MINUTES
Town of Blowing Rock
Board of Commissioners
Special Meeting- June 7, 2007
The Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners
attended an Intergovernmental Retreat hosted by
Blowing
Rock Town Council: Mayor J. B.
Lawrence, Terry Lentz-Mayor Pro-Tem, Keith Tester, Rita Wiseman, Tommy Klutz
Blowing
Boone
Town Staff: Greg Young-Town Manager, Kimberly
Tester-Deputy Town Clerk, Rick Miller-Public Utilities Director, John
Spear-Development Services Director, Blake Brown-Public Works Director, Bill Post-Police
Chief, Sam Furgiuele-Town Attorney
Seven
Devils Town Council: Richard
DeMott-Mayor Pro-Tem
Watauga
Watauga
Appalachian
Facilitator: Dr. Garry Cooper, Christy DeStefano
Watauga
High School Project Staff: Jennifer
Sisak-Project Architect, sfL&a Architects, Mike Kesterson-Project Manager,
James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction
Chairman
Deal called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m.
He welcomed all in attendance and turned the floor over to Dr. Garry
Cooper. Dr. Cooper began by posing the
following focus question relating to the specific topics of the NCDOT Highway
421 project and the proposed Watauga High School project: What can we do together
over the next 4-6 months to facilitate timely design and construction of the
new high school and the Highway 421 widening projects in Boone with actions
that can benefit most county residents, result in both beautiful and functional
facilities, and minimize costs and delays?
Dr.
Cooper reviewed the results of the previous retreat, reiterated the meeting
guidelines and outlined the agenda for the second retreat. He posed the following question relating to
each of the two topics: What do we want resolved (to do)? With the input from the group, Dr. Cooper
composed the following list:
|
New High School |
421 Widening |
|
Address neighborhood concerns (e.g.,
tennis courts, etc. Accommodate future uses (rec./youth
center) Provide something for the whole community Address greenway access Provide for traffic control Provide for transportation connectivity(alternative) Address light pollution issues Allow for future high school
expansion Insure for public safety in design Minimize impact at waste water
treatment plant....water usage Linkages with county parks and recreation plans Pay attention to project schedule Include zero waste@ in design Teach students with green building technology |
Provide
for traffic control Accelerate
schedule to coincide with high school opening Make
good fit with Boone transportation planning Add
enhancements for both aesthetics and functionality Be
environmental-friendly Have
conversation about loss of business community along present 421 corridor Assure
connection between |
Dr.
Cooper explained the next step in the process as determining the component
parts of the issue. The following list
outlines the component parts as determined by the group:
|
New High School |
421 Widening |
|
Acceptable
site plan Simplify/streamline
permit approval process Balance
different values/concerns Need
NCDOT commitments Property
ownership (e.g., obtain easements)Integrating what we want to do with design
process Balancing
wants/desires with budget realities Resolve
education requirements with Town of Reconcile
difference between existing ordinances/regulations and design & usage of
property Coordinate
with town utilities (e.g., connections) Identify relationships between high school
construction & rec. center |
Signing
of agreement letters Coordinate
who is responsible for what Is
there right-of-way on Identify
impacts on community during construction Balancing wants/desires with budget realities |
Dr.
Cooper labeled the next step in the process as possibility thinking, or what
can we do about the issue. The group
created the following list:
|
New High School |
421 Widening |
|
Revise
proposed plan Assure
open line of communication Separate
things that we can/cannot control Best
influence the things that we cannot control Propose
needed ordinance changes to town Use
fill dirt from project within our jurisdiction Develop
education program for public (issue forms) Better
communicate sustainable nature of project to others Keep
people informed Monitor/balance budget with time frame in
consideration |
Lobby
and pray Continue
to reemphasize issues of importance with NCDOT Identify
different roles among key players Identify
width of right-of-way on Identify who will pay for what on |
Dr.
Cooper asked group members to decide what they are committed to doing. The following lists the items to which the
various members would commit:
|
New High School |
421 Widening |
|
Revise
site plan based on public hearing comments (e.g., tennis courts) On-going
communication to resolvedifferences/issues Sustainability
in design Occupy
new high school in August of 2010 Work with town to sreamline/expedite approval process |
Insure
realignment of Lobby
our representatives Work together (all
jurisdictions/agencies/organizations) |
Dr.
Cooper invited the group to suggest the necessary action steps to achieve these
goals. Based on the responses, the group
created the following list of action steps:
1.
Meet with the
neighborhood regarding a new proposal.
2.
Revise the
project plan.
3.
Revise the Town
of
4.
Approve
conditional district zoning.
5.
Release bidding
documents.
6.
Review/revise
UDO.
7.
Send revised
proposal to the Boone Town Council for review prior to its next meeting.
8.
Obtain two
commitments from the NCDOT regarding alternative transportation improvements to
For
each issue, Dr. Cooper asked the group to decide the launch issue and to assign
each action task to the appropriate time period for achievement. He then asked the group to decide which
action will indicate that the goal has been achieved.
Issue: New High School
Launch: Revise Plan
Action
Tasks:
Week 2
<
Revise Plan
<
Meet with
neighborhoods about new proposal
<
Revise town’s
analysis of application
<
Communication in
a timely manner
Week 3
<
Obtain
conditional approval
<
Send revised
proposal to town council
<
Communication in
a timely manner
Week 4
<
Identify entity
costs and responsibilities
<
Communication in
a timely manner
August
<
Complete cost
analysis and budget cost analysis
<
Communication in
a timely manner
September
<
Communication in
a timely manner
October
<
Communication in
a timely manner
November
<
Communication in
a timely manner
Indicator
of Victory: Approval by Boone Town
Council
Issue: Highway 421 Widening
Launch: Letters of support
Action
Tasks:
Week 2
<
Send letters of
support
Week 3
<
Lobby for
legislative support
Week 4
<
Set NCDOT and
county commitment for alternative transportation
August
September
October
November
Indicator
of Victory: Things requested are in
final plan
Dr.
Cooper suggested having one person coordinate the action tasks for the issue of
the Highway 421 Widening. Development
Services Director John Spear volunteered to oversee the coordination of the
action tasks by the necessary parties.
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m.
Mayor ______________________________
J.B. Lawrence
Attest:
___________________________
Sharon Greene, Town Clerk