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February 28, 2006
Approved, again
The Planning and Zoning Commission gave its second go-ahead tonight to the Blue Ridge Companies plan to put in a apartments, offices and shops between Eastchester Drive and Whites Mill Road.
We'll see if it makes it past the City Council this time. It died in front of the council in November for lack of a 7-vote majority. Because neighbors petitioned against it, a simple majority wasn't enough.
The development would bring as many as 287 apartments, and 71 kids into Montlieu, Welborn and Andrews schools.
There was quite a bit of discussion about a new road Blue Ridge would build connecting Eastchester and Whites Mill. Some thought it would make the traffic problem out there worse, others seemed to think it would actually make it better by providing a legitimate cut-through (instead of going around Big Lots in the parking lot) to turn south onto Eastchester if you're coming from Whites Mill.
It was also interesting to hear from several residents who basically said: If it's got to be developed, at least it's Blue Ridge doing it. A couple of folks were happy with concessions the developer made to do things like build a culvert in the Meadowlark area to help with existing stormwater problems.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 9:28 PM | Comments (7)
February 27, 2006
On the Agenda: High Point Planning and Zoning
The Planning and Zoning Commission will be taking a look at several developments Tuesday. They include:
* A 22-acre annexation and special use permit update request by the city so the Kersey Valley Landfill can be expanded.
* A 24-acre development between Eastchester Drive and Whites Mill Road that would bring 287 apartments or condos to the area and as many as 71 kids into the school system.
* A request by GTCC to let colleges be acceptable in areas zoned for industrial use so that its South Main Street campus can expand.
* Turning the 1866 Model Farm House historic property into a bed & breakfast.
* Allowing offices to be built at the northeast corner of Eastchester and Haverly Drive
What: High Point Planning and Zoning Commission
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where:City Council Chambers, 211 S. Hamilton St.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 1:06 PM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2006
It shouldn't have to be said.
And thankfully it doesn't crop up too often here at the North High Point & Jamestown blog.
But the rules for commentators continue to be: No vitriolic ad hominem attacks, no spamming and no obscenity. I didn't specifically state it the first time I laid out the ground rules, but I also reserve the right to remove any comment that is libelous because I don't want to get sued for something I didn't write.
I've only had to enforce those rules a few times since taking over this blog -- and most of those times it had to do with spamming -- but I wanted to re-state them since some folks are accusing the paper of being inconsistent after several posts were deleted at The Chalkboard for going too far.
I also want to thank the regulars here for not forcing me to delete or edit many posts.
In case you were wondering, the few times I've edited posts involved removing an offensive word or two or removing an inappropriate link, i.e. to a pornographic site. I've only removed two posts in their entirety and those were spam.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 5:40 PM | Comments (0)
February 24, 2006
Eastchester development is back
Blue Ridge Companies is ready to try again with its development between Eastchester Drive and Whites Mill Road.
Not much is different from the last time Blue Ridge tried to develop the property. The commercial aspects are toned down a bit and no drive-through restaurants would be allowed this time. The original plans died at City Council for lack of a super-majority. Neighbors filed a petition against the development, triggering a rule that required at least seven votes to pass council.
Neighbors were upset with the idea because of concerns over existing storm water problems in the area and increased traffic in front of the Sutton Place subdivision's only exit -- onto Eastchester.
The plans would add up to 287 apartments or condiminiums on roughly 20 acres. Another 2 to 3 acres would be used for offices and limited types of retail -- book stores, flower shops, restaurants without drive-throughs.
There will be a story about the development in the weekend editions.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 4:53 PM | Comments (5)
February 23, 2006
Dilworth Road development
Shugart Management wants to build a 208-home, 85 acre development off Dilworth Road near Skeet Club Road and Johnson Street.
The plans are still preliminary, so the city planning staff hasn't run its calculations yet on how many kids the development would bring into the school system. The city predicted a recent 128-home development proposal in Northeast Davidson would bring 21 kids into Ledford High School, 18 into Ledford Middle and 13 into Friendship Elementary. It would be logical that this development would bring a few more than that. With the new districts maps, kids in this neighborhood would go to Shadybrook, Ferndale and Central.
