The opposition—primarily a handful of individuals active in a Facebook group called the “Stewards of Weddington”—has been circulating false claims and unsupported rumors about the Polivka family’s property, history, and application.
These claims are inflammatory, designed to sow confusion and fear among residents.
Opponents argue that including the Polivka property in the downtown overlay or permitting two additional office buildings would increase crime, create “commercial sprawl,” reduce pedestrian safety, and threaten Weddington’s rural character and way of life.
None of these claims are supported by the facts, the studies, or even the town’s own planning documents.
The opposition’s goal is clear:
Spread misinformation and obstruct the rights of a taxpaying property owner.
In this post, we rebut each of the opposition’s claims one by one so you can see exactly what is true and what is fearmongering.
Once you’ve read the rebuttals, we invite you to stand with us by signing and sharing this petition—because Weddington deserves truth, not fear.
Read and sign our petition here:
https://www.change.org/amend-the-map
We also ask you to stand with us because the rights of all taxpaying property owners should be protected from a small mob of loud people.
1. Opposition’s claim: “Unsafe pedestrian crossings / reduced walkability”
Rebuttal:
Walkability will not be negatively impacted — it’s already safe and functional.
Dental patients have been visiting Serene Dental Spa in the Polivka office building for over a decade without pedestrian crossing issues. Adding more medical tenants won’t suddenly create problems.
A crosswalk already exists at Hwy 84 and 16 at the Methodist Church, providing a safe option for residents. There is no evidence that Weddington residents will ignore this crosswalk and decide to J-walk instead.
Building additional offices on the Polivka family property does not “reduce” walkability or decrease pedestrian safety.
If anything, having more local services increases walkability in the center of town by giving residents more reasons to walk within town center rather than drive outside of town.
2. Opposition’s claim: “Higher risk of crime”
Rebuttal:
There is no evidence linking new professional offices to crime increases in Weddington — one of the safest towns in North Carolina.
This claim is fearmongering. Research shows that investment in new, well-maintained properties is actually correlated with reduced crime.
Before Polivka purchased their property, it contained an abandoned house and overgrowth — conditions historically proven to attract crime. The Polivkas replaced the overgrown lot and abandoned house with a modern, well-kept building and landscaping, improving safety and reducing the risk of crime.
Commercial properties bring:
- More “eyes on the street” at different hours, discouraging crime.
- Better lighting, security, and landscaping than vacant or neglected lots.
- Higher property values and community investment, both linked to lower crime.
Two additional office buildings (containing medical and professional services tenants) on Polivka’s land does not threaten safety or increase the risk of crime.
3. Opposition’s claim: “Increases commercial sprawl along Providence Road and will set a dangerous precedent”
Rebuttal:
This is factually wrong — the numbers don’t change.
Only 0.4% of Weddington’s land is designated “commercial.” The Polivka property is already included in that fraction—on both the current land use map and the future land use map (as “Business”).
Including Polivka in the downtown overlay does not increase commercial acreage. It’s a technical correction to align the overlay with the Land Use Plan and the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is clear:
“The downtown overlay shall apply to those parcels designated as future business in the Town of Weddington Land Use Plan and zoning map.”
The Polivka property meets that definition exactly—it is designated “Business” in the future land use plan map.
There is no “dangerous precedent” here because:
- The property is not being rezoned.
- Its land use designation is already “Business.”
- It is already zoned Mixed Use (MX).
- It already has a commercial office building housing Serene Dental Spa and Polivka International employees.
- It was a commercial property before the overlay even existed.
This is not “commercial sprawl.” This is not a “dangerous precedent.” This is simply correcting an oversight to ensure the overlay matches the town’s own plan and ordinances.
4. Opposition’s claim: “Increased traffic”
Rebuttal:
Traffic concerns are overstated and not supported by the facts.
All development — residential, nonprofit, or commercial — generates traffic. Compared to nearby subdivisions, Polivka’s two new office buildings generate less.
