The home builder’s division president said the amendment was an effort to build a more affordable project.
“Economic conditions have changed drastically since this community was approved,” he said. He later added, “You’ve got to put the bobber at the depth at where the fish are biting.”
Town staff and the town Planning Board recommended denial of the amendment. Councilmen Tim Sack and James Cobb voted against the amendment; Councilman Parrish Womble and Councilwoman Linda Hunt Williams voted in approval of the amendment. Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears broke the tie to vote in favor of the amendment.
The home builder originally had requested the amendment for town homes bordering the highway, also, but he withdrew his request for that portion following council discussion on the issue.
In explaining why staff recommended denial of the developer’s request, Town Planner Laura Powell said, “Not only is that (development) something that town residents see every day, but it’s something that travelers along the bypass see every day.”
She said the town’s quality growth allowed staff to consider “what we wanted along these gateways,” namely high-quality projects, which Powell said the original development plan provided.
The town Planning Board had voted 5-1-1 vote for denial of the amendment.
“It just brings the whole project down,” Sack said of the amendment. “It doesn’t add to the vision of a quality development. … I think it degrades the look of the whole development. … I understand the economic times, but also we’re looking at having quality construction in our town.”
Williams said her concern was along the highway and said that the current economy was not perfect.
“I’d hate to see grass there and not a development there,” she said.
“I wouldn’t want to see just green grass,” Womble said. “That being the gateway there, (it) looks terrible. … They deserve a chance.”
A four-month resident in the development spoke in favor of the amendments and said he is disappointed to see Main Street Square remain largely a construction site. He said he thought quality could be obtained with a lower-priced town home.
The buildings bordering the highway will remain as proposed in the originally approved development plans.
In other meeting business, the council voted for a resolution supporting a Rex Healthcare application for two operating rooms in Holly Springs as part of its future urgent care medical facility to be located at the G.B. Alford Hwy. intersection with Avent Ferry Rd.
Bob Ricker, associate vice president of physician services with Rex, addressed the council and said the Holly Springs facility is planned to open in December 2011 with urgent and orthopedic care, lab and imaging services, and mobile diagnostic services, as well as primary care, sports medicine, pediatric, cardiology and general surgery practices.
The out-patient operating rooms, if approved, would open 11 months after approval of the certificate of need was issued. Ricker stressed that gaining approval for operating rooms was a competitive process, and he asked for support from the council and community.
“The town of Holly Springs is noticed by the state,” he said. “The timing is right to put healthcare in Holly Springs.”
The council discussed helping Haiti earthquake victims. Womble brought up the topic, asking if the town could make a donation. The town attorney said using tax revenue was not “an authorized expenditure.”
Staff said an account was being set up at Crescent State Bank, which would accept donations from council members, staff and residents.
The council also replaced a Planning Board member at the meeting. Mark Shank, who councilmen said had missed one third of the meetings, was replaced with Pete Espersen. Womble voted against removing Shank from the board.
“One of the things emphasized was the need to have people attend (meetings) so that projects can go forward, so that we have a quorum, so that we get a full spectrum of discussion,” Sack said about a recent orientation meeting for the Planning Board. “Even though we’ve had excused absences … to me it’s very important that people attend.”
Sack said occasionally missing a meeting was fine and said that the board meets only once a month. “Attendance is crucial,” Cobb said. “You’ve made a commitment to serve the town in that capacity.”
Cobb said when a full board is present, discussion on issues is enhanced, enabling the board to work though issues with a “whole myriad of suggestions.”
After Womble asked, staff said no one had contacted Shank to see if he was willing to step down. “I don’t know what his excuses are,” Womble said. “…but I would like to at least give him a chance.”
The council also received a report of a financial audit of the town’s records.
“Things are going along well, I believe,” the auditor said. “I think they (staff) really have addressed economic concerns. … They’ve addressed those issues in terms of last year tightening the belt a little bit and then going forward.”
The council approved an infrastructure reimbursement agreement with the developer of Garrison Place subdivision for over-sized infrastructure. In exchange for fee credits, the developer is to provide oversized infrastructure at the development off Piney-Grove Wilbon Rd. The infrastructure will benefit future development in addition to serving Garrison Place.
As part of its consent agenda, the council approved a construction contract change order to provide a time extension to the Green Oaks Parkway four-lane project, approved another construction contract to increase the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion project budget by more than $14,000 for additional work and equipment, and declared a vehicle as surplus property. The town manger reminded council members of a council retreat set for early March at the Carolina Inn in Pinehurst. Also, the council tabled a public hearing on an ordinance amendment regarding driveway widths until the Feb. 2 meeting.
Councilman Chet VanFossen was absent from the meeting.
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