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By Lisa Majors-Duff
At the request of those opposed to the Cashiers Commercial Area
zoning ordinance, Jackson County commissioners agreed to delay
filling seats on the two boards designed to administer the new
rules for commercial construction.
Appearing before commissioners during their first meeting in September
last week, Wanda Watson not only requested that the 12 seats not
be filled until Oct. 14, but that "it would be prudent and
fair to defer implementation of this ordinance until such time
as (the county has) the staff and procedures in place to proceed
in a considered and diligent manner."
In addition, Watson requested that time be set aside in November
for discussion of "amendments to the text of the ordinance
and to the actual physical boundaries of the district itself.
"We are currently working with a group of citizens to review
the terms of the ordinance and its boundaries for the purpose
of providing amendments and suggestions that would enhance and
improve the functioning of the ordinance," Watson continued.
"We have also been in consultation with an attorney during
this process."
The Cashiers land-use ordinance, the first of its kind in Jackson
County, was passed by a 3-2 vote of the board. It outlines the
procedures for new commercial construction within the defined
commercial district of Cashiers, including land use, size of buildings,
distance between buildings and property lines, parking, signs,
landscaping, access and lighting. Residential development is not
affected by the rules.
The purpose of the ordinance is to provide enforceable standards
to preserve the character of the community. Introduced by Commissioner
Eddie Madden, who represents Cashiers, the ordinance was billed
as an alternative to an incorporation effort, which was ultimately
defeated by almost a 2-1 vote.
Supporters and detractors voiced opinions concerning the ordinance
in nearly equal fashion during public hearings devoted to the
document. Like the speakers, commissioners were split on the proposal.
Supporting it were Chairman Stacy Buchanan, Madden and Joe Cowan;
those against were Roberta Crawford and Brian McMahan.
A list of qualifications of those who can serve on the Cashiers
Area Community Planning Council (seven members) and the Cashiers
Area Design Review Board (five members) can be found in this week's
"Legal" classified section. Commissioners requested
anyone interested in serving make their intentions known by calling
county Manager Ken Westmoreland at 586-2780.
In other business during the board's second meeting of the month
Sept. 16:
- Smart Growth Task Force Chairman Mark Jamison presented the
board with a subdivision ordinance draft, which he said "still
needs some work and lots of citizen input." He requested
not only that commissioners review the document, but that the
county attorney, county manager, building inspections and mapping
department heads, and the register of deeds all provide feedback.
The ordinance should also be given to the health department, emergency
management, the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Tuckaseigee
Water and Sewer Authority board for review, Jamison suggested.
Public meetings at various locations around the county should
be scheduled to allow for ample citizen input, he said.
"The development of a broad base of public understanding,
acceptance and support will be critical in assuring the success
of the proposed Jackson County subdivision regulations,"
Jamison wrote in a memo to the board.
"A thorough public education and input process will be necessary
to build the acceptance and support needed to make the regulations
a success."
(Details of the proposal will be provided in next week's edition
of The Sylva Herald.)
- Seven individuals were named to the county's newly-designed
planning board. They are Sharon Holt, Mike Moore, Raymond Ledford,
Ira Jones, Sue Bumgarner, Bob Ginn and Brandon Stephens. A chairman
and vice chairman from this group will be selected at a special
meeting of the two boards Oct. 7.
The original 16-member planning board was dismantled last year,
with Chairman Buchanan outlining new planning procedures to include
the addition of a county planner. That position as of yet remains
unfilled.
- Also assuming an appointed position was Bobby McMahan, who was
named acting tax assessor to replace the retiring Cecil Dills.
McMahan's position will remain in "acting" status until
he receives state certification, board members agreed.
- Balsam and Cullowhee fire departments were both given the green
light to proceed with building projects.
Firefighters in Balsam were told to move forward with plans to
change their address from the current site on Woodfin Road to
a 3-acre lot just off U.S. 23-74 near Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
With land donated in Caney Fork, Cullowhee firefighters were also
told to proceed with construction plans for a substation in that
community. Financing details are not yet finalized.
- As recommended by Manager Ken Westmoreland, board members agreed
to hire architect Michael Osowski to design the expansion of the
Cashiers Community Library. His fee was set at $100,000, which
is roughly 7.6 percent of the project and includes his supervision
of the construction, Westmoreland said.
Osowski was chosen in part because he was the building's original
designer.
- Another of Westmoreland's recommendation was tabled at the request
of Commissioner Roberta Crawford to give the board time to read
information submitted by a Charlotte firm requesting $45,000 to
compile a recreation master plan for the county.
"This plan will be the blueprint for development of our recreation
program for the next 10 years," Westmoreland said.
- Board members also decided to wait at least until the next budget
year before they consider rejoining the Criminal Justice Partnership
Program.
"We had some problems with the way (the program) was administered
last time, and it was a failure. We don't want it to be a failure
again," Commissioner McMahan said.
As part of the state's structured sentencing program in 1994,
CJPP was designed to reduce prison overcrowding and to lower recidivism
rates, probation revocations and the use of illegal substances
among offenders.
- The draft of a municipal grant application and time line developed
by Westmoreland will be distributed to town officials during the
Oct. 7 joint meeting of town and county officials, Chairman Stacy
Buchanan said.
The form was designed to allow Jackson County's four municipalities
to "sell" commissioners on an idea "that will directly
benefit not only the citizens of the municipality, but all the
citizens of Jackson County."
Grants from the county to the towns will be limited to $20,000
and could be announced as early as December.
- In addition to the Oct. 7 collaborative meeting, commissioners
have been invited to attend a special session of the TWSA board
of directors at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at TWSA headquarters.
- The next regular meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners
will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Justice Center.
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