A professional Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) was conducted in February 2024 by Design Resource Group. Findings: only 53 AM peak-hour trips and 63 PM peak-hour trips would result. The report concluded that traffic operations would not be “materially impacted.”
Town Planner Greg Gordos confirmed at the January 13, 2025 Council meeting:
“A traffic study was completed and didn’t require upgrades to Providence Road. The business and medical offices draw less traffic than subdivisions and other retail commercial developments.”
In summary: Traffic from two office buildings is minimal, does not trigger road improvements, and is well within town standards. The Planning Board and Town Planner both confirmed this when approving Polivka’s application in November 2024.
5. Opposition's claim: “Threat to Weddington’s rural character and way of life”
Rebuttal:
Polivka is not changing Weddington’s rural character — it is strengthening the town center.
Polivka already has one office building serving Weddington families today. Adding two more buildings on the same property in the town center is a natural continuation, and not a town transformation.
Weddington is mostly residential / rural. The Polivka family property is already part of the .4% of commercial land parcels. The Polivka family adding two more office buildings on their land that is already part of the 0.4% of land zoned and designated “Business” does not increase commercial. The balance remains unchanged.
The opposition’s claim is not fact-based but purely emotional. The facts: the UDO, the zoning, the land use designation in the current and future land use maps in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Planning Board approval and staff approval, all support Polivka’s right to build.
In summary: The Polivka family building two additional buildings on their land does not threaten the rural character of the town or the way of life of residents. Polivka's additional buildings strengthens the town center and provides additional convenient medical and professional services to residents.
6. “They just want to sell their land for profit”
Rebuttal:
This claim is false and outdated.
The Polivka family made a conscious choice to stay in Weddington and invest here rather than relocate their headquarters elsewhere.
Planned use of the buildings:
- Upper floors: Polivka’s own employees.
- Ground floors: medical and professional tenants serving Weddington residents.
While the property was once listed for sale, the family removed it and committed to growing their businesses here. This is a long-term investment in the community, not a short-term land flip.
The Polivka family is demonstrating commitment, not speculation.
7. Opposition's Claim: Polivka's "Perry South" property is named after Jeff Perryman
Incorrect.
Polivka's Perry South property was named in honor of the historic neighborhood in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania named Perry South (also known as Perry Hilltop) because this is where the Polivka family originally settled after immigrating to the United States from Eastern Europe in the late 1800s.
8. Opposition's claim: 'Shortly after the vote in January, Basil Polivka, CEO of Polivka International and owner of the "Perry South" property approached Council Member Jeff Perryman to request a text amendment that would add "Perry South" into Weddington’s existing commercial overlay district.'
Incorrect.
Basil Polivka II never approached Jeff Perryman.
Jeff Perryman is advocating for the Planning Board and Town Planner to consider if the Polivka property should be included in the downtown overlay because he believes it is the right thing to do.
You can view Perryman's public statement at the July 14th 2025 Council meeting here:
https://youtu.be/QIxJh03sdbk
We agree with Jeff Perryman:
- Polivka not being included in the downtown overlay was an oversight.
- The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) actually states that parcel's designated as "Business" in the future land use map (this includes Polivka) should be included in the downtown overlay.
- The Council's vote to deny Polivka's application in January 2025 directly ignored the Planning Board's and the Town Planner's recommendation to approve Polivka from November 2024.
- The Council's vote in January 2025 directly ignored that the fact that the town overlay should have no bearing on whether Basil Polivka should be allowed to build.
- The Council's vote in January 2025 violated the property rights of Basil Polivka.
- The Council's vote in January 2025 was arbitrary and capricious.
In Closing
The opposition's claims don’t hold up to scrutiny. Weddington deserves honest conversations rooted in evidence and logic, not fear. By standing together, we can ensure that responsible growth—like the Polivka family’s project—benefits our community while preserving the character of the town.
We invite you to take action: share this petition with your friends, family, and neighbors.
Every voice matters, and together we can make sure that common sense and truth—not fearmongering— guides our civil discourse.
Please consider signing our petition:
https://www.change.org/amend-the-map
Thank you.
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