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Assessing recent decisions
It’s been an interesting couple of weeks in Jackson County. Here’s our take on recent headlines:
We’re glad that commissioners stuck to their guns and halted new subdivision development until they determine if a moratorium is in the county’s best interest until a subdivision law can be drafted. Jackson County’s streams and mountaintops are worth more than quicker profits to a few individuals who have long benefited from county leaders’ inaction in passing sensible land-use regulations.
We’re disappointed local school officials scheduled the county middle school basketball tournament semifinals on the same night as Senior Night for Smoky Mountain High School’s basketball teams. That’s a night to recognize all the seniors, but it’s even more special this year because tonight (Thursday) will be the final regular season home game for Lady Mustang All-American point guard Cetera DeGraffenreid. Keeping middle school players and their parents from being able to attend this special event is inexcusable.
And speaking of poor planning, the county planning board has also set a meeting that conflicts with Senior Night.
We’re proud that Sylva town board members backed their planning director and ruled that Kirby Ensley’s disgraceful trailer park must be torn down. Landlords have a responsibility to provide tenants a safe place to live; if they fail to do so, elected officials must intervene on behalf of their citizens to ensure that basic standards are met.
Although it never should have lasted as long as it did, we’re pleased the dispute between Mediacom Cable and Sinclair Broadcast Group has been resolved and WLOS-TV has been returned to the local cable lineup.
Some of Sylva’s board members seem to be dropping the ball with their insistence to stall a vote on a zoning amendment that would allow town planners to customize development to the contours of a given parcel of property by concentrating construction on portions more suitable for development.
We feel somewhat vindicated that county officials have agreed to take a second look at siting a new library at the old Courthouse. No two uses could be more compatible than a library and a museum, and no site could be more spectacular for both. The old Courthouse is Main Street’s crown jewel; surely it deserves to remain a vital part of Sylva’s daily life.
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