Huntersville rezones corner for Dashin convenience store despite pipeline safety concerns

Huntersville — The Town of Huntersville on May 19 approved a rezoning application (R25‑14) for a 2.67‑acre Dashin Food Stores site at Statesville Road and Hambrite Road after staff and the applicant committed to conditions addressing buffers, tree mitigation and display‑case treatments.

Staff reported the applicants supplied letters from North Carolina DEQ and Colonial Pipeline saying they had no regulatory objections and that required traffic‑impact improvements would be handled by NCDOT. The applicant also updated schematic notes to reflect staff recommendations and committed that a front display space would contain art or murals and "can never be left blank."

Public commenters and some commissioners raised safety concerns because the site is adjacent to a Colonial Pipeline corridor and close to multiple schools. Rob Coat, a resident who lives about 100 feet from the site, warned of repeated pipeline incidents in the state and said, "Colonial Pipeline does not have any sophisticated system to really check and monitor what happens with their pipeline." The applicant and staff said they had obtained letters from Colonial Pipeline and the state agency and that DEQ identified no setbacks that would prohibit the project.

Applicant representative John Carmichael said the team would consider supplemental native plantings and had designed buffers and perimeter plantings to screen parking and parking lots. Matthew Parker and Mark Strickland, present for Dashin, said the company pursues community partnerships and would discuss local nonprofit collaboration opportunities.

The board approved the rezoning with conditions including specimen‑tree mitigation and addressing staff comments. The motion carried 4 in favor and 2 opposed. Several commissioners noted the distinction in the DEQ letter: that DEQ confirmed no minimum tank setbacks near pipelines rather than endorsing the overall safety of placing fuel tanks near pipelines.

The approval requires the applicant to finalize landscaping and mitigation details and satisfy all staff redlines before final permits are issued.