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Tuesday, 27 March 2007 14:26 |
By JIM GENARO
WOODFIN ó Limitations on the height of buildings in Woodfin will soon become even more stringent, as the townís Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 on March 20 to adopt a new height ordinance. Only Alderman David Clark voted against the measure.
Before the vote, Town Administrator Jason Young explained that the current regulations limit most buildings in the town to a height restriction of 35 feet, but that buildings could be higher if they were approved by the townís fire chief ó and if they included an additional five feet of setback for every foot above the 35 feet of height.
During
the discussion, Alderman Jim Angel noted that the reason for the height
restriction is that ìright now, the fire department canít fight
anything over 35 feetî because of its lack of a ladder.
Young noted that
the new rules would tighten existing ordinances by prohibiting
buildings over 35 feet in all areas except for those in a Commercial
Shopping Zone.
ìRight now, the ordinance doesnít cap the maximum height anywhere,î Young told the board.
When asked
whether the board could approve taller buildings on a case-by-case
basis, Young said, ìAt least my initial impression is, we get on some
pretty shaky ground when we say ëWeíll look at yours, but we wonít look
at yours.íî
However, he
added that while, to his knowledge, this is not done anywhere else in
the state, ìthat doesnít mean it couldnít be done.î
This comment
prompted Alderman Debbie Giezentanner to ask, ìAre we not also on shaky
ground with our Master Plan?î The plan specifies certain types of
zoning that can exceed the height restrictions, such as Mountain
Village Zoning.
ìNo, because the rules are set out ahead of time, not arbitrarily,î Young answered.
In other action, the board:
ï Approved a
resolution to direct Young to convert all municipal buildings to run on
electricity provided by NC GreenPower, a statewide program to
supplement existing power generation with electricity generated by
solar, wind and biomass.
ìHow many windmills are we gonna get?î Alderman Donald Honeycutt joked.
Young noted that
N.C. Greenpower currently generates enough electricity to power 600
homes at the Buncombe County landfill in Woodfin by tapping the methane
produced from decomposing biomass there.
However,
converting to entirely green energy for Woodfinís public buildings will
cost the town about $1,400 more per year, Young noted.
In exchange, the town gets to promote green energy while countering carbon dioxide emissions, he said.
By switching to
green power, Woodfin will counteract CO2 emissions as much as it would
by planting 5,762 trees or by not driving 91,941 miles per year, Young
added.
He also had
positive words for NC GreenPower, saying, ìThis is a very
straightforward, very legitimate organization that is supported by the
state of North Carolina.î
The additional
costs of green power, Young said, arise because it ìis not as efficient
(as fossil fuels) because of economies of scale and because the
technology just isnít there yet.î
However, he added, by passing this measure, the board was helping to subsidize development of eco-friendly technologies.
ï Approved a
resolution empowering VeHaun to endorse the U.S. Mayorsí Climate
Protection Agreement, an agreement currently signed by more than 300
U.S. mayors to work together to combat global warming.
During the
discussion of the proposal, Alderman Virgil Hollifield raised concerns
that by supporting the initiative, the town would be ceding its
authority.
He objected in
particular to language that encourages the mayors to use zoning and
land-use strategies to promote sustainability.
However, Young
countered that the town already uses zoning to encourage more
ecologically friendly growth, such as encouraging development close to
downtown and offering incentives for Mountain Village developments,
which must include green spaces.
ìI donít think
thereís anything in this that forces us to cede our authority,î Young
added. ìWhat weíre really talking about is a concerted effort.î
ï Approved an ordinance prohibiting solicitation of work or donations in or along public roads.
The new rules
would prohibit anyone from standing in the road, soliciting people who
are parking, or standing on shoulders or medians asking for money or
work or selling merchandise, according to Town Attorney Joseph Ferikes.
Mayor Jerry
VeHaun asked, ìCould this be interpreted in any way to mean that people
canít go house-to-house (soliciting donations)?î
After Young
replied that the proposed rules would limit only solicitation from the
street itself, Clark said, ìIíd rather have them in the road than
coming to my house.î
VeHaun pressed
his point further, saying, ìHereís my question: If kids are wanting to
sell candy door-to-door, this wonít stop them?î
Ferikes assured him that it would not.
Young added that
the ordinance is meant to address safety concerns, saying that
solicitation in the road ìdisrupts traffic and it makes for a much more
dangerous situation.î
VeHaun asked
whether it could be use to ìstop the fly-by-night door-to-door
salesmenî who typically employ college students to drive around from
town to town selling t-shirts and other merchandise.
Young replied
that while this ordinance does not affect such businesses, they are
required to have a privilege license. ìWeíve used that effectively
against them,î he said.
ï Set April 17 for public hearings on several proposals, including a franchise agreement with PSNC and a number of annexations.
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