The preliminary plans definitely have some issues. Drive down Dilworth or up Resthaven and it's fairly obvious those roads shouldn't handle a major subdivision as-is. I imagine the city would want either or both to be improved by the developer before approving them as entrances.
To connect to the sewer system, the development would have to go 2,500 feet along the creek and that's got city planners a bit nervous on how it would affect the watershed. That's something planner Mark Schroeder said the city wants a clearer explanation of as well, although it's possible the sewer connection could come from elsewhere. Although a different hook-up could mean going against the grade of the land -- meaning you'd have to look at some kind of pumping system and the prosect of more long-term maintenance than a gravity fed line.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 9:37 AM | Comments (2)
February 22, 2006
Redistricting
So the school board made its decision last night. I'm sure folks have lots of opinions on the new attendance lines.
We're looking for parents willing to share their thoughts for our follow up stories. If you'd like to share and are the parent of a Southwest or Andrews bound student conact Sue Schultz at 883-4422 ext. 232 or sschultz@news-record.com. Parents of kids headed to Central can contact Kory Dodd at 883-4422 ext. 241 or kdodd@news-record.com
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 11:25 AM | Comments (7)
February 21, 2006
Northeast Davidson development moves forward
About halfway into this story from last night's City Council meeting is the news that a 64-acre annexation and zoning request in Northeast Davidson County was given the go-ahead. Developers want to put a 128-home subdivision on Chestnut Drive just over the county line.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 8:43 AM | Comments (0)
February 20, 2006
On the Agenda: Jamestown Council
Tomorrow's town council meeting is shaping up to be a barn burner [/sarcasm font]
While it should be a fairly light meeting news-wise, there are some things of note on the agenda.
* The Jamestown Lions Club is making a presentation about a Fourth of July Parade. Could Jamestown be getting a new tradition? We'll see.
* The Pinecroft-Sedgefield Fire Department will be giving its annual report.
* Council is scheduled to discuss some recent modifications of state planning laws and ways for the town to come in line with them. The planning board has already checked off on the changes.
* Asst. Town Manager Kathryn Billings is bringing back to the council a new contract between the town and Guilford County for permit and inspection services the county provides. Council already authorized the agreement last fall and gave Town Manager John Frezell the ability to sign-off on it. He promised then to bring it back when everthing was finalized.
What: Jamestown Town Council meeting
When: 7 p.m. tomorrow, (Feb. 21)
Where: Jamestown Town Hall
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 2:50 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2006
Jamestown's downtown
Not a lot of "news" came out of the town planning board's meeting last night: The board recommended approval of a small zoning case and basically rubber stamped some new planning rules from the state that it didn't have much choice on to begin with.
What was interesting was more of a loose philosopical discussion that took place after Fred Browning brought up the town's sign regulations. It quickly became a discussion between some of the planners, Town Manager John Frezell and Carl Galloni, owner of River Twist, about ways to improve downtown Jamestown.
Galloni talked about finding a way to build a parking lot in the valley that runs along the back of the buildings just south of Main Street. The land is on the Ragsdale farm. His idea was that a nicely done parking lot with brick pavers, trees, planting beds, etc. could be attractive for the town and solve a lot of downtown businesses' parking problems. To get to it, he suggested the town finding a way to extend Guilford College Road (soon to be renamed Jamestown Road) past its intersection with Main Street down into the valley.
It's an interesting idea. Of course the big question, as Frezell pointed out, is who is going to pay for something like that.
