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RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE WESTERN AREA PLAN DECEMBER 1997 The Western Area Plan was adopted by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners in December 1992 and the Concord City Council in February 1993. The five years since the original adoption of the plan has been a period of rapid change and development in the area. That is particularly true of the area referred to as King's Grant and around the Concord Regional Airport. The following is a brief review of the original plan recommendations for that area, changes that have occurred or are occut't'ing, and revised land use recommendations. The "Future Land Use Map" for Subarea One of the Western Area Plan shows a mix of uses for properties on or near the 1-85 corridor. King's Grant is shown as a mix of commercial and future employment uses surrounding what was then the planned interchange just inside Cabarrus County. The future employment zone of the western side of King's Grant extends from the intersection of the King's Grant Parkway and Derita Road up to the entrance to the airporL From the approximate area of that entrance to Poplar Tent Road the remainder of the future land use along Derita Road is shown as medium density residential. The future land use that is shown was based upon development patterns in 1992, the expected completion of the airport, the master plan for King's Grant, and the zoning that existed at that time. Since 1992, however, development patterns, pace of activity, the master plan for King's Grant and zoning in the area have changed. The major change has been the planned uses in King's Grant In 1992 it was planned to include retail and service areas near the interchange with office and industrial uses extending from the retail both east and west of the interchange. The planned uses have shifted since then to be almost entirely retail and service with a regional mall planned for 1.6 million square feet in the southwest quadrant of the interchange, an outlet center of 250 thousand square feet in the southeast quadrant, and additional commercial and service estabhshments planned for much of the remaining property. Additionally, the City of Concord has developed a public golf course adjacent to King's Grant in an area also identified as future employment. The changes have drastically reduced the office and industrial opportunities on the King's Grant tracL The other major change has been the development and activity level of the Concord Regional Airport. The airport facility was under construction at the time the Western Area Plan was adopted. The airport opened in November 1994 and has since exceeded projections for aircraft based there and number of flights.