Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN)- The Cherryville City Council moved forward Tuesday with plans to hold public hearings on a 64-home residential development and revised parking requirements that could enable a $40 million apartment project at the historic Doran mill.
The council will hold a public hearing in November to consider a special use permit for Terrace Estates, a proposed 64-home development located off Black Rock School Road on land owned by William Hefner. The project previously sought cluster zoning but was denied in the February 2024 meeting.
The development would feature R-12 zoning on property that received initial approval in 1999 but never progressed. The Planning Board unanimously approved the updated plans.
City Manager Brian Dalton stated that the development will require the installation of an 8-inch water line along Delview Road, from Eaker Drive to Black Rock School Road, to address water pressure issues in the area.
The intersection of Eaker and Delview Rd. October 29th,2025
Ashley Reep (WNN)
The development will have two access points on Black Rock School Road between existing homes. Council members liked the idea of tree-lined buffer zones along the back edge of the property.
The council also plans to schedule a November hearing to amend parking ordinances, a change necessary for converting the old Doran Mill on Highway 274 into 107 apartments.
Under current city requirements, the project would need 230 parking spaces — a figure developers called prohibitive. The proposed amendment, modeled after Shelby's ordinance, would reduce the requirement to 171 spaces based on unit size: 1.5 spaces for one-bedroom units, 1.75 spaces for two-bedroom units, and two spaces for three-bedroom units or more.
The Doran Mill in Cherryville, NC. October 29th,2025
Ashley Reep (WNN)
The development plans call for 81 one-bedroom apartments, 13 two-bedroom units, and 14 three-bedroom units.
Highland Real Estate, the company that owns the property, has partnered with Florida investors who are managing three other North Carolina projects. Dalton said the company has already invested heavily in cleaning out the vacant mill, patching the roof, and making the structure accessible.
"They showed me the plans that they've already got developed," Dalton said. "They said based on the work that has been done currently, that this is probably by far the best project as far as the condition of the mill." The mill has been thoroughly cleaned out.
It's important to note that Gaston County condemned parts of the west side of the building around 2013.
Council Member Gary Freeman requested repairs to streetlights in the Cherryville Elementary School parking lot, which staff promised to address promptly. It was mentioned that residents should call city hall to report outages, as line workers cannot identify problems without being notified.
Some streetlights in the Cherryville Elementary School parking lot. October 29th,2025
Ashley Reep (WNN)
The work session meeting was adjourned with no additional business. Both public hearings are expected to be scheduled at the council's November meeting for final votes in December.
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