BLOWING ROCK, N.C. TOWN COUNCIL MEETING 2/13/2018
1. COUNCIL MEMBER VIRGINIA POWELL ASKED THAT SPEAKERS FROM THE PUBLIC BE HEARD EARLY IN COUNCIL MEETINGS RATHER THAN AT THE END OF MEETINGS SO THAT THEIR VIEWS CAN BE EXPRESSED ON ISSUES BEFORE COUNCIL VOTES. COUNCIL APPROVED HEARING SPEAKERS FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT AFTER APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING’S MINUTES BUT PROHIBITED DISCUSSION OF THE CURRENT MEETING’S AGENDA ITEMS BY THE SPEAKERS.
2. SPECIAL EVENTS WERE APPROVED INCLUDING A PARADE PERMIT FOR OASIS SHRINERS FOR SATURDAY JUNE 2, 2018, THE GLOBE GRAVEL CHALLENGE BIKE RIDE AND THE BLOWING ROCK FALL CLASSIC.
3. THE COTTAGES AT GREEN HILL DEVELOPMENT , DEVELOPERS JIM LESTER AND BO PERRY, WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED FOR 8 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON 4.59 ACRES OFF GREEN HILL RD. SOUTH OF THE EDGE HILL RD. INTERSECTION. A NEW STREET WILL BE CONTRUCTED OFF GREEN HILL RD. FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
4. A 12 UNITS CONDO PROJECT PROPOSED FOR THE FORMER CHEESEBURGERS IN PARADISE PROPERTY BACK OF THE SPECKLED TROUT AND BOND BY RAINEY ST. AND MORNINGSIDE DR. WAS UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED BY COUNCIL AFTER PRESENTATIONS BY A NUMBER OF TOWN RESIDENTS WHO OPPOSED THE PROJECT’S SCALE, DENSITY, HEIGHT AND IMPACT ON TRAFFIC. ENGINEER MARSHALL SEALEY REPRESENTING THE BLOWING ROCK CIVIC ASSOCIATION’S DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION COMMITTEE MADE AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION INCLUDING VISUALS PREPARED WITH THE HELP OF HIS SON CLAY THAT FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SCALE, HEIGHT AND DENSITY OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
5. THE VILLAGE FOUNDATION WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO PROCEED WITH INSTALLING PAVERS BETWEEN MAIN ST. AND THE LAUREL LANE MEDIAN IN DOWNTOWN IF THE PROJECT STARTS NO LATER THAN APRIL 15. THIS WILL REQUIRE CLOSING OF BOTH TRAFFIC LANES ON LAUREL LANE FOR 40-60 DAYS. THE FOUNDATION PLANS TO INSTALL TWO “PILLARS OF TOURISM” INCLUDING BRONZE PLAQUES RECOGNIZING MAJOR LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS ON LAUREL LANE.
6. COUNCIL REJECTED A REQUEST TO CONTRIBUTE $ 10,000 TO A WATAUGA CO. VETERANS’ MONUMENT IN BOONE.
7. COUNCIL REJECTED REQUEST FOR EXTRA STREET WORK AT CONDOS AT VILLAGE GREEN.
8. COUNCIL APPROVED MORE MONEY TO EXPEDITE COMPLETION OF WHITE AND YELLOW LINING OF A NUMBER OF TOWN STREETS AND ROADS THAT NEED PROMPT ATTENTION FOR CITIZEN SAFETY.
9. TWELVE LARGE TREES HAVE BEEN CUT DOWN AND REMOVED FROM MEMORIAL PARK. SEE THE PARK AFTER TREE REMOVAL EITHER IN PERSON OR BY ACCESSING BLOWING ROCK RESORT CAM. A TOWN TREE POLICY WAS APPROVED TO ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS OF $ 2000 FOR A TREE TO BE PLANTED AND MAINTAINED IN THE PARK OR AT OTHER TOWN LOCATIONS AND FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF $ 2000 EACH FOR A BENCH TO BE PLACED AND MAINTAINED IN THESE LOCATIONS . APPROPRIATE PERMANENT RECOGNITION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THESE CONTRIBUTIONS AND RECOGNITION CERTFICATES WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE $ 100 OR MORE TO THE TREE FUND.
10. VOTES WERE TAKEN TO CHOOSE FROM A HISTORIC NUMBER OF FIFTEEN CANDIDATES FOR 3 OPEN SLOTS ON THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, POSITIONS WERE ALSO FILLED ON THE TOWN BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, THE B.R. APPEARANCE ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND THE B.R. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
11. COUNCIL APPROVED PURCHASE OF A MUCH NEEDED CUTOFF VALVE AT THE TOWN WATER PLANT.
12. COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED PAYING HALF OF THE ANNUAL COST OF $ 14,500 FOR PURCHASE BY THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF A PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY AND TRACK SHORT TERM RENTALS IN BLOWING ROCK. THE COMPANY PROVIDING THE PROGRAM HAS IDENTIFIED 125 SHORT TERM RENTALS, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE 75 TOWN IDENTIFIED RENTALS.
COUNCIL VOTING BY MEMBER
MEMBER YOUNT MATHESON POWELL STEELE SWEETING
ISSUE
1. SPEAKERS FROM PUBLIC Y Y Y Y N – OPPOSED TOPIC
RESTRICTION
2. GREEN HILL COTTAGES Y Y Y Y Y
3. MORNINGSIDE DEVEL. N N N N N
4. LAUREL LANE PROJ. Y Y Y Y Y
5. VET.MEMORIAL CONTRI. N N N N Y
6. VILLAGE GREEN WORK N N N N N
7. TREE POLICY Y Y Y Y Y
8. WATER PLT. VALVE Y Y Y Y Y
9. SHORT TRM.RENTAL PGM. Y Y Y Y Y