Michael Peoples, City Manager, City of Gastonia

In an interview with Invest:, Michael Peoples, Gastonia city manager, discussed how the city is preparing for long-term growth through infrastructure, utilities, and community engagement. “Gastonia is preparing for the future in a serious way. We are investing in infrastructure, balancing growth with quality of life, and building the assets that will allow the city to remain competitive and livable for years to come,” Peoples said.

What key changes over the past year have had the greatest impact on Gastonia, and in what ways?

One of the biggest developments over the past year was the municipal election cycle. In North Carolina, those elections take place every other year, so they naturally shape the city’s priorities, strategic direction, and long-term planning. Elected officials help set the tone for where the city is headed, and that has a direct impact on how we approach growth and investment.

Another major milestone was the completion of our Comprehensive Plan, which now looks ahead to 2050. That was a significant undertaking involving elected officials, the Planning Commission, and residents. It took more than a year of work, and I am proud of the roadmap it provides for the future.

Utilities have also remained a major focus. Gastonia is somewhat unique because we provide water, sewer, and electric service. Not many cities in North Carolina operate their own electric system. So, that is a major responsibility. We serve more than 100,000 people with water every day, and we manage over 30,000 electric meters. Preparing those systems for future demand is a big part of how we are positioning the city for long-term sustainability.

What recent initiatives or developments are you most excited about, and how are they positioning Gastonia within the Greater Charlotte region?

One of the things I am most encouraged by is Gastonia’s ability to remain sustainable on its own terms. We are part of the Greater Charlotte region, but we do not want to rely entirely on Mecklenburg County or Charlotte for the assets and infrastructure that support growth. In particular, our water and sewer capacity have become important advantages at a time when capacity constraints are affecting parts of the region.

Gastonia and Gaston County benefited from decades of investment tied to textiles and manufacturing. While those industries have changed, the infrastructure they helped support has positioned us well for the future. Those past investments are now helping us accommodate residential growth, as well as manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and commercial development. We have capacity, and that is a meaningful advantage as the region continues to expand.

What major economic, demographic, or technological trends are you seeing, and how is the city adapting to them?

Technology is one of the clearest areas of change, both in how cities operate and in how citizens expect to access information. We are focused on implementing technology that creates value for residents and businesses while also improving the city’s efficiency. That includes digital tools, mobile applications, and systems that make information more accessible and services more responsive.

A strong example is our advanced metering infrastructure project. We are investing more than $32 million to replace all of our electric and water meters across the city. In total, that is about 70,000 meters. It is a large and complex project, but it will improve how we manage utilities, serve customers, and plan operations. We expect that work to continue for about another year and a half.

What are some of the biggest challenges Gastonia is facing, and how are you turning them into opportunities?

One of the most visible challenges is the perception of rapid growth. Residents drive through the city and see major changes taking place in multiple areas, not just on the eastern side closer to Charlotte. That can create the impression that growth is happening at an overwhelming pace.

In reality, we have been growing at a relatively balanced rate. If you look back over the last two decades, annual growth has generally stayed below 3%. What people are reacting to is the visible transformation. Projects approved in 2020 and 2021 are now becoming real, and since 2019, we have tracked more than 18,000 residential units that have been approved. Some are still proposed or under development, but when wooded or undeveloped land turns into major housing developments, that is a dramatic shift.

Our job is to manage that growth thoughtfully. The opportunity is to use planning, infrastructure investment, and public engagement to make sure development strengthens the city over time rather than eroding what residents value about Gastonia.

How is the city engaging residents and local stakeholders to ensure inclusive growth?

The 2050 Comprehensive Plan was one of the strongest examples of public engagement we have undertaken. Residents participated through surveys and other input opportunities, and that gave us valuable feedback on what they want Gastonia to look like in the decades ahead.

Another important example was the 2022 General Obligation Bonds for transportation. That was the largest bond in the city’s history, at $75 million, and nearly 70% of voters approved it. The city put significant effort into explaining the projects, collecting feedback, and helping residents understand how transportation investments would prepare Gastonia for future growth.

Elections present another opportunity for community engagement. Campaigns naturally bring elected officials into closer contact with residents, and that creates another channel for understanding public priorities. We pay close attention to those conversations and use that information to evaluate whether we are addressing the right issues and where we can improve.

How do you see Gastonia’s role evolving within the regional Charlotte economy, particularly in terms of business growth and livability?

Gastonia plays an important role in supporting the broader Charlotte-Metro economy, especially as a place that contributes workforce, livability, and industrial capacity. On this side of the river, we are also focused on building our own assets and remaining as self-sustained as possible.

That means investing in what makes Gastonia distinctive. We have natural assets, including access to rivers, mountains, parks, and greenways. We have strong healthcare anchors, such as CaroMont Health. We also have a long manufacturing history, and out of necessity, we have diversified well beyond textiles. That evolution has helped us attract global corporate citizens, including a strong European business presence in places such as Gastonia Technology Park and Apple Creek Corporate Park.

Looking ahead over the next two to three years, what are your key goals and priorities for the city?

One major priority is serving an aging population. North Carolina, and this region in particular, continues to age, so we need to be strategic about how we respond. That includes investing in housing rehabilitation so longtime residents can remain in their homes and continue to thrive in the community.

We are also investing in recreational opportunities for older adults. We recently purchased a property downtown and are renovating it into a new active adult center, which we expect to open in May. Its downtown location matters because it places that resource in a vibrant area near restaurants and other amenities.

More broadly, we are continuing to balance development with park investment, green space preservation, and greenway construction. We are completing the first phase of a 140-acre park in western Gastonia near Crowders Mountain State Park, which receives nearly one million visitors each year. We also opened another park near downtown about a year and a half ago and connected it through our greenway network, linking major recreational assets more intentionally to the urban core.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Transportation will be one of the defining issues for Gastonia over the next decade. The widening of I-85 between U.S. Hwy 321 and the Catawba River is beginning now, and that project alone is part of more than $1.2 billion in investment. Additionally, bridge replacement work on key river crossings is also moving forward.

Over the next 10 years, there could be close to $2 billion in highway projects under construction in Gaston County. That is both a blessing and a challenge. These are investments we need, and they will help us catch up to growth and improve connectivity, but managing those disruptions while keeping the city moving will be a major responsibility.

Still, those projects reflect something important. Gastonia is preparing for the future in a serious way. We are investing in infrastructure, balancing growth with quality of life, and building the assets that will allow the city to remain competitive and livable for years to come.