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Huntersville leaders voted to approve a Birkdale Village expansion. Supporters seek growth and opponents fear overcrowding.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Huntersville leaders voted to approve the expansion of Birkdale Village, a project that has sparked debate among residents and officials.

The measure passed with a 5-1 vote after a lengthy discussion at the Huntersville Town Board of Commissioner meeting on Tuesday.

Supporters of the expansion believe it will bring growth and new opportunities to the area, while some opponents argue that it will lead to overcrowding and diminish the community feel that defines Birkdale Village.

Just three weeks ago on Feb. 25, the Huntersville Town Planning Board held a heated meeting on the proposal. After extensive public comments and deliberation, the board voted 4-3 to recommend denying the project.

RELATED: 'Only going to make it worse' | Business owners concerned over parking in Birkdale Village expansion

The rezoning petition would pave the way for a new apartment complex, a boutique hotel, additional retail shops, office buildings and parking decks in Birkdale Village. Developers have stated that some of the new structures will replace existing buildings.

Planning Board members were divided on whether the project aligns with the needs of the community, and ultimately recommended to deny the proposal as it stands.

RELATED: Huntersville planning board recommends denial of Birkdale Village expansion

Residents living feet away from Birkdale say their neighborhoods are inundated with people parking on their streets.

"The fact we're seeing all this parking into the residential area is proof positive that they do not have adequate parking inside the village," said Suzanne Villar.

Town of Huntersville Planning Director Brian Richards says that currently there are 1,931 parking spaces, with the proposed plan that number will increase to 2,487 spots.

Now that the project is approved, the developer, Jamestown, says the pre-development phase will begin. This includes marketing, finalizing the design, financing, permitting and other tasks.

Construction will begin in 2027 and be carried out in phases, starting with replacing an existing parking deck to make more space.

Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Members of the Huntersville Town Commission voted Tuesday to greenlight the controversial Birkdale Village expansion project.

Now, Channel 9′s Erika Jackson has learned there are new talks about another possible development near a proposed Red Line.

Station South would be on the other side of Interstate 77, along a proposed Red Line rail stop.

ALSO READ: Commissioners greenlight controversial Birkdale Village expansion project

Peak Development has asked the town to rezone more than 20 acres of land on Old Statesville Road north of Sam Furr Road.

Resident Luciana Solano said there are pros and cons to the proposed development.

“I think it’s good but I also agree that it’s getting out of hand and there’s too many people,” Solano said.

The project would include nearly 350 multifamily homes, business space, and a pedestrian village.

“There are a lot of luxury apartments that are not even used,” Solano said. “They keep building more.”

It would be adjacent to the proposed Sam Furr Red Line rail station.

Peak Development says it would include more parking than required with a 25,000-square-foot parking deck and a small road to alleviate congestion elsewhere.

“The traffic already on Sam Furr is insane,” said resident Elizabeth Similey. “So as long as it takes away from that and doesn’t add to it, I’m fine with it.”

If the funding is not approved for that Red Line stop, the plan’s ‘option B’ would remove the parking deck and add more office space.

The developer will present their plans to the Huntersville planning board on Tuesday.

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As Burtons Grill & Bar is wrapping up construction of its multimillion-dollar restaurant in Huntersville, CEO John Haggai talks with CBJ about what to expect there.

Burtons Grill & Bar will wrap up construction of its multimillion-dollar restaurant in Huntersville next month. The nearly 6,100-square-foot restaurant is slated to open April 22.

Expect an elevated, new American grill and bar that fits diners’ everyday needs from lunch and dinner to happy hour, says CEO John Haggai. The Boston-based concept delivers upscale atmosphere and polished service, with a focus on quality — the experience is sandwiched between fine dining and casual.

“We’ve doubled down on quality, hospitality and a customer relationship built on trust, reliability and consistency,” he says.

The restaurant is at 8908-A Lindholm Drive, part of the $65 million, Birkdale Place mixed-used project. That 15.6-acre development is on the south side of N.C. Highway 73, across from Birkdale Village. Burtons signed on to the project after initial tenant, Napa on Providence, terminated its lease.

“We love the energy this shopping center brings,” Haggai says. “I think we ended up with the perfect spot.”

That location’s proximity to Interstate 77 will serve as a regional draw, he adds.

Gais Construction is general contractor for the Huntersville restaurant. Boston-based Whitlock Design Group is the architect. Bill Moseley, with Moseley Real Estate Advisors, and Henry Breaux with The Providence Group, represented Burtons on the lease transaction.

