MINUTES

Town of Blowing Rock

Board of Commissioners

January 8, 2008

 

The Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers.  Attending were Mayor Pro-tem Keith Tester, Commissioners Bobby Ball, Albert Yount, Phillip Pickett, and Tommy Klutz. Mayor Lawrence was out of town and unable to attend. Others in attendance were Town Manager Scott Hildebran, Town Attorney Allen Moseley, Town Engineer Doug Chapman, Planning Director Kevin Rothrock, Police Chief Eric Brown, Public Works Director Johnny Lentz, Emergency Services Director Kent Graham, Finance Director Nicole Norman, Parks & Recreation Director Jennifer Brown, and Town Clerk Sharon Greene.

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Mayor Pro-tem Tester called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed those in attendance.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Upon a motion received by Commissioner Pickett, seconded by Commissioner Ball, the minutes for the December 11, 2007 meeting were approved as written.  Unanimously approved.

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

  1. CUP #2007-12 – First Citizens Bank Additions/Renovations

Sworn to speak during the public hearing were Planning Director Kevin Rothrock and Project Architect Jack Copeland.

 

Planning Director Kevin Rothrock presented Council with a request from First Citizens Bank for a conditional use permit for additions and renovations at the existing bank location at 1021 Main Street.  The additions would be on the front facing Main Street and on the south side facing Capel Rug building.  The expansion would provide additional office space and the proposed materials would blend with the existing building. 

 

An addition of 589 square feet would be added to the existing 1880 square foot building.  Mr. Rothrock stated the expansion would encroach into the standard 15-foot street setback, but would meet the 10-foot minimum setback that is allowable for 50% of the lot width. 

 

He also commented the south side addition next to the entrance drive would also meet a 5-foot setback.

 

Mr. Rothrock advised that several river birch trees between the building and Main Street would be removed and replaced with sugar maple trees.  He also stated that two honey locust trees would be added between the proposed addition and the public sidewalk and other diseased trees in the rear parking area would be replaced with healthy trees.  Three parking spaces in the northeast corner of the parking lot would be removed and the area landscaped to offset the increase in impervious areas from the building additions.

 

Mr. Rothrock conveyed the proposed building size of 2469 square feet would require 12 parking spaces and there would be approximately 25 spaces in all after the proposed addition.

 

During the regular meeting of the Planning Board on December 20th, a recommendation was made to approve the conditional use permit with the following condition: 

 

  1. That a design for the ATM windbreak be submitted for review and approval by the Planning Director prior to submittal to Council

 

Mr. Rothrock stated this had been completed and the drawing was enclosed with Council’s information regarding this project.

 

Commissioner Klutz spoke of his dissatisfaction with the loss of the three parking spaces.  He spoke favorably of the proposed project but felt the impervious area should be waived and the parking spaces saved. 

 

Mr. Rothrock stated this would be Council’s decision, but it would also be inconsistent with what had been done in the past.  He advised that storm water could be waived for the project, but this would also be inconsistent with the Storm Water Master Plan as well as the Town Ordinance. Mr. Rothrock stated the proposed plans for the project would be more cost effective than installing storm water detention.  Mr. Rothrock stressed the importance of being consistent with projects brought before the Board.

 

Commissioner Ball stated there were two additional parking facilities planned in the future and the parking spaces being discussed were located in the First Citizens private lot not a public lot.

 

Commissioner Pickett agreed with Commissioner Klutz to some extent, but stated the decreased parking was in the bank’s private lot, not a public facility.

 

Commissioner Klutz reiterated the fact that he did not want to lose parking public or private and felt it was more important than the required green space. 

 

Commissioner Tester advised that he could not argue with the fact that parking was very important but he did not want to set precedence with waiving storm water detention requirements.

 

Mr. Rothrock advised that First Citizens chose the option they wanted to take with this project, but possibly something could be done to preserve the loss of one or two of the spaces.  He also stated only twelve spaces were required for the project and they had twice that amount.

 

Project Architect Jack Copeland spoke on the project by saying all ordinance requirements had been met with this project, and the bank wanted to do what was best for the town.

 

Town Engineer Doug Chapman was sworn to speak at this time.

 

Mr. Chapman suggested the option of installing a small detention system for only the increase in pervious area which would prevent the loss of parking spaces.  He also stated this project was different in the fact they already had more spaces than were required by the Town Code.

 

After speaking with the applicant, Mr. Rothrock added that it may be possible to arrange green space in other areas of the site to retain the parking spaces.

 

Following further discussion regarding parking, storm water detention, etc. a motion was given by Commissioner Pickett to close the public hearing, seconded by Commissioner Ball.  Unanimously approved. 

