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Tuesday, 29 November 2005 08:38 |
By DAVID FORBES
| Residents of Weaverville pack the town hall last Monday night as opponents of the Northridge Commons retail center project wave signs in protest.
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WEAVERVILLE ?? A controversial retail center encompassing more than 85 acres will be coming to this North Buncombe town, as Weaverville Town Council approved rezoning necessary for the project to proceed by a 4-1 vote last Monday night.
Many residents carried signs declaring their opposition to the Northridge Commons project, which will be built at the U.S. Highway 25-70/ U.S. 19-23 interchange by Charlotte developers Harris, Murr & Vermillion. More than 200 people packed into the town hall.
However, Monday night??s meeting and an Oct. 20 public hearing on the issue made it clear that there are many supporters of the project in the town as well, who assert that it will be a quality development, bringing more than 1,500 jobs and meaning Weaverville residents will no longer have to drive to Asheville to shop. At that hearing, developer Steve Vermillion noted that the project could include Lowe??s Home Improvement and Target stores.
Meanwhile, the project??s opponents contend that the size of the development is too big for Weaverville, as it would triple the size of the town??s current commercial district, increasing traffic massively and driving out the town??s locally owned businesses.
Mayor Mary ?®Bett?∆ Stroud said just before the vote that she supported
the project, and that council investigated it extensively before making
its decision, including a trip by council members Harold Payne and
Dottie Sherrill to Charlotte to inspect some of the developer??s other
projects.
?®This is not the kind of issue on which people are ever likely to
agree, but it is time to decide that matter before us,?∆ Stroud said.
?®The location makes this a desirable site for a retail project such as
has been proposed. Their plans include good architectural design,
excellent amenities, landscaping that exceeds our ordinances and water
features that will make the site more attractive.?∆
Moreover, she noted, the center ?®will provide over 1,500 jobs and
increase the tax base. With this project, the town of Weaverville has
an opportunity to set a standard for development in our area.?∆
As Stroud finished her remarks and Sherrill made the motion to approve
the project, some members of the crowd hissed and booed, while others
applauded, prompting Stroud to bang her gavel and call for order.
After Stroud??s remarks, Councilwoman Marcie Nesbeth said that she had
received many e-mails and letters about the development ?? and that the
opponents were in the minority.
?®I took all of the information, and I took the phone calls and letters,
and I totaled them up,?∆ Nesbeth said. ?®My totals came to 347 for this
project and 139 against.?∆
Once again, applause mixed with cries of ?®No!?∆ and booing filled the room in response to Nesbeth??s remarks.
?®I have the proof here,?∆ Nesbeth replied to the audience, brandishing a
large stack of letters. ?®I spent the whole weekend going through,
tallying these, calling people. Whether you believe it or not, that??s
the truth. We thank
everybody for letting us know how you feel. I??ve heard what you have to say and I have to go with the majority.?∆
The lone member of council to vote against the project was Al Root, who
said he respects the project??s supporters, but that he believes the
town must stay consistent with its zoning.
?®For me, this has been easily the most difficult issue I have wrestled
with, but I??m voting against the rezoning,?∆ Root said, drawing yelling
and applause from the audience. ?®One of the reasons it is difficult for
me is the great respect I have for the people and for the thoughts
expressed by those who favor this.
?®In the last few years, there has been in Weaverville almost a
knee-jerk reaction to believe that anyone who favors a rezoning either
doesn??t have the best interests of the town in mind, didn??t care about
Weaverville or weren??t very smart,?∆ Root continued. ?®I have found,
especially, with this project, that people of good faith can come down
on either side. If the only issue for the council were these developers
and this one shopping center, I might very comfortably vote for
rezoning.?∆
However, he added that he thinks the proper approach to development was
?®slightly different?∆ and that the town??s zoning should not be so
radically changed.
?®Our plan shows commercial development in a corridor right along what
will be Interstate 26, and we do have 50 acres there already zoned for
commercial,?∆ Root said. ?®After a lot of thought, I??ve come to the
conclusion that going back another 30 or 40 acres into residential
areas is not good for the planning.?∆
At the end of the meeting, council allotted 15 minutes for citizens to comment on the passage of the development.
During that comment period, resident Bill Hussey thanked council for
its work, but warned that council is setting a ?®dangerous precedent?∆ by
approving the development.
Waving a copy of the town??s zoning map, Hussey said, ?®I wonder what value this is now.
?®I realize that a zoning map is not set in stone, it is only a
guideline,?∆ Hussey said. ?®However, if this is the only type of
guideline you have, it serves as a sort of document on which you have
to base those decisions. Are your decisions made on a document or are
they based on political or economic interests? This vote tonight has
said that all the property is now subject to be rezoned. Many citizens
have talked about having a plan, but if we??re not going to stick with
what we??ve come up with as a plan, if we don??t have the will or the
gumption to abide by what we do have in place, then what use is a plan??∆
Meanwhile, resident Tom Maroni used his time at the lectern to blast
council for its approval of the development and asserted that their
decision-making process was undemocratic.
?®I wish I could thank you for all your efforts, but I can??t,?∆ Maroni
said. ?®This is a travesty. This is a watershed event. The people who
are being affected live where they live because they rely upon the
zoning of this community, and for you people to so frivolously change
the zoning is deplorable. You have something like this come up on Oct.
20 and then you pass it tonight without all of these hundreds of people
having the opportunity to be heard. Who has ever heard of such a thing??∆
Maroni??s remarks drew applause and shouts from the crowd, as Stroud responded, ?®We did have a public hearing.?∆
Maroni continued, asserting that council was ?®out there being wined and
dined by these developers from Charlotte. We don??t want Charlotte
people. If we want to live in Charlotte, we??d have moved to Charlotte.
If we want to live in Atlanta, we??d have moved to Atlanta.?∆
Some residents were pleased with council??s decision, as resident Harry Payne told the Daily Planet after the meeting.
?®I??m glad they passed it and I??m all for it,?∆ Payne said. ?®I??m a native
here and I know that area very well. We can??t turn the clock back. We
need this. We??re a bedroom community to Asheville, but it??s hard to get
to Asheville. Something like this, we won??t have to go to Asheville for
everything.?∆
In separate remarks after the meeting, Stroud told the Daily Planet
that while she had opposed some previous projects developers had tried
to bring into Weaverville, the Northridge Commons project is different.
?®This is a quality development. The developer has a good track record,?∆ Stroud told the Daily Planet. ?®That impressed me.?∆
She added that the project??s opponents were so vocal at the meeting
because ?®some people are concerned that they will lose their small town
feel.
?®Change is difficult, change is challenging,?∆ Stroud said. ?®It??s easy to feel comfortable with the norm.?∆
In other action, council:
?ÿ Unanimously approved the Woodbriar Subdivision located on Pleasant Grove Road.
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