Wendell News Outlet

WAKEUP UPDATE

August 29, 2007

WakeUP has been working hard for the late 18 months, and our efforts to bring the issue of fair growth funding in front of the public paid off with the passage of transfer tax legislation. We know that this kind of applied, grassroots effort can make a real difference on other growth issues. WakeUP's executive committee and key advisors met last week to reflect on WakeUP's progress and plan strategically for the future. In the coming months, we will focus our education and advocacy on three important growth-related issues: 1.) getting the transfer tax referendum on the Wake ballot 2.) protecting water quality and quantity, and 3.) improving transporation and transit options. We are building our volunteer teams in all 3 areas and would welcome your involvement. You don't need to be an expert to join in! To join a team, please contact Karen Rindge at krindge@earthlink.net. Also needed: help with graphics! Can you donate a few hours to help put growth information in graph form for educational materials?

Raleigh City Council Candidates' Forum Sept. 19 and WakeUP Annual Meeting Sept . 25

Raleigh Candidates' Forum Sept. 19 - Municipal Elections are October 9th, and some exciting races are gearing up for the Raleigh City Council. The newly elected council members will make decisions affecting Raleigh's growth for years to come. Please attend a candidates' forum for the Raleigh City Council on Wed., Sept. 19, 7-9 pm. Come ask the candidates about important growth issues concerning water, transit, parks, impact fees, housing and more. WakeUP is cosponsoring the forum with the Wake League of Women Voters. Sept. 19, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, corner Brooks and Clark Aves. WakeUP Annual Meeting Sept. 25 - Please come to WakeUP's second annual meeting for all members and supporters. Speakers will include growth experts talking about issues for Wake County and the Triangle. Candidates for Cary Town Council are invited for Q&A on Cary's growth issues. And WakeUP will outline our action plan for the next year. Please come! Sept. 25, 7-9 pm at Glenaire Retirement Center in Cary.

Drought, Water and Growth

Is there a connection between growth and water use? Raleigh hit all-time high water use this month. Mayor Meeker is recommending reviewing water use regulations for Raleigh and the other muncipalities receving water from Raleigh. We are experiencing the 3rd drought in recent years, while population growth continues for the region. Growth benefits us all, as long as it's planned for, and water needs must be planned for coming decades. Here's what the News&Observer editors had to say on water restrictions, click here. They propose Raleigh implementing recommendations of its own Water Conservation Task Force, such such as a tiered water rate structure to encourage conservation.

Yesterday, Mrs. Piner, Planning Director of the Wendell Planning Department, called me with more good news. Upon hearing of the recent fire in Rolesville, Mrs. Piner took immediate steps to protect the future citizens of Wendell. Apparently the fire in Rolesville caused the siding on the adjoining house to start to melt due to the heat and close proximately of the homes; within 10 feet of each other. Contacting Mercury Development, the developers of Wendell Falls, she questioned the impending use of vinyl, plastic or aluminum siding on houses to be built in that development. After further discussion, Mercury Development agreed that the minimum siding on any house to be built in Wendell Falls would have to be Hardie-Plank, which is non-combustible fiber-cement product.

Although the optimum conclusion to this situation would be to have the houses built on larger lots and further apart, at least someone had the presence of mind to step up to the plate and act. Thanks to the Wendell Planning Department for their pro-active stance in this situation. Good job, well done!

Mrs. Piner also told me that Pulte Homes, which was originally going to build all the homes in Wendell Falls, is now going to have other builders involved. This means we will get a more diverse selection of home styles and prices. Maybe Wendell Falls, which started out as an ugly duckling will turn into a beautiful swan we can all be proud of.

On another issue; in my estimation the Wendell Planning Dept. is seriously understaffed. There are three members of this unit handling a dozen current sub-divisions; a new hospital and a potential new airport. In addition they attend meeting after meeting, both during the day and in the evenings, as well as researching materials for the Planning Board and the Town Commissioners. When asked, Mrs. Piner declined to comment on whether or not her staffing was adequate, but just the obvious sheer volume of their workload says it all.

The Crimestoppers Board asked me to send out this e-mail.
They are looking for some additional Board members from the Wendell Community.
This is a link that explains crimestoppers:

http://www.townofwendell.com/Wendell/Default.aspx?tabid=90

Please note they are a nonprofit and not a governmental agency.
If anyone is interested they can contact Mike Anders (A&B Carpet in Zebulon) 269-4673.

Also, we have had some cars ransacked in the area of N. Pine.
The vehicles were not locked.
A radio was stolen out of one of them.
I encourage everyone to lock their vehicles and call us if they see or hear anything unusual.

Thanks,

Chief J.A. Privette

Wendell Police Department
P.O. Box 828
15 E. Fourth Street
Wendell, N.C. 27591
919-365-4444

http://www.townofwendell.com

japrivette@townofwendell.com

Last night at the Wendell Planning Board meeting, they voted on 5 POD’s located in Wendell Falls; all the votes were affirmative. During the meeting there were several interesting comments and I learned one surprising fact about the Wendell Falls: in general, the lot sizes in many of the POD’s will be much larger than they had to be as per the zoning. For example:

POD 4 – 126 homes were allowed to be built on 7800 sq. ft. lots.
Instead there will be 40 homes built on lots averaging 16,143 sq. ft.

