Weaverville – Over the next few years, Weaverville will increase the number of housing units from 2,352 to 3,452, an increase of about 47%. Two new council members of the board have no comment on the increase.
Two new members will join the Weaverville Town Council this month after being elected in last month’s election. Dee Lawerance and Peter McGuire, who long with incumbent John Chase, won seats on the council, but Lawerance and McGuire are first-time members of the council and were not on the board last month when the board voted to annex several developments that will be bringing from 600 to 700 housing units to the town.
According to Weaverville Town Planner James Eller, the current number of dwelling units in the town is 2,354 as per the 2020 decennial census, so that doesn’t include what’s been built in the last two-plus years. Eller also said, “Additional permitted or planned dwelling units known [as of] now are approximately 1,100, a nearly 50% increase in housing over the next few years.
Eller also told the Tribune the town currently is expecting three more properties or projects that are expected to apply for annexation. It is unknown how many more property owners and developers are eyeing the town for annexation in the next year.
Lawerance and McGuire told the Tribune in response to a questionnaire before the election that development was the main issue facing the town. The Tribune checked back in with the new council members to ask about their thoughts on last month’s annexations. Specifically, we asked: What do you think about the council’s annexations of several developments that will bring at least 600 new housing units into the town limits? What do you think about the town not yet knowing the impact of these developments on the town’s infrastructure? Has your vision for the town changed since you answered the Tribune’s questionnaire earlier this year? The two never replied to our questions.
Meanwhile, last week, after asking town department heads about the impact on their departments, Weaverville Public Works Director Dale Pennell, who was the only one not to get back to us by deadline, did respond this week with a reply to our questions about the impact of the annexations on his department. We asked, “How much in percentage of the town’s currently available water supply will these new developments use, and what amount will be left for use?”
Pennell replied, “I’m working on these numbers in preparation for the town council meeting on December 18. Generally, at this time, we have an adequate supply of water to supply the developments discussed at the town’s November 20th council meeting, in addition to our normal usage and previously approved projects. I’ll have detailed numbers next week.”
Asked about “garbage pick-up by the town on private roads, Pennell said, “The town picks up trash on private streets for single-family homes or condos within town limits. An example of this is in the Kyfields neighborhood and at Northridge Commons Townhomes. We do not pick up trash for multi-family apartments.”
Finally, we asked, “How many, if any, more employees will have to be hired to service these new developments?” Pennell stated, “It is too early in the development approval process to evaluate the need for additional staff. I would anticipate that when the upcoming budget process begins, each department will look at their services and the anticipated completion date for each project and evaluate if and when additional staff might be needed.”