By JIM GENARO

WEAVERVILLE — Skateboarding is not a crime in Weaverville — for now. Despite a plea of support from the town’s police chief, Weaverville Town Council last Monday night opted not to move forward on a resolution that would have outright banned the use of skateboards, roller skates and “toy vehicles” from the town’s streets and sidewalks.

However, the board did unanimously direct Town Manager Mike Morgan and Police Chief Greg Stephens to come back with a more narrowly focused proposal that could then be brought before a public hearing.

Stephens told council that the new law was needed to protect the children of Weaverville.
“Skaters, while I know they’re not all criminals ... they are an issue that we need to look at in terms of safety,” he told council.

He said that children frequently skateboard in the streets and sometimes hinder pedestrian access to downtown businesses.

Under the proposed rules, anyone caught skateboarding on a street or sidewalk in Weaverville would be subject to a $25 fine. If the person was a minor, the fine would be imposed on his or her parents.

Furthermore, the skateboard, roller skates or other offending vehicle could be confiscated by the officer citing the person. However, the citation would not go on the skater’s criminal record.

One town resident voiced her opposition to the rules during the public comment portion of the meeting. Jill Totman said, “I really would hate to see skateboarding made a crime. There’s so few, so limited things for young people to do.”

Council members apparently agreed.

“It’s a parental responsibility with this,” Councilman Gene Knoefel said. “I’d like to think we’re a kid-friendly town, somehow.”

Councilman Walter Currie also expressed reservations, noting that the language in the proposed ordinance was too vague.

“I’m concerned about the term ‘toy vehicles,’” he noted. “I’m afraid we could snare some toddlers — including my grandchildren.”

“I knew I’d be the bad guy by recommending this,” Stephens admitted. But he said the safety of children must be considered.

After no council member was willing to make a motion on the proposed ordinance, it was dropped, but Knoefel then proposed a resolution asking Morgan and Stephens to reconsider what a more specific ordinance might cover and report back to council.

That resolution passed unanimously.

In other action, council:

• Scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. May 19 to discuss a possible closing of a section of Regan Road.

It also scheduled a related hearing for 6 p.m. April 14 to discuss a conditional zoning for the Weaver Village development planned for what is currently known as the McPhail Property.
The stretch of road being discussed runs throgh the property being developed by Weverville Partners.

Morgan noted that it is unclear whether that section of the road actually belongs to the city, or to Weaverville Partners.

The town has been unable to find legal documents proving that it owns the road, though some old maps show it as being town-owned.

• Unanimously approved an ordinance “prohibiting certain activities” at Lake Louise Park, which were not specified.

• Unanimously approved a request from KC and Cheir Swigart for a 5-lot subdivision on Parker Cove Road.