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Tuesday, 28 November 2006 14:50 |
By DAVID FORBES
WOODFIN ÇƒÓ A proposal to lease Woodfinës old public works building for the construction of the townës first Alcoholic Beverage Control store has been put on hold while another proposal to incorporate such a store into a larger shopping center is considered, as a result of Woodfin Board of Aldermenës unanimous decision to table the measure on Nov. 21.
The move came after developer Dean Castor informed the board that he would like to talk to all parties involved about ÇƒÓ instead ÇƒÓ locating the store near the intersections of Brookdale and Elk Mountain Road. That plan would locate the ABC store in a shopping center near a combination fast-food store/gas station and office space.
"We
feel this would be a much better site," Castor said. "This allows the
truck to back in easily and gives the store 4,000 square feet. It also
puts it near the interstate exit onramp and offramp, so we can get them
in here and out of here, in case theyëre going to Madison County.
Weëre trying to meet the guidelines we were given by the ABC board. So
before you vote on this matter, you should take this into
consideration. Locating it near this interstate exit would really help
the town."
He added that
the original plan was for the store to be operational by next June, but
the longer it takes to decide the location, the more the date will get
pushed back.
In May, Woodfin voters approved liquor-by-the-drink in the town, as well as the establishment of an ABC board and liquor stores
In previous,
preliminary votes on setting up negotiations for the lease of the
public works site, two aldermen, Don Honeycutt and Virgil Hollifield,
opposed the measure, asserting that the location is too close to a
church, though it is not within the distance dictated by law.
Hollifield, who was appointed to the board in August, was a vocal opponent of the liquor-by-the-drink referendum.
Meanwhile,
Alderman Geneva Maney said that she had originally supported the lease
of the public works building, but now that other options are being
presented, the town should consider them.
"I had felt that
was the best option at the time," Maney said. "But I hadnët heard about
this proposal ÇƒÓ it might need to be something we need to look at."
Alderman Deborah Giezentanner agreed.
"We need to look at all the options ÇƒÓ and meet with the ABC board, before we make a decision," Giezentanner said.
In other action, the board:
ï Unanimously approved a series of financial measures designed to help create a downtown business district for the town.
The measures
will provide the town with a tax-increment financing district, where
the town will invest money in developments, which it will pay for by
taxing developers who choose to base projects in that area.
In response to
questions from residents, Town Administrator Jason Young said that they
would see no increase in taxes, even those who lived in the affected
areas.
"This is something that developers will pay for in the future," Young said.
Buncombe County will also pay for a portion of the improvements.
ï Approved a
resolution honoring the Woodfin Fire Volunteer Department for its
actions on Nov. 12, when the unit saved the life of resident Bob Austen
in a fire on Weaverville Highway.
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