On the rezoning: The town planning board fairly quickly recommended approval on a 3-1 vote of Billy Edwards' request to zone 404 Main Street for business use. The daughter of the owner of one adjoining property spoke out against it although she seemed more concerned at a lukewarm reception she'd received from Town Hall to build three houses on her family property than Edwards plans. Fred Browning voted against it and the Town Council still has to take up the matter before it becomes official.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 10:12 AM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2006
Jamestown sewer spill
About 164,000 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into the Deep River Friday morning in Jamestown when sewage backed up at a pump station Duke Power was working on, Jamestown Public Works Director Winn Underhill said Monday.
Power to the pump station had to be cut off while Duke Power worked on a new service for the pump station, Underhill said. The station’s generator kicked on, but it failed to keep running a grinder that prevents backups from large debris in the sewage.
Untreated sewage spilled from 8:45 a.m. until about 11:20 p.m. at 5005 Harvey Road, Underhill said. Duke notified the town of the problem in the early afternoon, after power was restored to the pump station. Underhill said state officials were notified as well as the city of High Point since it is down river.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 4:12 PM | Comments (0)
On the Agenda: Jamestown planning
Billy Edwards, owner of a rental house at 404 Main Street, is looking to get out of being a landlord -- at least for that house. But he's not looking to sell. Edwards has asked the town to zone the property, which is directly across from Kerr Drug, for business use instead of residential.
Several lots along Main Street in the general vicinity have already gone through similar changes, Town Clerk Martha Wolfe said. Edwards didn't cite any particular plans for a business in his request, Wolfe said.
The Jamestown Planning & Zoning Board is set to look at Edwards' request tonight.
What: Jamestown Planning & Zoning Board
When: 6:30 p.m. tonight
Where: Jamestown town hall.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 12:31 PM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2006
Secret meetings and your City Council
Education reporter Bruce Buchanan has a report today on two meetings that took place between school officials and members of the city council to talk about redistricting.
The meetings weren't "closed" to the public, but no one bothered to let the public know they were going on, either. And the meetings didn't violate the letter of the state's open meetings law since no more than four city council members were present at each meeting. Had a majority of the council, i.e. five members, been present, well, that's another story.
If any formal decisions had been made, or later resulted from the meeting, then I think someone would have a strong basis for challenging the validity of the decision.
There have been cases in other states -- I'm not aware of any in North Carolina -- where a judge has ruled that splitting a government body into two seperate groups in order to avoid notifying the public may satisfy the letter of the law but violates the intent of the law and therefore is not allowed. But in perhaps the most famous case of using a "constructive quorum" -- the firing of Indiana University basketball coach by the college's Board of Trustees -- a judge said it was OK.
It appears no decisions came out of the High Point meeting(s) -- Mayor Smothers says they were "informational" only -- so there wouldn't be much for one to challenge.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 10:01 AM | Comments (4)
February 8, 2006
Heart of the Triad: Connecting with the community
At Wednesday's meeting of Heart of the Triad decision-makers, two topics that share a central theme occupied much of the discussion -- how to deal with folks who want to get involved and how to make sure surrounding counties and towns understand whats going on.
No real decisions were made on either one.
When it comes to involving people, which was an issue raised by Robbie Perkins, the board basically decided to try and come back next month with some ideas. They also discussed making sure people know about the April 3-8 "charette" -- planner lingo for a week-long, intense planning session. At that week-long session there will be several chances for the public to interact with the planners.
Arnold King brought up the need to keep lines of communication open with surrounding governments. King said he didn't want the rural counties to start feeling like Guilford and Forsyth were trying to corner the market on new development spurred by FedEx. He said it's important the project is seen as an economic boost for the whole region and not something that's competing. Tom Dayvault, of the High Point Chamber of Commerce, said his discussions with the chambers of commerce in the rural counties have been good and that he gets a sense that those groups are excited about the potential job growth that will come with Heart of the Triad
There will be a small story in tomorrow's News & Record about some financial decisions the Heart of the Triad folks are looking at.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 10:48 AM | Comments (0)
February 7, 2006
Benefits for your council
Should City Council members be eligible for city employee health insurance? Apparently quite a few people don't think so and told the council as much at last night's meeting. For whatever reasons the story didn't make the Web site, so I'll post it below the jump.
