Matthews Messenger - May 2022

MAY 2022

Volume 4 — Issue 5

Matthews Hosts Festival of India Mayor Higdon and Town staff welcomed the crowd of over 6,000 people to the Festival of India in Stumptown Park on April 30. From left to right: Melissa Johnson, Cultural Recreation Manager; Corey King, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Dept. Director; Becky Hawke, Town Manager; Lal Vishin, President of the India Association of Charlotte; Mayor John Higdon; and festival representative, Dr. Jigisha Shasha.

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In this issue...

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BeachFest Matthews this weekend!

Town Budget Process is Underway Planning & Zoning FAQs

Matthews Messenger | may 2022

MANAGER’S MESSAGE Earlier this week, I presented the recommended budget for the next fiscal year to the Board of Commissioners.

I was pleased to present a balanced budget that meets the needs of the organization and allows us to continue providing excellent services to the residents of Matthews - all without a tax increase. Read more about the budget on page 3 including how you can offer your input.

I hope you will make plans to join us for BeachFest Matthews this weekend in Stumptown Park. We have a fantastic lineup of live music, carnival rides, delicious food options and more! Read more about BeachFest on page 2.

overseeing these changes.

Planning and zoning can be complicated so we’re breaking down some of the most frequently asked questions our Planning staff receive on page 4.

You may have noticed some new sculptures around downtown Matthews. Our first-ever Outdoor Sculpture Gallery was recently completed. This unique take on public art features sculptures on loan from local artists for one year. Check them out on page 5.

Check out the calendar on page 6 for Town events and Board of Commissioners meetings so you can stay involved and engaged in all that Matthews has to offer.

Becky Hawke BECKY HAWKE MATTHEWS TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

As Matthews continues to grow and develop, the Planning and Development Department is tasked with

beachfest matthews is back!

The 14th annual BeachFest Matthews, presented by Novant Health - Matthews Medical Center, will take place Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 at Stumptown Park, 120 South Trade Street. Admission to the two-day festival is free.

BeachFest is much more than beach music! Families can enjoy carnival rides, interactive activities, and a “small shops boardwalk.”

Have lunch or dinner at Food Truck Alley, visit the commercial exhibits on Sponsor Row, and dance to great beach music on the Kinetic Main Stage dance 2

floor. Attendees can also try their hand at axe throwing this year, with The Axe Dood’s mobile throwing lanes.

Scheduled to perform during the two-day event are The Tonez, Blackwater, The Party Parrot Band, Rick Strickland Band, Carolina Soul Band, and The Chairmen of the Board.

STREET CLOSURES To accommodate pedestrians and vendors, Trade Street will close between John Street and McDowell Street on Friday, May 13 at 9:00am. The Trade Street closure will extend to Main Street at 5pm., until the event conclusion around midnight Saturday evening.

Matthews Messenger | may 2022

Town Manager Presents Recommended FY 22-23 Budget Like all municipalities in North Carolina, the Town of Matthews must adopt a budget on or before June 30 each year. The budget is a financial plan that outlines expected revenues and proposed expenditures for the coming fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

The budget process began earlier this year. Town Manager Becky Hawke, the Town’s Budget Officer, works together with Finance Director Teresa Fulk, to review budget requests from each Town Department. The budget is then developed and balanced.

Town Manager Hawke presented the recommended budget to the Board of Commissioners on Monday, May 9.

The recommended budget is $28,541,985 which reflects a 7.3% increase over the FY 22 Original Budget. The property tax rate remains unchanged at .295-cents per hundred.

The budget includes a 7% Cost of Living (COL) increase for all employees that, if approved, will go into effect in July 2022. In addition to helping counteract rising inflation, this increase will also increase the pay plan – including starting pay – to help make the Town of Matthews more competitive in recruiting new employees.

Read more about the FY 22-23 budget, and view the Manager’s presentation here: https:// youtu.be/Sl7JZh0fdnA A public hearing will be held on Monday, May 23 at 7:00 pm to gather input from the community. Residents are invited to provide their input during the public hearing or anytime by emailing matthews@matthewsnc.gov or contacting the Board of Commissioners directly (link). The Board is expected to adopt the budget during their regular meeting on Monday, June 13. C H E A R I N G O R A N Y T I M E B Y E M A I L I N G M A T T H E W S @ M A T T H E W S N C . G O V O R C O N TA C T I N G T H E B O A R D O F C O M M I S S I O N E R S D I R E C T LY ( L I N K ) . T H E B O A R D I S E X P E C T E D TO A D O P T T H E B U D G E T D U R I N G T H E I R R E G U L A R M E E T I N G O N M O N DAY, J U N E 1 3 .

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Matthews Messenger | may 2022

planning and zoning FAQS The Town of Matthews Planning and Development Department led by Director Jay Camp has six employees including four professional planners with AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) credentials, a Code Enforcement Officer, and a Zoning Technician/Deputy Town Clerk.

