreeing to a number of measures going beyond what's required. For instance, the developers will hire enforcement officers during construction to make sure agreed-upon water quality protections are followed.

They also agreed to build only 100,000 square feet of retail space and 30,000 square feet of office space for now, until or unless the area plan is amended. Planners were worried about retail overbuilding in the area.

In arguing for the rezoning, the developers say development under the current zoning (R3 and R5) would allow much of what they want to do, with no incentive to negotiate water quality protections. Approving a master planned development, they say, means development friendlier to the environment.

Because of a procedural error involving the public hearing, the planning commission is being asked for its recommendation tonight, just after the public hearing ends, with county commissioners voting right afterward. What's the hurry, especially for a project of this magnitude?