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🏘 Gastonia Approves New Community Plan


Gastonia city leaders have approved a rezoning request that paves the way for a new 55+ community featuring up to 93 homes between South New Hope and Lowell Bethesda Road. This decision follows months of discussions between developers and nearby residents regarding the project’s impact on traffic flow and green space preservation.


Residents of Bethesda Oaks, whose property borders the proposed development, voiced concerns in 2024 about potential increases in morning traffic and the loss of the wooded area behind their homes. To address these concerns, developers incorporated a 10-foot landscaping easement along the shared property line, aiming to maintain some of the area's natural buffer.

Traffic congestion was a key point of discussion.

  • At a community meeting last year, Brock Fankhouser, founder and CEO of NewStyle Communities, assured residents that the development’s 55+ age restriction would result in minimal impact on morning traffic.

  • However, Bethesda Oaks residents remained concerned about a proposed “stub” entrance, fearing it would turn their neighborhood into a cut-through between Lowell Bethesda Road and South New Hope Road.


At a January city council meeting, William Radcliff, president of the Bethesda Oaks Homeowners Association, urged city officials to reconsider the stub requirement. He expressed concerns that it would turn the neighborhood into a major thoroughfare, likening it to "the Indy 500 of Gaston County."


In response, Councilman Jim Gallagher proposed a compromise: approving the rezoning request with the condition that the stub be designated for emergency vehicle access only. The motion passed unanimously, ensuring that the new development can move forward while addressing the primary concerns of Bethesda Oaks residents.


This decision reflects Gastonia’s commitment to balanced growth, meeting the demand for new housing while maintaining quality of life for existing residents. The GBA will continue to monitor and support developments that drive economic vitality while considering community impact.


Gaston Business Association
601 W. Franklin Blvd
Gastonia, NC 28052

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