Plans to build a new community center and renovate the existing town gymnasium off Stinson Ave. moved forward at the Aug. 18 Holly Springs Town Council meeting. Councilmen approved a $6,634,040 budget for the project.

The new 29,720-square-foot center is to include workout rooms, a 1/12-mile running track, a game room, an outdoor basketball court, and more. The existing classroom portion of the Hunt Community Center will be demolished for parking once the new center is complete. Staff said the lowest bid for construction came in $500,000-$1 million less than the town’s original estimate and that the town likely would finance the project with a loan. Financing options for the project are expected to come before the council at an upcoming council meeting.

Councilman Vinnie DeBenedetto voted against the motion. During discussion, he suggested allowing Holly Springs voters an opportunity to vote on whether the town should build “a project of this size.” He also suggested purchasing land adjacent to the site as part of the project. “This is a significant project of a large magnitude,” DeBenedetto said. “In these financial times, why wouldn’t you go to the citizens?”

Councilman Hank Dickson responded.

“I think (citizens) vote for us during these odd years to make these decisions,” he said. “If we’re not prepared or have the courage to make these decisions, this is not the place … to sit.” Dickson said residents and staff have been talking about and planning the project for years and that a referendum for citizen votes on the project “would be a waste of $30,000.”

“Right now, we’re getting good bids at low prices, and it’s only going to go up from here on out, I think,” said Councilman Tim Sack.

Councilmen said they thought DeBenedetto brought up a referendum for political reasons or for a sound bite.

Councilman Parrish Womble also expressed interest in purchasing adjacent land and said that, though the land was not posted for sale, the owner would get rid of it. The town attorney said the land did not have much strategic value for the center.

“I would want to know what (the land) would be used for and not buy it just to buy it,” Dickson said. Retail survey results

Results of a recent citizens survey requesting retail preferences, conducted by the town Department of Economic Development, were discussed at the meeting. The survey, conducted on the town’s web site, generated more than 1,200 responses. Staff said the survey was performed to provide information to prospective small and large businesses; about 142,000 square feet of retail/office space currently is available in town.

Results of the survey showed 81 percent of survey respondents were not satisfied with the variety of shops and services in town. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they felt making purchases in town and supporting local businesses was very important, and 62 percent said drive times were extremely important in deciding were to shop. Of the respondents, 60 percent said they shopped outside town for greater selection, and 56 percent said they left town most often for dinner.

Fifty-six percent said they left town two to four times each week to make purchases and dine out. Most respondents said they left town to purchase clothing, hardware, home furnishing, and toys/recreation supplies. Most-requested retailers included Best Buy, Lowes and Home Depot, Outback, Olive Garden, Whole Foods Market and non-chain restaurants, and 90-95 percent of residents requested Target. Staff said the survey encouraged them to explore new ways of educating the public about approved commercial projects, such as New Hill Place with its proposed Target and movie theater.

Staff also said respondents expressed an overall desire for smart and balanced growth in town.

Developers said towns must first have a critical mass of people who are potential customers to sustain commercial development, staff said. Police Youth Academy recognized

The success of the third annual police youth academy, which graduated 70 local 11-15-year olds, was recognized at the meeting. The purpose of the one-week course was to familiarize participants with the role of police officers within the community, staff said.

Graduates of this year’s academy received training on police procedures and technology, crime scene investigations, highway patrol, fire emergencies, defensive tactics and more. Participants also viewed a National Guard helicopter and participated in community outreach.

An officer overseeing the program said the police department hopes to add an academy for ages 16-18 and said the support of the council and community made the academy possible.

Following the presentation, Dickson praised Holly Springs officers; a significant number of officers were commended during a recent physical aptitude test, he said. Town ordinances, downtown development discussed

The council approved amendments to town ordinances, including clarifying aspects of the town’s Technical Review Committee, determining the starting point of buffers on intermittent streams, defining when swimming pools are subject to town regulations, and altering off-street parking requirements for future development.

Discussion arose about how many parking spaces to require for downtown development. Councilmen also discussed what could be done to encourage downtown development.

“We can’t sprinkle magic dust and get development,” DeBenedetto said.

“Actually, that’s what we do,” Councilman Chet VanFossen said, explaining that the town council can write ordinances that will attract development. “And, if that’s magic dust, let’s throw some.”

Womble asked about utilizing the abandoned former public safety building on 4.7 acres off Main St.

Town Manager Carl Dean said the town property was for sale, but said he believed the economic climate affected the sale. He also questioned the safety of the structure. Womble suggested pursuing a grant to improve the structure.

“There’s no such thing as things can’t be fixed,” Womble said.

“It just depends how much money you want to throw at it,” VanFossen said. Other news

The town council concurred with an administrative rule addressing instances of reductions in the town’s work force. Dean emphasized that the town was “not at that point right now” but said that being proactive was better than being reactive.

“I’d much rather have (the policy) up front; everybody knows what to expect,” he said.

Also, the council approved spending $218,844 to construct a 64-space parking lot near the downtown Methodist church off Avent Ferry Rd. Town and church volunteers are to partner to plant landscaping. At the meeting, the council also approved spending about $13,800 on specialty street signage in the Holly Springs Business Park.

The council approved a special exception use for family child care in homes off Holly Glen Ct. and off Gryffindor Ln.