home  |  message boards  |  calendar  |  news  |   local business directory  |  apex gear  |  contact us   |   advertise    |    classifieds

Board okays cinema project

Shawn Daley, Editor

April 22, 2004

The days of Apex residents
having to drive to Cary to catch
a movie will soon be over.

The town board voted unani-
mously Tuesday night to approve
the Promenade at Beaver Creek
site plan, which will include a
multi-screen cinema, restaurants,
stores and office space.

The 65,672-square foot, two-
story shopping center will sit off
of NC 55 at the corner of
Haddon Hall Drive and Zeno
Road.

“It’s a good thing for the town
because it’s really going to be a
destination spot,” said town sen-
ior planner Dianne Khin. “It has
interesting architecture with an
old-world style feel.

“You almost feel like you are
in a little village in Italy when
you look at the renderings of the
building. I think it’s going to be
something that a lot of people
will enjoy.”

The project will also include a
4,600-square foot restaurant out-
parcel that will house Carrabba’s
Italian Grill.

But it was the inclusion of a
cinema that helped gain numer-
ous supporters for the project.
“Because it does have a cine-
ma we had a lot of people that
normally might not be interested
in seeing more retail at the loca-
tion (being) very excited about
this project,” said Khin.

“This is going to be a very
pedestrian-friendly project. There
will be fountains and outdoor
seating areas. It will be a real neat
place for people to go and shop,
get a bite to eat and hang out.”
The tentative timetable for
completion is some time in
2006.
 

Cary police charge driver in accident that killed two teens

The driver of a car involved in
an accident that left two teens
dead was charged with two
counts of misdemeanor death by
motor vehicle.

Katherine Hart, 16, of Cary,
was charged by Cary police
early last week.

Hart was driving a 1994
Plymouth Acclaim west on U.S.
64 in Cary when she attempted
to make a left turn onto
MacKenan Drive. A tractor-
trailer travelling east on U.S. 64
slammed into the car.

Two passengers in the car,
Nicole Gentz, 15, of Apex, and
Kassel Aaron Smit, 16, of Cary,
were killed at the scene.

Gentz was a sophomore at
Apex High School and Smith
was a student at Cary High
School.

The driver of the tractor-trail-
er, Dwight Gilmore, 40, of
Gastonia, was not injured.
Police say Hart failed to yield
the right of way when she made
the left turn. Both vehicles had a
green light.

She was also driving outside
the privleges of her graduated
license by having more than one
passenger in the car.

The charges against Hart carry
a maximum sentence of up to
120 days. in jail, a one-year rev-
ocation of a driver’s license,
fines and court costs.

Hart could also be ordered to
make restitution to the families
of the victims.
 

Shawn Daley, Editor

April 22, 2004


Apex officials received a fine compli-
ment from town residents Tuesday
night in a very strange way — nobody
said a thing.

Not one resident spoke during a pub-
lic hearing concerning adoption of the
Apex Comprehensive Plan.

In the past year the Apex Planning
Department held three public meetings
and sent out countless e-mails and let-
ters to residents with detailed informa-
tion about the plan.

By the time the town commissioners
received the final product at Tuesday's regular board meeting, the public’s con-
cerns had already been addressed.

“It speaks volumes that no one spoke
at the public hearing,” said Mayor
Keith Weatherly. “Especially when
there is potential volatility with a plan
like this one. I assume it is (a sign) of
resounding support.”

The mayor and commissioners also
praised town senior planner Dianne
Khin who was responsible for coordi-
nating the project.

“Nobody is at the public hearing
tonight because Dianne took care of
everything already,” said
Commissioner Mike Jones. “She did an
outstanding job.”

The purpose of the plan was to update
and combine the existing land use, growth
management, and open space plans.
With the help of public input a set of
12 goals was compiled for the future of
Apex. Listed among the goals was the
preservation of Apex’s small-town
character, maintaining compatibility
between old and new development, the
preservation of historic properties and
natural resources, and offering afford-
able housing options.

Commissioner Doug Meckes noted
that it was a “good sign” that the town
was already working toward those goals.
Pointing out that those goals were
formed with the help of public input
Commissioner Bryan Gossage said, “it
shows we are listening to the public.”
 

home  |  message boards  |  calendar  |  news  |  local businesses  |  apex gear  |  contact us  |   advertise   |    classifieds