THE BLOWING ROCK CIVIC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER FOR NOVEMBER 2017

 

1.       THE BLOWING ROCK TOWN ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 2017 RESULTED IN A DRAMATIC CHANGE OF TOWN LEADERSHIP. CHALLENGER CHARLIE SELLERS DEFEATED INCUMBENT J.B. LAWRENCE TO BECOME BLOWING ROCK MAYOR NEXT MONTH. CHALLENGER VIRGINIA POWELL WILL JOIN THE TOWN COUNCIL NEXT MONTH DEFEATING INCUMBENT RAY PICKETT FOR THAT POSITION.  INCUMBENTS SUE SWEETING AND DOUG MATHESON WERE RE-ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL. BASED ON CANDIDATES’ STATED POSITIONS IN THIS ELECTION WE EXPECT THE FOLLOWING:

A.      A SIGNIFICANTLY  GREATER  CONCERN  FOR HOMEOWNERS, FULLTIME AND SEASONAL AND A NEW ENCOURAGEMENT TO OWN A HOME IN BLOWING ROCK.

B.      MUCH GREATER GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY BRINGING MORE CITIZENS INTO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

C.      CLOSER SUPERVISION OF TOWN EXPENSES TO MINIMIZE FUTURE TAX AND FEE INCREASES.

D.      BETTER PROACTIVE TOWN PLANNING THAT ENABLES LEADERSHIP TO CHART AN INTELLIGENT FUTURE COURSE FOR THE TOWN.

E.       MORE THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS TO ASURE ADHERHENCE TO TOWN CODES THAT PROTECT RESIDENTS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BLOWING ROCK.

F.       A BETTER FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.

G.     BETTER PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF THE UNIQUE BEAUTY AND ENVIRONMENT OF THE TOWN.

H.      MORE USE OF EXISTING TOWN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN COUNCIL DECISION MAKING.

I.        A TENDENCY TO AVOID OSTENTATIOUS SIGNAGE AND OTHER CONTRIVANCES AND TO INSTEAD EMPHASIZE THE NATURAL VILLAGE QUALITY OF BLOWING ROCK

J.        THOUGHTFUL PROMOTION OF TOURISM THAT DOES NOT DAMAGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR BLOWING ROCK RESIDENTS.

THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LIST OF EXPECTATIONS OF THE NEW MAYOR AND COUNCIL. CHARLIE         SELLERS IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN WHO HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF RENEWING AND PROMOTING THE BLOWING ROCK ATTRACTION MAKING IT AGAIN ONE OF NORTH CAROLINA’S BEST ATTRACTIONS. CHARLIE, A NATIVE OF BLOWING ROCK, IS THE GRANDSON OFBLOWING ROCK’S GREAT MAYOR AND PROMOTER GROVER ROBBINS. THE ROBBINS FAMILY IS ONE OF THE HIGH COUNTRY’S GREATEST FAMILIES FOUNDING THE BLOWING ROCK ATTRACTION, TWEETSIE, HOUND EARS RESORT, BEECH MOUNTAIN  ATTRACTIONS AND ELK RIVER RESORT. CHARLIE IS DEVOTED TO BLOWING ROCK.

VIRGINIA POWELL IS A WELL EDUCATED EXPERIENCED REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE BLOWING ROCK SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF HER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. SHE IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN ATTRACTING MORE YOUNG FAMILIES LIKE HERS TO OUR TOWN. SHE IS DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING THE GREAT SMALL TOWN ENVIRONMENT OF OUR TOWN.

2.       REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IS PICKING UP SHARPLY IN BLOWING ROCK

A. SUCCESSFUL BOONE DEVELOPER AND CONTRACTOR JOHN WINKLER AND HIS WIFE JAN ARE PROPOSING A 21 ROOM HOTEL ON WEST CORNISH ROAD IN BLOWING ROCK. AFTER MEETING WITH THE BRCA TO PRESENT DETAILS OF THEIR PROJECT THEY HELD A VERY WELL RECEIVED COMMUNITY MEETING TO INTRODUCE THE DEVELOPMENT. WE THINK THE PROJECT WILL BE AN EXCELLENT ONE FOR BLOWING ROCK. ROOM RATES WILL BE $ 259/NIGHT AND HIGHER. THEIR HOTEL WILL NOT HAVE A RESTAURANT OR LARGE MEETING SPACE.

B. A 12 UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR PROPERTY BACK OF THE SPECKLED TROUT, BOUNDED BY MORNINGSIDE DR. AND HIGHWAY 221 DOWNTOWN  HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE TOWN PLANNING OFFICE BY THE DEVELOPER WHO DID NOT PROCEED WITH THE FORMER “MOUNTAINLEAF” DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR A VACANT SEVEN ACRE TRACT ON MAIN STREET ADJACENT TO CHETOLA. THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD MEETING THIS THURSDAY 11/16 AT 5:30 P.M. AT TOWN HALL. THE DEVELOPER IS PRESSING FOR FINAL APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL IN JANUARY. WE WILL BE SENDING ALL DETAILS TO BRCA MEMBERS AS THEY EVOLVE. A BRCA COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY BEGUN SCRUTINY OF PROJECT PLANS AND THEIR FINDINGS WILL BE SENT TO BRCA MEMBERS AS WELL AS TO PLANNING BOARD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

C. WE UNDERSTAND THAT A FIVE YEAR LEASE TO BUY CONTRACT HAS BEEN SIGNED ON THE FORMER BLOWING ROCK PHARMACY PROPERTY ON SUNSET DRIVE BUT DEVELOPMENT WE ARE TOLD IS NOT EMINENT.

D. THE CHESTNUT HILL LUXURY TOWN HOUSE DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION IS MOVING RAPIDLY AND THE RECEPTION HAS BEEN EXCELLENT WITH TEN RESERVATIONS FOR THE 23 UNIT PROJECT ALREADY IN HAND.

 

THESE ARE EXCITING CHANGES THAT SHOULD SERVE BLOWING ROCK WELL WITH THE MANY NEW CHALLENGES AHEAD.