Along with new development, zoning changes, regulations for signs, administration of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and other regulatory documents, the department is also responsible for long range planning including development plans and studies.

Rezonings are always a popular topic of discussion. Learning the process can be complicated so we’re breaking down some of the most frequently asked questions for the Planning Department below: What is by right development?

By right means that the property already has the appropriate zoning in place to build what is planned.

For instance, if a shopping center is proposed and the property is already zoned for business, no zoning change is required and it does not need to go before the Board of Commissioners for permission or approval. Developments must still meet the standards in the UDO for items such as parking, landscape, stormwater, setbacks, building heights, street widths, sidewalks and many other development requirements.

What are the steps necessary to rezone a property? How does the Board decide if a rezoning gets approved or not?

Rezoning is a lengthy process that involves review and input by Planning staff, the Planning Board, the public, and the Board of Commissioners. Click here to review the steps necessary for Conditional Rezoning. Many factors go into both the Planning Board and the Board of Commissioners decision to approve a rezoning. The impact the rezoning will have on traffic and schools are important considerations. Other factors include density, whether the Board thinks it’s an appropriate use for the property, if there is sufficient parking, and whether it fits into the Town’s long range vision.

As property is being sold and developed, what can we do to protect existing trees?

The Town has minimum standards in place for different zoning districts that require a percentage of tree canopy to be preserved. The amount of existing canopy that must be preserved on the site during development is determined by two factors: the zoning district classification and the percentage of existing tree canopy present before any land disturbing activity.

Do I need approval to put a shed on my property?

Sheds can be placed three feet from the property line, as long as it is behind the principal structure and is not closer to the road than the principal structure, no larger than 50% of the heated square footage of the home, and no taller than the home. A building permit from Mecklenburg County is only required if the shed is larger than 12 feet on any side. Always check with your HOA before placing a shed on the property as their regulations need to be followed first. Town Planning staff is happy to help answer any additional questions.

Do I need a permit to build a fence on my property?

Fences can be built on the property line with a height no taller than 6 feet behind the build-to line and 4 feet in the front. The finished side must face outward. No building permit is needed, however we recommend a survey to ensure the fence is located in the proper location. Always check with your HOA before building a fence as their regulations need to be followed first. Town Planning staff is happy to help answer any additional questions.

For more information visit: www.matthewsnc.gov/planning.

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Matthews Messenger | may 2022

New Outdoor Sculpture Gallery in Downtown Matthews The first-ever Outdoor Sculpture Gallery in downtown Matthews was recently completed. It features sculptures on loan from local and regional artists for one year. The Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Department wanted to create an outdoor gallery exhibit space to promote creativity, expose residents and visitors to unique works of art, and add points of interest throughout the downtown area.

The next Call for Artists for this gallery program will be late Fall 2022, with new sculptures being installed in the Spring of 2023. If you have any questions about the Outdoor Sculpture Gallery or any public art in Matthews, please reach out to Melissa Johnson at mjohnson@matthewsnc.gov.

1. Màquina de Juguetes by Nico Amortegui. Location: Brick planter beside Pizza Peel on Trade Street.

2. Translunar Paradise by Charles Pilkey. Location: Greenway entrance at S. Trade Street.

3. Milk Can Bouquet by Jeff Crane. Location: Corner of Charles St. and Trade St. (near Carolina Beer Temple) 4. Conceive by Adam Walls.

Location: In front of Matthews Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station Street.

5. Plato’s Dream by Charles Pilkey. Location: Matthews Community Center, 100 E. McDowell Street.

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Matthews Messenger | may 2022

May 2022 Events Calendar Any questions? Contact us!

7:00 PM board of adjustment Meeting

7:00 PM Veterans Advisory Committee meeting

7:00 PM Board of Commissioners Meeting

6:45 Matthews Committee on Education mtg 7:00 Environmental Advisory Committee mtg

6:30 PM Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resource Advisory Com. mtg

6:00 pm board of comissioners budget workshop

7:00 PM Board of commissioners Meeting

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm beachfest matthews

10:00 am - 10:00 pm beachfest matthews 9:00 am milkweed for monarchs sale

7:00 pm transportation advisory committee meeting

7:00 PM planning Board Meeting

8:00 am car seat checking station

5:00 PM Beats ‘n Bites

7:00 PM board of adjustment Meeting

11:00 am memorial day ceremony

6:00 PM Crews Family Fun Night

Town offices closed

For additional details, please visit: www.matthewsnc.gov/calendar Town of Matthews Board of Commissioners

Have any questions about the community? Contact us!

Mayor John Higdon mayorhigdon@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner mark tofano mtofano@matthewsnc.gov

TOWN HALL

Mayor Pro Tem Ken McCool kmccool@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner John Urban jurban@matthewsnc.gov

PHONE

Commissioner Renee garner rgarner@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner Larry Whitley lwhitley@matthewsnc.gov

E-MAIL

Commissioner gina hoover ghoover@matthewsnc.gov

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