Southern Pines’ upcoming shopping center looks like it may include a Chipotle Mexican Grill.
On an architectural rendering reviewed by Southern Pines council members, the drawing shows the restaurant as a tenant in a corner unit of the mixed-use retail center along with a Sleep Number store and Ruby Wine.
The 8,209 square foot retail development will be at the corner of U.S. Highway 15-501 and Murray Hill Road.
The Town of Southern Pines reviewed the architectural plans for the retail center at its Nov. 3 agenda meeting. The plans met the tenants’ brand designs and met the town’s commercial design standards with two deviations.
The first deviation deals with the town’s awning ordinance, which calls for canvas awnings at six feet high. The proposed development plans request a mix of fabric and metal awnings at a taller height.
“The ordinances were written during the planscape period on a pedestrian scale approach. Six feet seems awfully low,” Town Manager Reagan Parsons said.
The town said it will look at amending the unified development ordinance on awnings because it has resulted in deviations for other proposed developments.
The second deviation is with an ordinance for an outdoor mechanical equipment room. The development plans show the equipment contained within the buildings.
The planning committee will discuss the deviations with William Moseley of MREA Southern Pines, LLC.
The Morganton Park South Phase I is a development plan to include a Target store. The plans were reviewed, and a presentation was given by the architect and developers at Wednesday’s meeting. The retail plans are for 221,000 square feet, with four separate structures on the north side of U.S. Highway 15-501 near Commerce Avenue’s intersection, behind the Chick-fil-A.
Citizens learn about the upcoming Target on Morganton Road in Southern Pines during the Sept. 14 Town of Southern Pines public hearing. File photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Stephanie M. Sellers.
Plans for the Morganton Park South center include a pedestrian-centered layout with areas for reading a book and relaxing with a beverage between clock towers on the far left and far right.
The exterior design will replicate existing downtown Southern Pines architecture with gables, framed windows instead of box-store glass panels, and warm exterior hues. A rhythm of colors will be used to soften Target’s white storefront.
The shopping center will include a grocery store with an upper level to engage customers.
In other meeting matters, the Town of Southern Pines has given funds toward the purchase of the Southern Pines Primary School by Southern Pines Land Housing and Trust for the use of Blanchie Carter Playground. Due to school board and deed issues, the resale of the playground was made difficult, according to Parsons.
A resolution to the town using the playground was made by turning to a 99-year lease option at a one-time rate of $160,000, including town maintenance.
The town is not required to hold a public hearing for this lease option, but because it is a strong issue, the town advertised last Sunday to hold a public hearing and vote at the town’s Nov. 9 business meeting.
At the Nov. 9 business meeting, the town will consider amending criminal ordinances. Senate Bill 300 passed a law requiring towns to decriminalize ordinances and change them into civil violations. The town will work on procedures and the appeal process for civil violations. Review a draft of the town’s considerations, beginning on page 125 of the agenda.
The town’s Nov. 9 business meeting will be at the Douglass Community Center at 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
“I am thrilled and excited to be serving the town in this way and look forward to meeting new people and helping any way I can,” newly elected council member, Ann Petersen said.
Newly elected council member Ann Petersen (in purple) chats with town clerk Beth Robertson at the November 3, 2021 agenda meeting. Photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Stephanie M. Sellers.
Petersen and Taylor Clement won council membership in this week’s nonpartisan election.
Feature photo: The Southern Pines retail center was designed by Jarinat Williams, Assoc. AIA of Bartlett Hartley & Mulkey Architects, PA in Charlotte, NC.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Stephanie M. Sellers. Contact her at [email protected]