 

A motion to approve CUP No. 2007-12 as presented was given by Commissioner Pickett, seconded by Commissioner Yount, Mr. Picket suggested with his motion that the three parking spaces be saved if possible. Unanimously approved.  CUP No. 2007-12 First Citizens Bank – Exhibit A 

 

new businesS

 

1.  Criminal History Checks – Ordinance #2008-01

An ordinance was presented to Council authorizing the Blowing Rock Police Department to perform criminal history checks on applicants for Town employment.  Town Manager Hildebran advised the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) required that a criminal history check ordinance be adopted by Council to allow for the checks under Section-6-07 of the Town Personnel Policy. Mr. Hildebran also stated an agreement detailing the town officials allowed access to criminal information be signed by the Town Manager.   A brief synopsis was given on the process that would be followed once the ordinance was in effect by Mr. Hildebran.

 

With no further discussion, a motion was given by Commissioner Pickett to approve Ordinance #2008-01 as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ball.  Unanimously approved.  Ordinance #2008-01 – Exhibit B

 

  1. Bid – Quail Hollow Drive Water Line Replacement

Town Manager Hildebran advised the Town had received bids for the replacement of a water line on Quail Hollow Drive as part of the Petrie Sewer Project on December 13, 2007.  The project would consist of replacement of 1,296 feet of 6” ductile iron pipe and installation of a new fire hydrant.  The bid would also include installation of 9 sewer taps for future sewer connections.

 

The following bids were received:

 

Max Prestwood Water & Sewer, Inc.                      No Bid

Ronny Turner Construction Co.                               $51,446.80

Iron Mountain Construction Co.                               $50,789.36

 

Mr. Hildebran recommended that Council award the bid to Iron Mountain Construction in the amount of $50,789.36 via reimbursement to the developer.

 

Mr. Hildebran also stated the project would be completed in connection with Granville Petrie Quail Hollow Drive Sewer Project, which would provide sewer access to 13 vacant parcels owned by Mr. Petrie.  The proposed sewer system would serve the Petrie properties as well as provide an initial step to the overall sewerage for the Laurel Park area.

 

Included in the reimbursement if approved by Council would be several additional reimbursable items totaling $15,179.00 – 13 water meters and 3 sewer service taps for future sewer connections making the overall reimbursement $65,968.36. 

 

Commissioner Klutz inquired if this was consistent with other projects brought before Council in the past several years.  Mr. Hildebran advised that it was.

 

A motion was received from Commissioner Pickett, seconded by Commissioner Klutz to award the bid to Iron Mountain Construction Co. in the amount of $50,789.36 along with the additional $15,179.00 in reimbursable items via reimbursement to the developer.  Unanimously approved.

 

  1. Budget Amendment – Ordinance #2008-02

Mr. Hildebran presented Council with a budget amendment for the fiscal year 2007-2008 for their consideration.

 

The General Fund amendment would allocate an insurance reimbursement received for the repair of a Street Department vehicle as well as distribute donated funds to the Police department for a future Segway Unit and to the Fire Department to be applied to a grant that would fund the purchase of a Trench/Shoring Rescue Trailer.  In addition, a portion of the amendment would correct a previous amendment to allocate proceeds of the BB&T loan between the General and Water fund.

 

Upon a motion from Commissioner Yount, seconded by Commissioner Ball, Ordinance #2008-02 was approved as presented.  Unanimously approved.  Ordinance #2008-02 – Exhibit C

 

SPEAKERS FROM THE FLOOR

 

None

 

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

 

Council asked Public Works Director Johnny Lentz for an update on the water situation.  Mr. Lentz advised the reservoir was 4 inches below full pond and the town had not pumped water from Chetola Lake in the past two weeks.  He also advised that during the recent cold weather several residents had experienced broken pipes and there had been several main lines broken which resulted in a loss of water. 

 

Council entered into Closed Session at 7:45 p.m. to discuss a legal issue by virtue of North Carolina General Statutes 143.318.119A)(3) with a motion by Commissioner Ball, seconded by Commissioner Pickett.  Unanimously approved.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Council reconvened their regular meeting at 8:05 p.m. and with no further business to discuss, Mayor Pro-tem Tester adjourned the meeting.

 

 

                                                              Mayor Pro-tem ____________________

                                                                                            Keith Tester

 

 

Attest ___________________________

            Sharon Greene, Town Clerk

 

 

Attachments: 

 

CUP #2007-12 – Exhibit A

Ordinance #2008-01 – Exhibit B

Ordinance #2008-02 – Exhibit C