From Daily Planet Staff Reports

WOODFIN —  Protests were voiced by affected residents, but Woodfin Town Council still voted to annex 138 acres of wooded land on Nov. 23.

The voluntary annexation was unanimously approved by council to make the wooded land — stretching from the Reynolds Mountain subdivision adjoining the Asheville Country Club to property near the Elk Mountain Scenic Highway — part of Woodfin.

Property owners and neighbors in the targeted area had expressed concern that Woodfin’s less stringent rules could result in more houses built on ridges and less control of water and mud running off slopes.

Concern also was expressed that the area’s residents could lose their scenic views for mansion and road cuts.

The annexation was sought by landowners with Sherwood Heights Inc., who include developers and brothers Tom and Stewart Coleman.

The action will allow Woodfin to provide public water to the annexed property and adjoining land the company also owns in Asheville.

With access to public water, Tom Coleman said the annexation will make it easier to sell the Asheville land and develop the annexed property in the future. However, Coleman said there are no plans now to develop the land, noting that the economy has zapped the high-end housing market.