Weaverville Town Council Meeting February 26, 2024

On February 26, 2024, the Weaverville Town Council held its regular meeting to address a range of administrative, infrastructure, and land-use matters. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda and the adjusted agenda, which included moving specific annexation items to later discussion. Key actions taken during the session included renewing the town’s audit contract, approving resolutions for grant applications and annexations, and scheduling public hearings for zoning changes.

In terms of key decisions, the council voted 7-0 to renew the audit contract with Gould Killian CPA for a three-year term, with a request for the firm to consider changing the lead auditor. The council also passed a 7-0 vote to approve a resolution for a County Passive Recreation Lands Grant Application, authorizing staff to pursue funding through the county’s open space bond program. Regarding land use, the council voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution for a Voluntary Annexation Petition at 75 Cole Road, directing the Town Clerk to investigate the petition’s sufficiency and the Planning Board to review zoning. Additionally, the council approved a 7-0 vote for a Waterline Easement Agreement for Lakeway Circle and a Paving Contract Change Order for ADA Sidewalk Ramps. The council also adopted amendments to the Rules of Procedure regarding meeting cancellations by a 7-0 vote. Finally, the council set public hearings for March 25, 2024, for annexation and zoning at both 9 Pleasant Grove Road and 6 Pleasant Grove Road, with both motions passing 7-0.

Public comments were received from several residents regarding noise ordinances and golf cart regulations. Bo Platt thanked the council for moving forward with golf cart regulations, while John Phillips supported exploring regulations for golf carts within the Rames Creek Golf Community. Ward Patton and Alexandra Bertram from Weaver House requested limited exceptions to the noise ordinance for special events, citing business impacts. In opposition, Doug Denison and Janie Neely expressed strong concerns about changes to the noise ordinance, citing disturbances and impacts on residential neighborhoods. Kevin Ude also opposed extending the noise ordinance and supported sound buffer requirements. In response to these comments, the council decided to take no action on the request to extend the noise ordinance. However, the council did direct staff to develop a draft ordinance regarding golf cart regulations for the Rames Creek Golf Community, incorporating safety considerations.

The Town Manager’s report provided updates on several ongoing projects. The recreation complex is open with high usage, particularly for pickleball, and plans are underway to install acoustic dampening materials and vegetative buffers around the courts to mitigate noise. The town received a positive OSHA consultation review of its safety practices. An investigation into duck deaths at Lake Louise Park is ongoing, with avian flu suspected but awaiting confirmation from a second lab. The report also noted that a large sycamore tree between Town Hall and Maggie B’s is slated for removal due to decay, with plans to reuse the wood for carvings. Furthermore, the council agreed to re-establish an independent Tree Board and requested staff to prepare code amendments.

Follow-ups explicitly agreed to at this meeting include staff preparing a proposed ordinance for golf cart usage within the Reems Creek Golf Course community and staff preparing code amendments for the re-established Tree Board. Staff was also directed to pursue the grant application for passive recreational lands. The council noted that findings from short-term rental listening sessions will be presented to the Planning Board on March 7, and the budget process will begin with a workshop on March 19.

These decisions impact residents through improved accessibility via ADA sidewalk ramps, potential new recreational spaces through the grant application, and clearer regulations for golf carts and tree management. The scheduled public hearings on March 25 will allow residents to voice opinions on the annexation and zoning changes at 9 and 6 Pleasant Grove Road.