Haggai says the menu is built around classics, from its burgers and short-rib grilled cheese to its iconic lobster roll. Steaks are sourced and cut by Allen Brothers out of Chicago. Seafood is a focus with options such as the crab-crusted haddock. The Mediterranean chicken risotto, braised short ribs and pappardelle bolognese are among the house specialties.

Burtons specializes in meeting guests’ various dietary needs, while supporting allergy-friendly dining. Restaurants are 100% peanut free and can accommodate allergies to gluten, egg, soy, dairy and more.

“We are known as the restaurant of choice in the serious allergy community,” Haggai says.

The 176-seat restaurant at Birkdale Place is the newest prototype, incorporating warm tones for an inviting atmosphere. The 30-plus-seat bar, with its white quartz countertops, will be a focal point with design details including hunter green subway tiles and small herringbone white tiles. Living walls will add pops of greenery to a private dining area, with live trees serving as dividers. Large murals draw inspiration from the flora and fauna theme. A prime feature is the large patio for 100, which blurs the line between indoor and outdoor dining.

The Burtons brand has grown to 20 locations since the first opened in 2005. Haggai says Burtons wants to open three to four restaurants annually. In North Carolina, Raleigh, Wilmington and Greensboro are under consideration.

Huntersville is the third location for Burtons in the Charlotte market.

It opened at Park Road Shopping Center in 2016, followed by a location at Blakeney Town Center in south Charlotte. The company invested over $1 million to upgrade and expand its footprint there last year.

Haggai says Charlotte has been one of the strongest-performing markets for the brand. Both the Park Road and Blakeney locations have seen double-digit sales increases over the past two years — and 2025 is off to a strong start.

Burtons has seen companywide same-store sales increase by 6.5% so far in 2025. Traffic is up by 5.5%. Haggai says that Burtons has doubled down on quality and execution at a time when there’s uncertainty in the restaurant industry.

“People are still going to go out. I think the operators that are dedicated will do really well,” he says.

Burtons is expanding its offerings, with catering being rolled out in some markets.

The restaurant is one of the final pieces to fill 25,000 square feet of retail space included in Birkdale Place’s first phase.

Caribou Coffee and build-your-own salad concept Chopt recently opened at Birkdale Place. Salon Lofts is scheduled to open this spring, and TD Bank has announced plans for a branch there.

Developer Terwilliger Pappas is slated to deliver the first units of Solis Birkdale this summer. That 210-unit luxury apartment project is off of Birkdale Commons Parkway.

The project’s second phase will add another 12,000 square feet of retail space. That building is set to deliver in the third quarter, adding additional retail and restaurant options.

Permits have been secured for a 141-room Hilton Garden Inn.

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The proposed Station South development sparked concerns about infrastructure, as longtime residents say the already crowded area can't handle any further growth.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — As plans for the long-awaited Red Line commuter rail continue, a major development proposal in Huntersville is stirring both excitement and concern.

The project, called Station South, would bring hundreds of residential units and commercial space to a currently vacant area along Old Statesville Road. Peak Development is proposing two versions of Station South — one that includes a train station and parking deck if the Red Line is approved, and another without those features if the commuter rail does not move forward.

Under the first plan, Station South would include:

If the Red Line is not approved, the developer plans to replace the train station and parking deck with additional retail space.

“As Huntersville continues to push east down Sam Furr, we want to make sure that we’re providing, you know, things to do, places to eat,” Michael Cox, a partner at Peak Development, said.

While some see Station South as a step forward for the town, others worry about the impact on infrastructure.

“We have just seen just tremendous growth, and the infrastructure cannot support any more new development,” longtime Huntersville resident Annamarie Klemm said.

Traffic and school overcrowding are top concerns for many, including Tim Sullivan.

“I think the biggest thing that we see is the pressure it puts on the school systems," he said. "I understand they want to increase tax revenue and all those wonderful things that the cities need, but I work in health care, so I think the biggest thing I see is the strain it puts on our health care workers — from ambulance services to fire services — that we sometimes take for granted, I just look at it like I see ambulances getting stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic."

Peak Development says it has completed a traffic study and plans several improvements, including:

The Huntersville Planning Board is set to review the Station South proposal on March 25, before going back to the town in April.

Contact Walker Lawson at wlawson@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

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