Town Concerns; Pineville Residents Fear A New Substation Plan

PINEVILLE – Justin Burkhart lives in the McCullough neighborhood in Pineville at the state line. He’s just one of the 20+ people that showed up to talk with WCCB’s Emma Mondo on Friday to voice their concerns about a new substation planned right in their back yard.

“Nobody in our group is saying, don’t build it at all,” said Burkhart. “Like that’s not the case. It’s just don’t build it here. Like put it somewhere better.”

With more people moving to the area, and more subdivisions being built, Pineville officially in need of a second substation to provide enough energy for everyone in the town. After searching multiple properties, they landed here, on the corner of miller and rock hill Pineville; the home of the local flea market.

“If you ever been out here on the weekend? They do a ton of business at the flea market, It’s super packed,” Burkhart says. “This whole area here with the open tables, those are all spots where, you know, vendors are at, and then these are all parking spots.”

Steve Miller‘s family has owned this property for close to 100 years. He received a letter from the town of Pineville back in June, requesting that he sell the property to the city for market value. While the plan asks for an acre and a half of this 8 acre property, Miller isn’t budging.

“I have no desire for you to take my land,” said Miller. “I don’t have no reason to want to get rid of it.”

Mondo spoke with Pineville Electric Systems Manager, David Lucore. He tells WCCB plenty of discussion went into this plan, and he hears peoples frustrations.

“If there are others that are more suitable or just as suitable, we’d be glad to look at those. We’re just trying to cover all bases, you know, leave no stone unturned and provide, uh, the space we need for a new substation,” said

Well, neighbors are frustrated about this being at the entrance to the neighborhood, no one is more frustrated and Miller, and he’s ready to fight for what’s his.

“We’re going to fight it to the end,” said Miller. “The only way I’m going to give it up is a judge is going to have to tell me I have to.”