It's an interesting question. The overall cost is minimal when you're talking about a city with a $91 million operating budget. If all the council members chose to opt in, it would cost the city about $40,000. Yet that's $40,000 of taxpayer money that could presumably go to other things, right? The decision last month to extend benefits to council members also follows attempts last year by the city to reduce its employee health care costs.
Only two council members -- Chris Whitley and Ron Wilkins -- are interested in signing up, so the cost goes down even further. Whitley says he'll pay all of the $368 a month cost himself. Wilkins, who says he hasn't had health insurance since the '90s, can't afford that cost, which amounts to $4,416 a year.
So what's the right answer? Is that a benefit that should be extended to council members in consideration of the work they put in, or is it something that should be reserved for full time employees?
Council defends vote on benefits
By Kory Dodd
Staff Writer
HIGH POINT - The City Council spent much of its meeting Monday defending its decision to allow members to join the city
health plan.
Last month, the council voted 7-2 to give its members the option of joining the city health insurance plan at the same rate
as employees. Mayor Becky Smothers and Councilman Latimer Alexander voted against the proposal.
"It's inexcusable, I think, that the first act of the new year was a selfish act," Gregory Shepherd, a High Point resident, said
during the public comment portion of the council meeting.
Shepherd said the council has "opened a benefit door" that could lead it to vote for the city to pay pensions or other benefits.
David Rudin said the city has already considered cutting health benefits for its own employees. "It just doesn't seem right.
It just doesn't seem fair."
Councilman Michael Pugh said the cost to the city would be minimal because only two council members - Ron Wilkins
and Chris Whitley - have chosen to join the plan.
He said Whitley has agreed to cover his health plan costs but Wilkins cannot afford to do so.
"Mr. Wilkins is in need of health care," Pugh said. "Mr. Wilkins has (health) issues that need to be addressed."
Wilkins said he hasn't had health insurance since the 1990s and cannot afford the full cost of $368 a month.
During the public comment period, Alexander stepped down from the council dais to voice his concerns about the health insurance vote.
"The question I struggle with now is how some council members can entertain thoughts of cutting benefits to our full- time employees, our retirees and their families and vote to award themselves subsidized health care benefits," Alexander said before reading meeting excerpts in which those cuts were discussed.
"While the desire to help out fellow council members who need more affordable access to quality health care is a noble act, we must remember our decisions last forever," Alexander added. "I believe we will soon see full councils take advantage of these benefits."
Alexander said the cost of covering the entire council this year would be about $40,000 and could increase in the future.
Pugh said the council could review the issue when Wilkins no longer was an elected official.
The council also addressed concerns from residents about an incident Jan. 26 during which police shot and killed a dog named Tiger in its backyard while pursuing a suspected car thief.
By law, the police have the right to shoot a dog they believe is threatening.
Since the incident, Steve Dudash and several other High Point citizens formed Justice for Tiger, a group devoted to changing the city's policy dealing with aggressive animals.
Dudash said High Point police Chief Jim Fealy has agreed to meet with the group to discuss possible changes.
In other action, the council unanimously voted to allow High Point police to apply for a $215,965 federal grant.
The grant would be split between the Guilford County Sheriff's Office and High Point and Greensboro police.
Fealy said the High Point Police Department intends to use its part of the grant - $48,716 - to buy a specialized system for lifting latent fingerprints on large weapons and a NarTest drug-testing machine.
Contact Kory Dodd at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or kdodd@news-record.com
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)
February 6, 2006
G-G-G-Grammys
So High Point's own Fantasia Barrino is up for four Grammy Awards.
Her family is hosting a party at Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub in Oak Hollow Mall to watch the awards Wednesday night. Check tomorrow's N&R for more details on that. Update: You can read the story here.