POD 5 – 162 homes were allowed to be built on 7,800 Sq. Ft. lots.
Instead there will be 40 homes built on lots averaging 16,143 sq. ft.

POD 13 –149 homes were allowed to be built on 5000 sq. ft. lots.
Instead there will be 73 homes built on lots averaging 8848 sq. ft.

POD 15 – 205 homes were allowed to be built on 5000 sq. ft. lots.
Instead there will be 136 homes built on lots averaging 15,700 sq. ft.

While the voting was going on one of the Planning Board members made a comment about the lot sizes being so large. The head honcho from the Wendell Falls contingent, present at the meeting, said in essence, “Oh, we know the people of Wendell don’t want a lot of small houses jammed in on small lots”. Now, whether that was said just for effect or not, it made me feel like perhaps, just perhaps, someone was listening to the WCC.

At the beginning of the board meeting I handed out the draft copies of the proposed Subdivision Annexation Information Forms. These forms would greatly expand the input the Planning Board receives from the builders and developers prior to annexation approval of their subdivisions. As the members of the Board (six were present) started to read through them there were some smiles and a few nods. More importantly, during a later discussion one of the board members brought up the tax impact all these new houses were going to have on the town. It was only a fleeting reference but the eventual tax impact on the towns finances came into the discussion.

Another Board member questioned the Wendell Falls representatives’, in depth, about the closeness of some houses in one of the PODS and his concern about a fire spreading from house to house as happened in Rolesville. The answers supplied didn’t appear to satisfy the Board member, nor did I find them responsive or convincing. Unfortunately the matter just faded away with no real conclusion as to what the Wendell Falls developers were going to do about this potentially serious condition.

Overall the Wendell Falls project sounded a lot better than when I first heard about it. There are still some issues with the closeness of some of the houses in certain POD’s, but overall things seemed to be coming together.

So, even though the meeting was as exciting as sitting in the dentist’s chair, I left feeling upbeat for the first time in a long while.

There are several articles in this week's Eastern Wake News that will be of interest to residents in and around Wendell.
Check out the Front Page and Opinion Page articles at the EWN web site as well as the Backyard Buzz.

Quotes from the Wendell Budget
Fiscal Year 2007-2008

"In the preparation of each year’s budget, one of the duties is to review the services the town provides and compare the cost of these services with the availability of funds to pay for these services, After thoroughly reviewing the revenue forecast and anticipated expenditures, it has become apparent that unless the services which our citizens have come to expect are reduced, that a reduction in the tax rate would not be possible. The problem that we are encountering is the need to function as a medium size town prior to the availability of medium size funds. The recent annexation of large tracts of property exemplifies this problem. Although we are not yet receiving any tax revenues from these annexations, and do not anticipate receiving any revenues from these properties in the Fiscal Year 2007-2008, we are still legally required to provide the same level of services.” (Emphasis added)

“The General Fund of the towns budget receives its operating revenues from the following sources: • Property taxes accounts for 33.5% of the revenues. Intergovernmental or state-shared revenues provides for 39.8% of the revenues. User fees and miscellaneous revenues provides for the remaining 26.7% of the revenues. The majority of revenue growth will be in property taxes and sales taxes. The additional property tax revenues will be primarily from residential development.” (Emphasis added)

“While the proposed Fiscal Year 2007-2008 operating budget contains funding for many of the town’s needs, more needs exist than there are revenues in which to address those needs.” (Emphasis added)

As I said in the title you decide. Is the Wendell Community Coalition stirring up a hornets nest over nothing or perhaps, just perhaps, is there substance to what they are saying?

It’s your taxes, your home values, and your town! Come out and attend the Wendell Community Coalition’s meeting tomorrow night, Aug. 7 at 7:00 PM at the Wendell Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

Repost from The News & Observer Backyard Buzz Blog

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Not exactly what they asked for
Comment from: Neal Conoley [Visitor]

08/03/07 at 15:18
Johnny,
Thanks for continuing your excellent coverage of the growth issues in Wendell. As you know, all of the communities in Wake County, along with many others across the state, are experiencing similar growth pains. The recent discussions and action by the North Carolina General Assembly regarding the "home tax" is evidence that people on both sides of these issues are speaking up on the real costs of growth and development.

I am very interested in the discussions we are having in Wendell as we develop our Unified Development Ordinances. While there are specific components that I personally might not agree with, I wholeheartedly support the planning process and the wishes of the majority of citizens. I eagerly anticipate the expected outcome of these new ordinances: to make Wendell better. I also strongly support open and honest discussions and the many compromises that will ultimately lead to a more diverse and fiscally sound community. I am very encouraged by the work that has already been done and I look forward to a professional and well-planned blueprint to guide future growth.

This is an exciting and important time in the evolution of Wendell. We face many challenges and there will be plenty of opportunities to come together as a community. Our new development ordinances will chart Wendell's course for the next decade. My hope is that we can develop and implement a plan that will accommodate planned growth while maintaining the character and charm that has long been Wendell's trademark.

Thanks again for bringing these issues before the citizens.
Neal Conoley