Weaverville – After years of trying to get annexed by the Town of Weaverville, the 66-plus acre Maple Trace Subdivision finally gets its way at the July meeting, but not without more hurdles.
The meeting started with two public hearings on Maple Trace Subdivision: the first on annexation and the second on R-2 zoning for the subdivision. Several citizens on both sides of the issues spoke, including a former councilman who suggested that the council listen to their public works director, leave the roads of Maple Trace out, and annex just the properties.
After about 30 minutes for the public hearings, the regular meeting got underway starting with the passing of the consent agenda which included
the monthly tax report (99.91%), a police budget (approx. $18K from the ABC distribution), and rec complex amendments (approx. $1,400).
(When it came to the manager’s report, the Town Attorney told the Tribune that Selena Coffey was still on leave.) Acting Manager and Fire Chief Scottie Harris gave the report to the board. He reviewed recent events and ongoing work to improve the Music on Main and the Fourth of July events. He also updated on the Eller Cove Trail project.
Then came general public comments, in which citizens spoke their minds about several issues, including the town manager’s employment status. The first speaker was concerned with the Eller Cove Trail project, specifically parking and traffic. The next was a Maple Trace resident who was for the annexation and said how much the residents of the subdevelopment “loved Weaverville.” The next three speakers also spoke against the trail project, citing their impact on the project.
The next two speakers commented on the ongoing issue with the town manager. The first was asking for transparency concerning Coffey’s contract, citing the only place that had been able to get information about the problem was the Tribune. Next, former councilman Andrew Nagle spoke about Coffey, giving a blunt assessment of the situation, saying he worked with her for eight years and never once voted to rehire her or give her a raise, with his main “beef” being she would not live in Weaverville.
“She was a good manager, she wasn’t great, but she was good…Her biggest asset was hiring…I hope you guys (council) can help her move on to bigger and better things,” said Nagle.
The council next tackled the discussion and action part of the meeting.
First up was the Maple Trace Annexation and Related Matters, where the Public Director Dale Pennell laid out his concern with the annexation of Maple Trace. Again, discussions between council members and Maple Trace Homeowner Association (HOA) members started.
In the end, council disregarded Pennell’s opinion and voted unanimously to accept the annexation and R-2 zoning under the following conditions: the HOA must pay the Town $134,000, which is to be applied to the town’s repair of approximately 1,200 feet of Water Leaf Drive to bring it up to town street standards; once accepted the subdivision streets will be treated like all other town streets for evaluation and street improvement purposes; the HOA must undertake an assessment of the stormwater drainage system with the resulting video recording to be provided to public works for review and the results must either show no defects or identified defects must be repaired by the HOA. As soon as Mayor Patrick Fitzsimmons welcomed the residents to the town, Maple Trace residents got up and left.
“Stay for the rest of the meeting,” Nagle shouted to those Maple Trace residents leaving as they walked out. The meeting was paused while the residents left. Nagle later told the Tribune that the residents got what they wanted, and they left, not caring about town business.
The next item of business was a Metropolitan Sewage District Update by Doug Dearth, who serves as the town’s representative and gave the council a rundown of MSD’s expansion in the north area of the county.
The council then voted on a modified condition water commitment to Northridge Farms, which passed. They also approved a $7,500 expenditure to WithersRavenel on testing for lead waterlines in the system. Council also approved the annexation of little more than five acres at 9 Pleasent Grove into the town and gave it R-3 zoning before hearing quarterly reports and adjourning for the evening.