I won't be watching -- I just don't get a kick out of awards -- but it would be kind of cool for someone from High Point to win a Grammy. To me, that seems like a much bigger accomplishment than winning American Idol. Afterall, Elvis only won three -- all for gospel.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 6:20 PM | Comments (0)
February 3, 2006
State report released on High Point ABC Board
The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission released a damning report on the “slush fund” controversy at the High Point ABC Board, saying the local agency’s conduct during the last four years included “serious ABC Law violations.”
The report, unveiled Friday morning, aimed strong criticism at the agency’s former general manager, George Humble Jr., and three ex-board members who resigned under fire last month.
“Our review confirmed that serious ABC law violations occurred at the High Point ABC Board,” the state report said. “We identified a pattern of both unacceptable activities by the Board’s General Manager as well as lax administrative oversight by the board members in conducting public business ...”
The High Point system has been under investigation since late August, when state ABC officials got a tip that the board was illegally selling promotional minibottles and keeping the money in a secret fund for incidental expenses and employee perks.
Check out the report, a timeline on the investigation and the N&R's ABC investigation stories at www.news-record.com/nr/abc
Posted by at 4:14 PM | Comments (0)
February 2, 2006
A few new restaurants opened this week
in north High Point's Shoppes at Deep River. I stuck my head in Remington Grill yesterday. It opened last Friday. Not a bad place to grab a greasy lunch.
Yamato's Japanese restaurant opened yesterday. I'm looking forward to checking it out, but didn't want to go in on opening day. They looked a bit crowded.
I've been trying to get in touch with the McAllister's folks to find out when they're opening on the corner in that new strip facing Eastchester. That's the same area where Moe's Southwest Grill is supposed to open, although it's a bit behind schedule.
Now if only there was more to do up there than eat and see a movie ...
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 3:47 PM | Comments (3)
Heart of the Triad: Reminder
There is a community meeting tonight (Thursday, Feb. 2) in Kernersville where folks can learn about what's happening with Heart of the Triad and will get a chance to offer their thoughts.
What: Heart of the Triad community meeting
When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Woodland Hall in the Triad Park, 9652 East Mountain Street, Kernersville
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 7:18 AM | Comments (0)
February 1, 2006
A taxing situation
High Point has the 13th highest tax burden of cities in North Carolina that have more than 25,000 residents, according to a new study -- linked in a .pdf format -- from the John Locke Foundation's Center for Local Innovation. The property tax burden is 8th highest. The numbers are based on figures from the state treasurer's office for 2004.
Greensboro is 11th, overall and on the property tax list. Winston-Salem is 8th and 13th, respectively.
What's the Triad city with the lowest burden? Thomasville is 25th (of 26 cities in the state studied) on overall burden and 24th on property taxes. Jacksonville is the lowest in North Carolina on both.
The city with the heaviest burden is Charlotte, followed by Wilmington, Asheville, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary.
Among counties, Guilford ranks 10th on overall taxes and 9th on property taxes. Dare County has the heaviest burden followed by Currituck and Mecklenburg.
Triad counties by overall burden:
10. Guilford
12. Forsyth
32. Alamance
37. Rockingham
60. Surry
82. Davidson
84. Randolph
93. Stokes
So what's it all mean? It's tough to say.
Comparing one municipality or county to the next always takes some context -- as the CLI folks point out in the introduction. You have to take into account what services each city provides, what services they don't that another might, and whether or not you're still paying for that through some other means, such as a private trash company, or here in High Point we have one of the few government run electric utilities in the state. You might find coastal counties with much higher property tax burdens because of a preponderance of second homes -- the result is the property taxes from those second homes get divided across a smaller permanent population and you end up with the appearance of the individual paying more than they really do.
It's definitely interesting to compare though. I was a bit surprised to see that Guilford, Forsyth, Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem were all fairly comparable to each other. They were all within about $120 of each other. Other areas I've lived and worked there have been stark differences in the tax burdens from one town or county to the next.
Addendumn: If you're not familiar with the Locke Foundation, it's a conservative think tank based in Raleigh.
Posted by Jonathan Jones at 9:43 AM | Comments (1)
