By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Plans for the redevelopment of Shoppes on the Parkway were put on hold by Blowing Rock’s Board of Commissioners on March 11, rejecting a conditional zoning application by Shoppes on the Parkway LLC that would change the zoning from General Business (GB) to Conditional Zoning – General Business (CA-GB). Over time, the owners and their developers plan to convert the one-level retail center (formerly the Tanger Outlets) into a mixed use development with restaurants, retail and residential units.
While the owners have a general idea of what they want to achieve with the total property redevelopment, their plan has been to develop the property in phases. The March 11 application was for Phase IA, the addition of 34 dwelling units in a three- to four-story building on the south end of the property, along the Middle Fork New River, and partly adjacent to neighboring Chetola Mountain Resort.
During the public hearing, several audience members spoke against the project and many of those objections mirrored the concerns of the sitting commissioners and Mayor Charlie Sellers.
Summary concerns voiced by audience members, commissioners and the mayor included:
- The artist renderings of the dwelling units did not have the “look and feel” of Blowing Rock. While no one articulated what that “look and feel” actually is, a couple of the speakers stated the proposed condominiums looked more like they belonged in Raleigh or Wilmington.
- The single building containing all 34 units effectively makes it a hotel, particularly if short-term rentals are allowed.
- The lack of a master plan for the entire project leaves too many unanswered questions about what comes after Phase IA.
- There were concerns about the adequacy of parking.
- Overall, the single building for the condominiums was described as “monolithic” and changes the character of the town, especially as the first thing visitors see when approaching from the north, on U.S. 321.
- Among the commissioners, Pete Gherini and Doug Matheson asked the developers to consider incorporating some form of workforce housing.
The ownership team had worked with the town staff in making adjustments after the Planning Board meeting, but apparently did not go far enough for the members of Town Council.
The ownership team explained that the project must be done in phases because of the leases of current tenants, so as to minimize disruptions to ongoing businesses. They also acknowledged seeking a degree of flexibility as they move through the phases after evaluating the market embrace of the first phase.
Helene Resolution Passed
In other business, the Commissioners passed a resolution joining Boone and other High Country communities requesting the U.S. Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly to continue to provide financial, administrative and technical support, and to find other creative solutions to ensure local businesses have the resources they need to sustain and flourish as they continue on the road to recovery from Hurricane Helene. The unanimous vote of the commissioners followed a presentation by David Jackson, CEO of Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and Robin Miller, CEO of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Staff Reports
Town Manager Shane Fox”
- The timing for paving Main Street still yet to be determined (must be coordinated with the Department of Transportation).
- The Maple Street project is completed but still needs to be resurfaced as part of the upcoming Main Street project.
- The U.S. 221 water line installation project will be completed within the next week.
- All projects should be completed within the next two weeks.
- FEMA – the Wonderland Trail repair has been completed, including paving, curb and gutter. Waiting on final invoice to submit to FEMA for reimbursement.
- Valley View is the biggest and most complex repair project from the storm. Waiting on return of soil samples and ascertaining precisely where the base is prior to getting go-ahead from FEMA, then will go forward with the bidding process.
- The bricks have been ordered for the new Sunset Drive crosswalks and should arrive by the end of the month. Greene Construction should begin and complete construction around April 1, but should be a fairly short project.
- As a direct result of Hurricane Helene, Blowing Rock Trout Derby has been moved to May 3. A couple of fish hatcheries used by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to stock rivers and lakes were damaged during the storm. The Commission has given Trout Derby organizers permission to stock local waters with fish from an alternative hatchery.
- Planning Board meeting is March 20. New board members will be seated. No other agenda as of now.
- Contractor for the Memorial Park project approved in February should start next week. For the project, traffic on Wallingford Street will be changed, utilizing the normal southbound lane for northbound traffic and channeling southbound traffic through the American Legion Building parking facility. The ingress and egress for most of the construction project will occur on the backside of Memorial Park.
