# Weaverville Town Council Meeting June 24, 2024

**Body:** Town of Weaverville — Town Council
**Date:** June 24, 2024 6:00 PM EDT (2024-06-24T18:00:00-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1888

## Summary

The Weaverville Town Council convened on June 24, 2024, for a regular meeting that addressed regulatory updates, budgetary matters, and community development issues. The body approved the meeting agenda unanimously and proceeded to approve the consent agenda, which included minutes from previous workshops and regular meetings, monthly tax reports, and various budget amendments. Key administrative actions included the appointment of new members to the Planning Board and Tree Board, as well as the approval of a lease agreement with the Dry Ridge Historical Museum. The council also adopted code amendments regarding the Recreation Complex and Playground, converting temporary rules into permanent regulations and granting the Town Manager authority to manage court usage and closures.

Significant legislative action focused on updating sign regulations and accepting a new waterline. The Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 20 of the Town Code to ensure compliance with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on content neutrality. The vote was 7-0, and the new regulations require non-compliant signs to be removed within 30 days of notice, with the town retaining the right to remove them if the owner fails to do so. Additionally, the Council voted 7-0 to accept a waterline extension for the Pleasant Grove Townhomes, establishing a $5,000 repair guaranty to cover potential defects within three years of acceptance. The council also approved budget amendments for the Police Department and Fire Department, recording additional revenue from reimbursements and grants.

A major portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments, where residents expressed diverse views on local governance and development. Darla Letourneau requested greater government transparency, while Michael Stuart and Mari Fox opposed the construction of pickleball courts, citing noise, traffic, and safety concerns. Concerns regarding the Maple Trace subdivision annexation were raised by Joe Wheeler, Bo Platt, and Catherine Haynes, who cited substandard road conditions and incomplete stormwater assessments. Conversely, Matt Allen and Julie Nelson advocated for short-term rentals, with Allen supporting them for their economic impact and Nelson suggesting a task force approach. Several speakers, including Earl Booze, opposed whole-house short-term rentals near Lake Louise.

The Council took specific actions on annexation and regulatory planning. They voted 6-1 to schedule public hearings for July 22, 2024, regarding the annexation and zoning of the Maple Trace Subdivision. Regarding short-term rentals, the Council agreed to postpone immediate action and scheduled a joint workshop with the Planning Board for August 20, 2024, to further discuss draft regulations. The Planning Board had previously recommended favorable review of these regulations, noting that the current Comprehensive Plan does not directly address short-term rentals. The council also deferred the Florida Avenue sidewalk project until after an audit and excluded Granicus short-term rental code enforcement from the current budget.

Public Works provided a quarterly report highlighting ongoing infrastructure challenges, including issues with radio-read meters and the potential need for a system replacement costing between $330,000 and $1 million. The Town Manager’s report covered various departmental updates, including the Weaverville Watershed Trails application and tourism grant processes. While Public Works will investigate a complaint regarding bathroom renovations at Lake Louise Park, no other specific follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by staff or members during this session beyond the scheduled workshops and hearings. The meeting concluded with the council emphasizing the importance of ethical standards and legal compliance in all regulatory decisions.

## Votes

- _Councilmember Chase moved to approve and adopt the agenda as presented. The motion was approved unanimously. — Passed
- Town Attorney Jackson reviewed the Consent Agenda items. _Council member Jackson motioned to approve and adopt the consent agenda as presented. The motion was approved unanimously. — Passed
- _Council member McGuire moved to adopt the Ordinance Amending Weaverville Town Code Chapter 20 concerning sign regulations as presented. The motion was approved unanimously. — Passed
- _Council member Jackson moved to adopt the Ordinance Amending Weaverville Town Code Chapters 16 & 18 Concerning Parks and Recreation as presented. The motion was approved unanimously. — Passed
- _Council member Cordell moved to accept the waterline extension and related improvements for Pleasant Grove Townhomes into the Town's water system subject to staff level approval by the Town Manager, Town Attorney and Public Works Director, and set the repair guaranty amount at $5,000.00. The motion was approved unanimously. — Passed

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JuLEvDLoVM
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1379/segments

## Documents

- [minutes_2024-06-24.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1888?document=14412)
- [agenda_packet_2024-06-24.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1888?document=14411)

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JuLEvDLoVM)