|
Wednesday, 02 August 2006 03:30 |
By JIM GENARO
BLACK MOUNTAIN ?? In a joint session, the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen and the town??s Planning Board heard a proposal last Monday that could lead to a request for voluntary annexation of the Goodson Cove Development.
The development, which is a 67-acre tract of land bordering the 16th green and 17th fairway at the Black Mountain Golf Course, was once part of a larger property owned by the Goodson family for more than 150 years.
The
remainder of the original property was eventually assimilated into the
golf course, but a large tract ?? including a ridge top ?? is being
developed by Reese Lasher and Ken and Sarah Goodson Haynes. Although the
developers have not formally asked for voluntary annexation, Monday??s
hearing gave them an opportunity to present their plan and answer
questions as a preliminary step towards such an appeal.
?®Our plan would
be to ask for voluntary annexation, should the Board of Aldermen agree
that this might be good for the town of Black Mountain,?∆ Lasher told
the boards.
He added, however, that citizens concerned about the impact of annexation ?®would get another public hearing.?∆
At stake for the Goodson development is access to public utilities the town provides.
?®Our request for
voluntary annexation really reflects the need for water, connectivity
to the sewer system, connectivity to the people of Black Mountain,?∆
Lasher said. ?®We see it as a community that is the first to become
available on a golf course in, I believe, 40 years.?∆
After Reece addressed the boards, Mike Lovay, a civil engineer for the project, spoke.
?®As a civil engineer, I try to come in and affect the property as little as possible.?∆
He told the
boards that the project will take ?®a couple of years?∆ to complete and
that efforts are being made to preserve as much green space as
possible.
At the top of
the property is a large open field that is not currently scheduled for
development, Lovay noted. Largely, he added, the situation is a result
of the steepness of the property, which would require more than 60 cuts
into the mountain to build access roads.
?®Reece is not someone who wants to see something like that anywhere ?? especially in such a beautiful place as this.?∆
Some board
members did express concerns over the potential for future development,
however. One planning board member asked, ?®Mr. Lasher, I heard you say
that the upper field could be developed at a future date ... Is that
the case or would it be set aside in perpetuity??∆
?®No it would not
be set aside in perpetuity,?∆ Lasher responded. He acknowledged that the
field was scenic and beautiful, but added that ?®there are some very
beautiful home sites up there.?∆
The planner then asked, ?®Are you saying that 100 percent of the undeveloped land could be potentially developed??∆
?®No ?? primarily,
the topology would largely prevent it,?∆ Lasher replied. However, he
said he could not give any specific information as to what percentage
could be developed.
The developers must now decide whether to make a formal appeal for voluntary annexation.
|
