Greetings from BRCA 28605!
BRCA Responds
Written by: Jean Kitchin, BRCA Chair, on behalf of BRCA’s Executive Committee
We recently came across the letter to the editor from Wayne Miller published in the High Country Press – Blowing Rock on August 15, 2024, and we would like to take this opportunity to address the insinuations in the letter regarding the Blowing Rock Civic Association (BRCA). BRCA is a North Carolina non-profit corporation formed in 2015. It has a 26 member Board of Trustees and a 7 member Executive Committee. It has several hundred individual members, nearly all of whom are Blowing Rock homeowners. They reside throughout the Blowing Rock community. A number of our members, including our Board and Executive Committee members, from time to time serve in leadership roles in Blowing Rock government, churches, charitable organizations, homeowners’ associations, arts organizations, clubs and business and professional organizations. This is because they have the skill sets, the experience, the interest and, in many cases, the time as retirees to take on these roles. It does not follow that the roles that these individuals have in other organizations mean that BRCA is in control of these other organizations. In particular, BRCA did not found, nor has it funded or engaged in decision-making for the LLC referred to in Wayne Miller’s letter. BRCA also does not direct or control the actions of individuals serving on the Planning Board. To suggest that Planning Board members, or Town Council members, should sign off on Town staff proposals without asking questions, particularly when questions and concerns are being raised emphatically by citizens, is entirely inappropriate. BRCA’s Executive Committee, a majority of whose members do not live in the Green Hill neighborhood, did make a statement about the Green Hill rezoning proposal at the Town Council’s public hearing on July 23. We supported the approach taken by the Planning Board which recommended that the Town conduct a study to explore the viability of and potential alternatives to the current proposal for locating Town telecommunications equipment. This ultimately became the approach of the Town Council following its deliberations and we were pleased with their decision. We hope the Town will promptly engage an independent consultant to conduct the study and publicly share the information they provide. We would like to see the Council make a data-driven decision that promotes public safety, but also seeks to mitigate any disproportionate burden that its decision would place on Town neighborhoods, whether that be Green Hill or elsewhere.
BRCA Annual Member Meeting
Our annual member meeting will take place on Thursday August 29, 2024, at 5:00 PM at the Perry Car Barn. Parking is available at Rumple Church (1218 Main Street). The shuttle starts at 4:30 from the church. The meeting is from 5:00-7:00PM. Shuttle service ends at 7:30. Wine and Hors d’oeuvres provided. There is no parking at the Car Barn. If you haven’t responded please do so soon, we have over 100 confirmed attendees. This is a “Members Only” event and you can pay at the door. Minimum contribution $100.
A Unique Partnership
Restoring the Gateway to Mayview Park
We mentioned in an earlier bulletin about the project to improve the island at the intersection of Main St. and Laurel Lane. This has been a joint effort of the Mayview Park HOA and the Town of Blowing Rock. Members of the Board
have had numerous meetings with town officials to bring this to fruition. The cleanup, new mulch and lighting repair was paid for by the HOA. Additional lighting will soon be installed. The town agreed to repair the existing rock wall and for the new boulders at each end. The sunken pavers as you exit Laurel Lane have also been repaired and leveled by the town. The next phase will be replacing and adding plants in the Fall. The Board is looking for volunteers to help manage our landscaping efforts for both this island and the four Mayview Park entrance signs on an ongoing basis. If you would like to volunteer, please contact any member of the board.
On behalf of all of us at BRCA we sincerely appreciate your financial support and your ongoing engagement. Thank you for following us. We also want to welcome our new members and viewers; we welcome you to BRCA. Please mark your calendar for our annual Member Meeting August 29th at Perry Car barn. Make it a great weekend!