# Town Council Workshop - Sept 14 2026 **Body:** Town of Weaverville — Town Council **Date:** September 14, 2026 5:56 PM EDT (2026-09-14T17:56:41-04:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141 ## Summary The Town Council held a preliminary workshop on September 14, 2026, to discuss potential traffic and street redesign options for Merchant’s Alley and Florida Avenue. Town staff presented several concepts based on a 2020 survey indicating that streets in the area are approximately 20 feet wide. The goal of the session was to gather community input to determine which concepts warrant further engineering and planning study, rather than to make immediate implementation decisions. Key discussions centered on three preliminary concepts for Merchant’s Alley. Staff’s preferred option involved designating the street as one-way southbound with a dedicated fire lane, loading/unloading zones, and limited public parking in the northbound lane. A second option maintained two-way traffic but removed public parking from the roadway, allowing only temporary loading for businesses with existing property lots. A third category of one-way options (northbound or southbound) was presented but noted by staff to be rated poorly for safety due to the risk of drivers traveling the wrong way, a known issue on Florida Avenue. Additionally, staff presented a conceptual image for a partial closure of Florida Avenue between Main Street and Merchant’s Alley to create an outdoor dining area, or "social district," which would require extensive study regarding signage, wayfinding, and ADA compliance. Public comment revealed divided opinions regarding safety, parking, and economic impact. Residents Darla Laterno, Inger Stallman Jorgensen, Amy Spooner, Josh Geerish, and Tanya Shepherd raised concerns about pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, the lack of sidewalks, and the danger posed by large trucks on narrow streets. Business owners Beth Mangum, Brandy Bailey, and Josh Geerish argued against eliminating all parking, suggesting instead that the town address irresponsible parking by large trucks. Beth Mangum proposed forming a panel of business owners and public safety officials to find a compromise. Regarding the Florida Avenue closure, supporters like Laterno and Jorgensen favored the pedestrian plaza for walkability, while opponents like Mary Parker, Alan Shepherd, and Tanya Shepherd warned of accessibility issues for businesses and the diversion of heavy truck traffic onto Alabama Avenue. Thomas Vesey criticized the concept as a "band-aid," suggesting long-term solutions like a parking garage and riverfront boardwalk. No votes were taken, and no motions were passed during this workshop. The Mayor and Town Manager explicitly stated that no decisions were made and none were expected. All options require further detailed planning, including signage and striping, before implementation can be considered. The Council did not select a preferred option but instead requested direction on which options to explore further. Town Manager Scotty Harris noted, "No decisions have been made and none are expected tonight all options will require further third study detailing planning detail and planning new signage streets improvement for striping those things would have to take place before any implementation." Several follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by staff or Council members. The Town Manager asked for Council direction to narrow the options to avoid conducting four separate engineering studies. A Council member suggested eliminating the one-way options, which received the fewest votes in a sticker survey, and the Council agreed to consider this direction. The Mayor suggested forming an ad hoc task force including business owners, police, fire, and public works to develop a solution; a Council member agreed to put out a sign-up sheet for community volunteers to join this task force. A Council member asked Staff to investigate with NCDOT whether semi-tractor trailers can be rerouted off Main Street, and Staff agreed to investigate this. The Mayor also asked about a previous proposal to remove three parking spaces on Florida Avenue to extend sidewalks for ADA compliance; Staff clarified it was previously dropped due to safety concerns but agreed to review it again if the Council wants to explore it as a compromise. Finally, the Mayor stated he would like to explore long-term ideas regarding a parking garage and riverfront boardwalk or amphitheater project. ## Agenda - [Call to Order](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141/item/18371) - [Merchants Alley Overview and Preliminary Concepts](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141/item/18372) - [Florida Avenue Preliminary Concept](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141/item/18373) - [Staff Recommendations](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141/item/18374) - [Public Input](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141/item/18375) - [Town Council Discussion and Direction](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141/item/18376) - [Adjournment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141/item/18377) ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR8ripacYGY - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2114/segments ## Documents - [minutes_2026-09-14.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141?document=14394) - [agenda_packet_2026-09-14.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3141?document=14393) ## Sources - [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR8ripacYGY)