Site work for a water / sewer project in Huntersville, North Carolina. Completed plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

Downtown Huntersville is home to some of the Town's oldest infrastructure. These areas reflect the early development of Huntersville, prior to rapid growth that began in the 1990s and 2000s, when the Town grew from roughly 3,000 residents to over 36,000. The population stands at nearly 70,000 today. The Town has grown from one-square mile at its center (intersection of Gilead and Old Statesville Roads) to a sphere of influence covering more than 62 square miles. The approximate boundaries of this project are Statesville Road (US-21) to the west, Ramah Church Road to the north, and Holbrooks Road to the south and east, comprising roughly 1,300 acres. This project seeks a consultant to assess current development and storm water conditions and help the Town prioritize needed improvements in these areas, taking into account changes over time in technology and best practices for application of storm water solutions, impacts to local systems from climate change, etc. Of note, Old Statesville Road (NC-115) runs north and south through this area and bisects the study area, feeding into McDowell Creek to the west and Clarks Creek to the east. The west side of Huntersville's jurisdiction is the source of the bulk of Mecklenburg County's drinking water supply. The impacts of rapid development within Town led it to become one of the earliest adopters of low-impact development standards in the Carolinas. These requirements for development, in addition to a number of restoration projects throughout the years, have greatly improved water quality in streams and creeks. The water quality of Mountain Island Lake has also been greatly improved. Since adoption of a water quality ordinance and low impact development (LID) techniques in 2003, Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services has observed a 50% reduction in suspended solids and a 25% reduction in nutrients in McDowell Creek - the primary water course from Huntersville into Mountain Island Lake. The approximate geography to be covered by this project is shown in a map created recently as a result of the Town's 2040 Community Plan, which identifies areas of future growth, development, and redevelopment connected to downtown revitalization efforts. These areas of growth will inevitably affect storm water impacts and related needs in and around downtown. Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services has suggested that regional Storm water Control Measures (SCM) may be needed/warranted to adapt to current conditions and serve future downtown development. The Town has discussed ideas in this regard but would look to the outcome of this project to vet proposed locations and/or identify the best locations for regional facilities. Another intended outcome from this project is to identify other necessary projects to protect residents, property, etc. from impacts of storms and/or future development. The Town is open to "green" and other creative solutions for necessary improvements and increased resiliency. The Town also welcomes suggestions from consultants as to grants and other funding opportunities to help construct improvements recommended as an outcome of this project. This project is in line with the update to the Huntersville Downtown Masterplan that was approved in April 2023. That plan's implementation schedule specifies the need to complete a downtown / regional storm water study. The plan also identified regional storm water solutions, and it is expected that this project will review and verify any proposed sites and solutions for feasibility, constructability, and overall fit within the identified geography for this project. Question Deadline 10/11/2024