By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — The Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners met on Sept. 10 with town staff and Mayor Charlie Sellers.
Public Speakers
Resident Laura Bingham spoke about safety on Valley Boulevard, particularly a good portion of the 20,000 vehicles per day, on average, passing through the corridor, she said. “The vast majority are speeding… in excess of the 35 mph regulation. Many, up to a third, are going 50 (mph) or over. I am out there every day walking a dog so I can attest to all of this. It is particularly true of commercial, construction and service vehicles, and commuters. Really, the public safety is at stake. There are sidewalks and when there are sidewalks, the message is that the (area) is safe. I am not sure it is.” Bingham went on to offer suggestions for one or more of the commissioners to take on as a champion for the issue. [1] Stop thinking of U.S. 321 as a highway, but as Valley Boulevard, our OTHER Main Street. [2] Highlight speeding and safety in town newsletters and communications. [3] Focus on commercial traffic, concentrating on the top 20 speeding offenders. [4] Research other tourist towns overburdened with traffic. [5] Seriously consider relocating the Police Department to Valley Boulevard.
Youth Sports Week honoring Baker Stanley
Blowing Rock Director of Parks and Recreation Jennifer Brown reported that the week of Sept. 23 is “National Youth Sports Week” and went on to list the many contributions and lasting impact that Baker Stanley has had on the town’s youth and activities. Mayor Charlie read a proclamation designating the week of Sept. 23 in 2024 as the “Baker Stanley National Youth Sports Week” in Blowing Rock.
New Police Chief
Town Manager Shane Fox informed the Town Council members that the search for a new police chief had been concluded and that 85 applications were received from 24 states and three countries. After many rounds of review and consideration, a panel including police chiefs, human resource professionals and others made the unanimous selection of Nathan Kirk, who has been serving as Interim Police Chief the last few months since the retirement of former Police Chief Aaron Miller.
As Mr. Kirk took the oath of office, members of his family and several police officers under his command, as well as chiefs from Boone and Appalachian State University were in the room, looking on. Holding his young daughter, Kirk faced the microphone and simply thanked everyone involved in the decision and the community he will be serving.
PUBLIC HEARING: Shops at Watership Down
Developer David Reule requested a Special Use Permit (2024-03) to demolish four office/retail units at Watership Down, 133 Morris Street, and construct four 2-story office and residential units. The property is 0.119 acres and zoned CB, Central Business. The property was previously regulated by a 1995 Conditional Use Permit.
The only requested waivers pertained to
- a 5-foot setback requirement that would allow for a second floor to be built on one of the buildings.
- reducing the parking space width from 9 feet to 8-1/2 feet.
The Land Use Code, according to Planning Director Kevin Rothrock, requires eight parking spaces. Reule plans to have four parking spaces in the front lot of the buildings and a “passthrough” for vehicular traffic in one of the buildings to six parking spaces in the back of the building. That area is currently an unorganized grass area used for parking and Reule also introduced a stormwater plan that would capture much of the stormwater currently flowing to that grassy area. In answer to Pete Gherini’s question about the reduction in parking space width, Rothrock stated that the public visitors to the units would be using the front, full-size spaces and the spaces in the rear would be used only by the tenants of the buildings. The Planning Board advanced the project with the provision that construction and deliveries would be limited during times when Morris Street is used for ingress and egress to Blowing Rock School.
Reule explained that one of the offices will be his and a development partner will have an office and one bedroom apartment. Another apartment is intended for Reule’s father and there is a 2-bedroom apartment that will be for sale.
Reule stated that the decision was made to stay within the current footprint of the buildings now on the site, with no encroachment nearer adjacent properties.
David Harwood had questions and comments about parking, site lighting, and other matters. Cat Perry wondered about how demolition and construction impacted other surrounding businesses, including construction worker parking. Gherini pointed out that this may be the first of many similar projects to be proposed and suggested coordination with the Downtown Development subcommittee that has been organized.
After the public hearing was closed and no further discussion, David Harwood moved that the project be approved with the following conditions:
- The mechanical units are screened.
- That the landscaping is in-ground rather than in planters.
- Flat roof be eliminated and redesigned for a sloped roof.
- A relocation of handicapped space to one of the four front space.s
- Variances for more than three primary building materials and parking spaces to 18 feet by 8 feet, 6 inches.
- Variance for five foot setback to allow for second story.
- Allowances to accommodate school traffic.
The motion died without a second.
Harwood advanced a second motion to table the project until the next regular Town Council meeting, seconded by Gherini, and passed unanimously. Sellers said there would be no public hearing, but open board discussion.
McGill Street Assessment and other projects
Town Manager Shane Fox introduce Doug Chapman of McGill Associates to discuss three primary issues in advance of the Winter Retreat in January.
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- Street Assessment
- Sidewalk Master Plan
- Survey of the Reservoir, including the reservoir intake
The three studies, if funded by the Board of Commissioners, would be undertaken by McGill to have ample talking points at the time of the Winter Retreat.
Mayor Sellers posed a question of the Board regarding allocating $35,000 from the General Fund for professional planning services, $44,600 for pavement management study, $29,600 for study of reservoir issues, and $26,475 to look at reservoir intakes.
Motion to approve the expenditures was unanimous.
Downtown Standards
Downtown Development subcommittee requested Town Council to set a date for a public hearing about the committee’s draft ordinance in November, after a Planning Board review. Doug Matheson’s motion to approve passed unanimously.
OFFICIAL REPORTS
Shane Fox
- Main Street water/sewer/utilities project is in the last month.
- DOT paving to start March 15 and finished by April 30.
- Part of the Winter Retreat will be crosswalks on Main Street.
- Maple Street sewer work has been started and as soon as finished the water group will start.
- U.S. 221 water/sewer project will be out of the roadway in September, water by November.
- Green Street: water work, possibly in the spring.
- Laurel Lane rock work has been completed, spillway work is ongoing.
- Chestnut sewer project has been completed.
- Grandfather lift station will start soon.
- USDA work by spring and summer.
- Auditors were very complimentary.
- Blowing Rock Academy received 5-star Child Care License, only one in the county. Highest score possible.
- Boone/Blowing Rock Chamber “Candidates Forum” on Monday, Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m., at Appalachian Theatre.
- Planning Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 19, 5:30 p.m.
- Board of Adjustments to meet on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 5:30 p.m.
- ABC Board Meeting to meet Thursday, Sept. 26, 2 p.m.
- ABC sales in July were $389,000, up $71,000 (+22 percent) over previous year.
After a 10-minute recess, the Council went into closed session and did not expect any decision to come out of it.
