West Charlotte residents protest metal warehouse plan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Neighbors in west Charlotte are asking the Charlotte City Council to stop a proposed metal warehouse that they say would ruin their neighborhood.

A plot of woods protects the neighborhood on Moores Park Drive from noise coming from Interstate 85 and the airport. However, if Aviation Metals‘ rezoning petition is approved, seven acres of that would be gone.

Monday night, residents formally presented their concerns to the city council after months of protesting its production.

“We’ve got families already in the neighborhood are afraid, who are scared and have already put their houses up for sale,” resident Norman Phillips told WCNC Charlotte. 

He was joined by John Gallegos, a biologist who believes the potential for flooding would be catastrophic for both homeowners and wildlife.

“That would allow the storm water to run off and create a substantial new volume of water and new velocity of water coming into the Ticer Creek system, that’s going to create problems for the residents, as well as for the creek itself,” Gallegos said. “This is an economic and social injustice.”

Representatives from Aviation Metals also spoke at the meeting who disagreed, saying storm water will not be any higher than it currently is because they will abide by all requirements and have a storm water pond to prevent flooding.

Phillips says neighbors are okay with residential development in this area. However, he says how this development is handled says a lot about the future of the city.

“Yes, we want economic development, and we talk a lot about sustainable development. Well, this is your test case, City of Charlotte,” Phillips said. “Call the City Council, because your neighborhood could be next.”

The council now has time to consider these concerns before it goes to a vote at a later date, likely next month.

Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.