Town of Holly Springs

Board of Commissioners Special Meeting – Winter Retreat

Friday, Jan. 18 through Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002

 

MINUTES

 

The Holly Springs Town Board of Commissioners met in retreat sessions held between 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2002 and noon Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002 at the Mid-Pines meeting and conference center in Southern Pines, North Carolina.  Mayor Dick Sears presided at each of the sessions, and a quorum was established as each session opened.

 

Board Members Present:  Commissioners Steve Tedder, John Schifano, Chet VanFossen, Peter Atwell and Hank Dickson and Mayor Sears.

 

Staff Members Present: Carl G. Dean, town manager; Chuck Simmons, assistant town manager; Joni Powell, town clerk (recording the minutes); Lois Ragsdale-Houck of the town manager’s office; Stephanie Sudano, director of engineering; Gina Bobber, director of planning and zoning; Jennifer Carr, director of economic development; Ricky Blackmon, director of building code enforcement; Thomas Tillage, director of water quality; Luncie McNeil, director of public works; Cecil Parker, chief of public safety; and Len Bradley, director of parks and recreation.

 

            No action was taken during the retreat; however, the Board spent considerable time hearing from various departments on upcoming and ongoing projects and developments in the Town.  An agenda of the workshop listing the topics covered is incorporated into these minutes as an addendum page and provides a listing of discussion topics.

            On the closing day, Sunday morning, the Board had a free-form discussion of topics that are of special concern to them and the community.

            During these discussions, the Board made the following conclusions for staff review, consideration and/or follow-up:

            1.  That as development plans from the ETJ are submitted, that annexation be required even though property in the ETJ is subject to the Town’s zoning regulations.

            2.  That the Town rewrite its PUD ordinance to be more specific so that appropriate mixed uses are encouraged (not just smaller lot sizes) and also that minimum lot sizes be increased to 8,000 square feet rather than 4,000 square feet.  The Board’s concern is that the Town is receiving a lot of PUD applications requesting 4,000 square foot lots, but no true mix of uses.

            3.  That the Town rewrite its mobile home ordinance to define specifically areas in which mobile homes/manufactured homes can and cannot be located.  The Board is interested in prohibiting any more mobile homes from being placed along thoroughfares into the Town.  The Board was somewhat agreeable to allowing Class A mobile homes on brick foundations in these areas, but none with just underpinning.

            4.  That staff report to the Board as to how large of a buffer is being required along the Bypass.  The Board believes the buffer is to be 50 feet.

            5.  That the Town get a quote from the Jennings company for the provision of public relations services for the rest of this fiscal year and that the Town consider adding a part-time public relations person (possibly to be shared by the Chamber of Commerce) in next year’s budget.

            6.  That the Town should work to improve the appearance of the business park as much as possible and feasible and that the property owners be encouraged to do so as well.

            7.  The Board wants to know which water is cheaper for the Town: that from Raleigh or that from Harnett County.  The Board agreed that during the time the Town participates in an upgrade of the Harnett County water plant, that the Town should keep the Raleigh water supply online for capacity, but actually buy gallons from Harnett County.  Once the Harnett County upgrade is completed, then the Town should cancel its contract with the City of Raleigh.  All of this, the Board said, was if there is no engineering or water quality issue that would prevent a heavier monthly purchase from Harnett County over buying from Raleigh.

 

There being no further business, the 2002 Winter Retreat of the Holly Springs Town Board of Commissioners was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002.

 

Respectfully Submitted on Feb. 19, 2002,

 

 

 

 

__________________________________

Joni Powell, CMC

Town Clerk

Addendum pages, as referenced in these minutes, follow and are a part of this official record.