Wegmans could bring a second Charlotte-area grocery store to Cornelius after signing an agreement to buy about 62 acres of land from Atrium Health.

The property sits at the southwest corner of Westmoreland Road and Statesville Road, next to the Atrium Health Lake Norman hospital. WSOC-TV first reported the deal on Monday, Sept. 21.

Wegmans spokesperson Marcie Rivera confirmed the agreement but said the chain is still weighing its options. "We are currently evaluating the site as a potential location for a future grocery store, along with other possible uses," Rivera told WCNC Charlotte. "At this stage, no final decisions have been made."

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority owns about 90 acres at the intersection, according to Cornelius Today. The Atrium facility occupies roughly 30 acres. The remaining 60-plus acres had been planned for further development.

Wegmans typically needs 10 to 14 acres to build a supermarket, according to Cornelius Today. That would leave a large portion of the parcel available for other uses.

Rezoning required

A grocery store on the site would require Wegmans to file a rezoning application with the Cornelius planning board and Board of Commissioners, according to Cornelius Today.

No active rezoning applications tied to Wegmans appear on the town's website, both Cornelius Today and Lake Norman Publications confirmed.

Town officials have previously said they wanted to attract boutique corporate headquarters to the Atrium site to strengthen the commercial tax base, according to Cornelius Today, which cited unnamed sources. Wegmans had approached town officials before, with the town pushing for corporate uses rather than retail grocery.

Cornelius is creating its first economic development manager position to recruit higher-paying employers, Patch reported. Residential properties make up 83% of the town's tax base.

Ballantyne store opens first

The Rochester, New York-based grocer plans to open its first Charlotte-area store in Ballantyne on Oct. 14. That 110,000-square-foot location is expected to create about 450 jobs, according to WBTV. It will be Wegmans' fifth North Carolina store.

Any Cornelius location would be years away, given the time needed for a land closing and rezoning process. No timeline has been announced.