Public input sought on Forest Hills' proposed ETJ

By Rose Hooper

After two years of study, the Village of Forest Hills is proceeding with a public hearing on a proposed "ridgetop-to-ridgetop" extraterritorial jurisdiction.

The public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at Cullowhee First United Methodist Church. Those wishing to speak will be asked to register; each will be given a 3-minute time limit. First preference in speaking will be given to those who live within Forest Hills or within the proposed ETJ.

The proposed extraterritorial jurisdiction includes Lyle Wilson Road, the Cox Creek Watershed, Kappa Alpha fraternity house, Ebb Knobb, 78 acres in Little Panther Knob, Valhalla and the Summit Apartments. A formal description appears in The Sylva Herald's legal ads section this week.

Village council members are expected to make a decision on whether to implement the proposed ETJ at its next regular meeting Monday, Oct. 1.

Several residents in the proposed ETJ have asked what ordinances would apply to them if ETJ is approved. Larry Kolenbrander, council and planning board member, said, "All we are saying is that is an area within the ETJ. We don't have to do anything to them or impose any new ordinances or restrictions."

Residents in the ETJ must have proportionate representation on the village planning board, Kolenbrander said. While the village can recommend candidates for the planning board, the final approval rests with the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, he said.

Rumors were circulating about a proposed development in the valley, Kolenbrander said.

"Considerable misinformation has included talk about a large number of units, roads going up the center of the valley, and access through existing property," he said. "All of these rumors are false.

"The truth is a developer had taken a purchase option on the property in the valley this past spring. This developer attended a number of the planning board meetings held through the summer and was hopeful that the revised subdivision and zoning ordinances would afford him a more favorable development opportunity than currently exists," Kolenbrander said.

Under the current subdivision regulations there can be no greater density than one unit per 2 acres. At the last planning board meeting held Aug. 20, the developer announced that he was withdrawing his offer to purchase the valley property, Kolenbrander said.

Back to Archive: 09/13/01.