Weaverville – The Town of Weaverville passed its first social district at its April meeting on Monday, the 22nd, but before it did, there was an announcement. Mayor Partick Fitzsimmons called the meeting to order and started the meeting by wishing everyone a happy Earth Day. He reminded everyone that council, last month, “passed a resolution recognizing” the day and to avoid using single-use plastics. After an adjustment was made to the agenda for the meeting, it was passed.
The Council then moved on to the consent agenda. Town Manager Selena Coffey went through the agenda, which included budget amendments for the police for alcohol education of nearly $3,100 and $2,200 for law enforcement. Council also set a public hearing for the annexation and zoning of 75 Cole Road for May 20 at 6 pm, an annual presentation of town manager delegated policies, and a couple of road closure ordinances for Music on Main and July 4.
Fitzsimmons also acknowledged the Weaverville Lions Club for 75 years of service to the community, passed a letter of support for AdventHealth to obtain an additional 26 beds for the new hospital planned for Weavervlle and set a public hearing on FY 2024-2025 budget and notice of workshop change of location to the fire department.
Coffey then presented her monthly report, first rescheduling a joint meeting with the planning board, and updated the board on the budget process, saying, “At the next budget workshop…I will be presenting the proposed budget.”
She next said she had asked the Active Weaverville Committee to give a presentation to the board at the May meeting; she also reported that she and Town Planner James Eller would be meeting in a couple of days to help select a consultant on the Woodfin/Weaverville Greenway, and gave an update on reactivating the tree board.
In finishing her report, she said that the Elevated Trail Design (ETD) presentation had to be postponed until the May meeting, and she had worked with ETD to apply for a million-dollar grant from the county’s Open Space Bond.
The meeting then moved to public comments, where several town residents spoke about several issues, including support for the town taking over the Weaverville Center for Creative and Healthy Living (WCCHL) as the director is retiring and one comment opposed to banning short-term rentals.
Discussion and Action
During discussion and action items, Graham Fields with AdventHealth thanked the council for their letter of support and gave a presentation from the hospital that included a timeline of the hospital’s construction in starting at the end of the year if they are successful in court and then about two years in construction. He said there will be more public hearings on the hospital in the coming weeks.
Camille Daniels, Event Assistant with the Weaverville Business Association, proposed a social district for the “Music On Main Street,” which will allow local businesses to sell all types of alcohol to eventgoers during about a six-hour window during the event and be on the streets in a designated area on Main Street. The council voted to allow the social district.
Next, Bill Boughton, president of Weaverville Business Association, presented a change to the streetscape of Flordia Ave. He said the business owners adjacent to the avenue had come to a consensus to changes that included keeping the street open but removing the three parking places, widening the sidewalk, and adding tables.
Councilman Doug Jackson asked who would be able to use the tables. Boughton said it makes sense that the businesses adjoining the area pay for the tables and have control over them. Councilwoman Catherine Cordell had a safety concern with tables on both sides of the street. Coffey had several questions for Boughton about who would pay for the construction. Boughton said he understood that it would not be “an overnight” change and that the widening of sidewalks and moving the street would be on the town. After further questions and discussion, the Council directed staff to investigate the idea.
Next, the council voted to take over WCCHL after Coffey told the council she had added to the proposed budget. Council heard a report for planning, where Town Planning Director James Eller which among his report he said during the first quarter of the year, a total of 27 zoning permits were issued – nine residential Single-family dwellings, 12 internal upfit or accessory structures, one new commercial, and five internal upfit or accessory structure. They also heard a report from the finance department before going into a closed session.