Regional Strategy for Economic Growth Developing in Lake Norman

Business Today

May 13—Lake Norman: North Meck and Southern Iredell political leaders are developing a strategy for economic growth based on a study conducted by the Urban Land Institute. The strategy, in draft stages now, is intended to accelerate economic growth by supporting certain public planning and infrastructure investments by Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville; the City of Charlotte; Mecklenburg and Iredell counties; and the departments of transportation in Raleigh and Washington, D.C.

“Residents of the Lake Norman area are fortunate to be a key part of one of the better urban metropolitan areas in one of the better states for livability and economic growth,” said Carroll Gray, executive director of the Lake Norman Transportation Commission, which asked the ULI to conduct the study. The ULI is a nonprofit education and research institute focusing on the use of land in order to enhance the total environment, including lifestyle and economic sustainability. Another way to look at what it does is creating better places, according to Gray, the former CEO of the Charlotte Chamber.

Gray now heads up the Lake Norman Transportation Commission which brings Lake Norman political leaders together, creating regional clout for transportation decisions.
The LNTC is tackling such complex subjects as managed lanes on Interstate 77, new bridges over I-77, a new traffic corridor on the eastern edge of Mecklenburg north into Mooresville and the North Line commuter rail.

For further details on the regional plan visit Business Today.