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Webster to annex all of Rivercrest
By Rose Hooper
In a surprise move last week (June 17), Webster board members rescinded their April 19 motion to annex 10 acres owned by Southwestern Community College.
Then they moved to annex all 43 acres of the Rivercrest Subdivision. Board members voted in April to annex 25.49 acres of Rivercrest but decided June 17 to take in the entire subdivision.
The area to be annexed includes a business, Jack the Dipper ice cream shop, located on property owned by Ken Gillis.
“Jack the Dipper would come in as a non-conforming business,” said Bedford. “It could remain a business as long as it stays the same. But if it ever changes use, that would have to meet board approval.”
Before making the motion to annex, board members debated the issue at great length because a majority of the Rivercrest residents signed a petition opposing annexation.
Lack of services was the main objection of the subdivision residents.
“We the property owners do not feel being annexed by Webster is in our best interest at this time. Perhaps in the future, when Webster is able to offer a concrete plan for providing the expected, needed services our community feels it would benefit from, might annexation of Rivercrest be seen as positive for our neighborhood,” their petition stated.
“I think it’s disturbing that Rivercrest residents don’t want to be annexed because they feel that no services will be provided to them,” said Bedford.
Board member Raymond Ledford said he’d given the issue “careful thought” and realized “there’s virtually nothing in the way of services we can offer them.”
However, he did point out that “if the development wants to change its road from private to public and we got all the right of ways, we could pave and upkeep the road for them.”
“I think we can offer services,” said board member Kirk Stephens. “We can take care of their road for them, we can provide street lights and contracted fire protection – and we can also offer them protection with our zoning regulations.
“That protection is a good thing since the county has no zoning laws. When (Sylva Mayor) Brenda Oliver was telling the residents on Nanny’s Lane and Griffin Road why annexation would benefit them, she said one of the biggest benefits is that the town’s zoning ordinances will protect them.”
During an emergency meeting in April, Sylva town board members voted to annex 31 acres along N.C. 116, including homes on Nanny’s Lane and Griffin Road and a portion of county-owned property. The move pre-empted Webster’s plan to annex the same area.
“When we first came together as a board and did our initial planning, we determined that we need to be proactive in doing what we feel is most beneficial for Webster,” said board member Jean Davenport. “I think the bottom line should be – is it good for Webster?”
Part of their job as board members is to protect the town’s borders, said Bedford.
“If we want to expand up South River Road in the future, I would like to know we have that option,” Bedford said, indicating the annexation move would give Webster that option.
“While I have concerns about the services issue, I understand we have to do what’s in the best interests of Webster,” said Ledford, who recommended board members plan a retreat “to lay down some perimeters for our town.
“We need to be proactive in thinking about where we are going. Do we want to just remain small, or are we going to have a five-or10-year plan?”
A public information meeting on the proposed annexation is set for Aug. 2, with a public hearing on Aug. 16. Both will be held at 7 p.m. at the town’s meeting place, the Baker building near the Webster Post Office.
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