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Forest Hills proceeds with ETJ but reduces property involved

By Rose Hooper
Backing down but not backing off, the Forest Hills Village Council has decided to redefine the area being considered for extra-territorial jurisdiction.

Originally, the proposed ETJ from the Forest Hills entrance traveled south on N.C. 107 to Speedwell, down Speedwell Road to Bo Cove Road until that road ends. Then it followed the existing property lines to the Webster/Cullowhee township lines. Following those lines past Gribble Gap, the proposed ETJ picked up the ridge line, following back to N.C. 107 at the intersection directly in front of the WCU administration building.

The proposed ETJ Monday was reduced to "ridgetop to ridgetop," along with Oak Forest. The northern boundaries are Cullowhee Creek over to N.C. 107. Valhalla, the Summit Apartments and a fraternity house are included in this ETJ. Bo Cove, Long Branch and Speedwell are not.

"If you stood in the center of the valley and looked all around you, ridgetop to ridgetop, you would see what we are proposing," said planning board chairman Larry Kolenbrander.

Council member Sharon Jacques called the new proposal a move "to mend fences." Other council members agreed to proceed with that proposal during their meeting Monday night.

Their next move is to specifically define boundaries and send certified notices to all the property owners, they said. Four weeks after that, a public hearing can be set.

More than 250 residents of Bo Cove Road, Tilley Creek Road, Cullowhee Mountain Road and Speedwell community have signed a petition and openly voiced opposition to the originally-proposed ETJ.

"The council still lacks the recognition that there is a greater community around them," said Mark Jamison, one of the strongest objectors. "You canšt just push forward in a hurry with ETJ. You need to build a consensus, and right now that consensus is not there."

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