Wilson Creek PUD passes

The Caldwell County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning request for a proposed development at a current campground located along Wilson Creek at its meeting Monday night in the Tammy Austin Conference Room in Lenoir.

The meeting was moved to the Caldwell County Department of Social Services facility because of early voting at the City-County chambers.

The rezoning, submitted by owner Ron McDaniel on behalf of Redwend, Inc. and Brown Mountain Beach Resort, changes the property's Residential Agricultural (RA-20) designation to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) that encompasses 22.34 acres in the Collettsville community.

According to McDaniel, he plans to convert the land's current use that contains 80 RV sites and 10 rental cabins into a development that features 25 zero lot line cottages for sale, 17 rental cabins and six RV sites. He said his goal is to improve the condition of the property that he described as “an eyesore.”

Speaking in opposition to the proposal were members of the Wilson Creek Planning Committee, which currently is crafting a vision statement for the future of the federally designated wild and scenic river. Group member Janet Wilson said approving the PUD “subverts the moratorium” the commissioners approved last June.

Bill Puett, a member of the Collettsville Planning Committee that has supported the proposed plan and the Wilson Creek committee, questioned McDaniel's ability to provide the 35 percent of open space a PUD requires and the overall density of the project.

Caldwell County Planning Director Randy Feierabend noted that McDaniel is aware of the open space provision. He added that the moratorium does not affect proposals to rezone property.

In supporting the plan, Commissioner Dr. John Thuss said consideration should be given to remove the Brown Mountain Beach property from the Wilson Creek overlay.

“I'm fully supportive of what he is trying to do,” Thuss said. “I think it will be a wonderful asset to the Wilson Creek corridor.”

Added Commission Vice Chairman Ron Beane, “He's wanting to clean the place up. In my opinion, this is going to make it look better than it is now.”

In other development matters, Archer Group and Coves at Round Mountain General Manager Bruce Dickenson provided a status report for the 3,600-acre development that stretches from Collettsville toward Gamewell.

Dickenson said the announcement that Hale Irwin will be helping in the design of an 18-hole golf course at the development is a major coup. He reiterated that the course will remain open to the public.

In terms of sales, Dickenson said 65 percent of the first phase has been purchased, with 35 percent of the second phase also under contract. He anticipates two additional phases will hit the market this summer.

Commissioner Faye Higgins led the board in congratulating Dickenson on the progress that has been made since he came aboard and in quieting the concerns about the development that potentially had threatened its approval a year ago.

Meanwhile, Commission Chairman Herb Greene received approval to schedule a public hearing for May 19 to revisit the zoning and subdivision ordinance amendments that previously have been approved as part of the county's Comprehensive Land Development Plan.

Speaking of revisiting, the commissioners rescinded a measure approved at their last meeting that prohibited the disposal of metals at the county's convenience center locations. The proposal had been included in discussion of freon-containing “white goods” that have been banned from disposal at the sites. Residents disposing of appliances such as air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators must take them to the county landfill for freon recovery.

“As far as metal goes, several of us got a lot of calls,” Commissioner Don Barrier said.

Thuss added that there needs to be improved monitoring of the convenience center sites.

In other businesses, the commissioners:

€ Approved a proposal to be submitted to the Golden LEAF Foundation for a $500,000 grant to aid in the construction of a 12-inch water line to connect with a series of wells at the Yadkin Valley Reservoir site. The Golden LEAF Board of Directors is scheduled to meet in June to approve projects in the county as part of the organization's Community Assistance Initiative.

€ Recognized the recipients of N.C. State Volunteer awards for their community service.

€ Approved renaming David's Mobile Home Park Drive in Hudson to Wounded Knee Lane.

€ Approved a rezoning request submitted by the West Caldwell Health Council for property that currently houses a medical clinic. The rezoning changes the property from RA-20 to Office and Institutional (O&I).

€ Heard a report from NEPTCO's Tom Herman concerning the company's plans in the county. Herman sought assistance in improving a road to allow improved business capacity.

€ Accepted a resolution in support of the statewide Litter Sweep Roadside Cleanup.

€ Received a report from Beane and Greene concerning a trip to Washington last week to seek support for a federal prison at the Foothills Regional Airport. Beane said the Federal Bureau of Prisons could want more land than the airport could allot and indicated that the county could continue its focus on a prison at the state level.

€ Accepted a request by Barrier to seek proposals for an efficiency and energy savings initiative for existing buildings and those currently under construction.

€ Approved in the consent agenda a budget amendment for an additional $69,500 to cover increased fuel expenses. The funds will be transferred from the county's contingency reserve.

€ Heard a request from Jerry Coffey during the public comment period for a meeting with Caldwell County and Lenoir officials concerning the county's railroad and the Google project.