Mills River grocery store complex developer awaiting zoning permit; tenant still unknown
MILLS RIVER - A proposed grocery store complex off of N.C. 280 in Mills River is moving forward, but there are still several steps left in the process before construction can begin, according to Michael Malecek, planning director for the town of Mills River.
"The shopping center developer submitted a zoning permit application and plans just before the holidays. Those plans are currently under review by our planning staff," Malecek told the Times-News earlier this month. "The site plans are consistent with what was submitted for the special-use permit from October of last year."
The plans are for a shopping center, anchored by a 50,325-square-foot grocery store, located at 5 Penland Road and 140 Emma Sharp Road just off N.C. 280 and across the road from Ingles grocery store. It will include a 10,800-square-foot building with additional retail shop spaces, Malecek said. He said the town still doesn't have information about a specific grocery store tenant yet.
More: Permit to operate new grocery store across from Mills River Ingles approved
The plans for the complex were submitted by Asa Harris of Harris Development Partners in Raleigh. According to the developer's website, Harris has managed many commercial development projects in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and has collaborated with leading national tenants, including Publix, Whole Foods, Walmart, Walgreens, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and L.A. Fitness.
The special-use permit was approved at the October meeting of the Mills River Town Council. Malecek said they are now in the process of completing the zoning review for the project.
More: Part of Mills River's ARP funds go to land preservation program
"We expect to deliver our first round of review comments to the applicant next week. Once the town confirms the site plans conform to town development ordinance requirements, the applicant will be issued a zoning permit," he said.
After the applicant receives the zoning permit, which could be as early as next week, they are free to begin site work, earth work, grading and sediment/erosion control installation, Malecek said. Also, with the zoning permit, the developers would then be able to submit building plans to the Henderson County Permits and Inspections Department in order to receive a building permit.
"Once the applicant receives the building permit, they can begin with vertical construction of the structures on the site," Malecek said.
Multiple calls by the Times-News to Harris Development Partners in Raleigh were not returned.
Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Mills River proposed grocery zoning permit next step in process
