Wendell News Outlet

Board of Commissioners Friday Update

December 5, 2008

ITEM 1. JOINT STUDY COMMISSION ON ANNEXATION
The Joint Senate and House Study Commission on Municipal Annexation held its first meeting on Thursday, December 4th. Mayor Broadwell, Mayor Pro Tem Connolly and Town Manager David Bone attended, along with leaders from other municipalities. A large anti-annexation group was also in attendance. There was no public input at the meeting. The charge of the commission was reviewed, and David Lawrence (of the UNC School of Government) reviewed the annexation statutes. The next meeting of the commission will be on December 17 at 9:30 a.m. (location TBA).

ITEM 2. STATES PRESS FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE
An article in the News & Observer detailed requests from state leaders across the country for an economic stimulus package. NC House Speaker Joe Hackney was part of the effort at a legislators’ conference asking for help. At least 43 states are facing deficits that could total more than $140 billion over the next two years, said Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
One of their top priorities is funding for an estimated $136 billion in infrastructure projects - mostly roads, bridges and sewers - that states have indicated are "ready to go" or are no more than a few months from being started. "States can move quickly to put this money on the ground," Hackney said. "The infrastructure projects are important because it's such a win-win." A billion dollars in infrastructure investment translates into roughly 40,000 new jobs, economists say. For more information, click here to read the entire News & Observer article online.
The Wendell town staff has already had preliminary discussions with the City of Raleigh and the town’s engineers about the idea of pursuing stimulus package money, once a stimulus package is approved and the criteria is developed. Economic stimulus money could help with water and sewer merger projects and other capital needs. The town staff will stay on top of this issue as it develops.

ITEM 3. SIGN OF THE TIMES: LOAN FOR HIGH-END GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY CALLED-IN
Developers of the luxury Hasentree golf course community in Wake Forest spared little expense when building the 934-acre gated community on N.C. 98. Now, those expenses are catching up.
According to an article in the Triangle Business Journal (click here to read that article) Hasentree’s banking partner, SunTrust Banks, has called its loan on the unsold lots at Hasentree.
The developers were caught in a credit crunch and had stopped payments on the loan. SunTrust Banks now holds the deed for the entire community, including the golf course, unsold lots and amenity buildings – everything except the homes that already have been sold. SunTrust is keeping the Hasentree managers on site.
Hasentree has so far sold 168 lots and $110 million worth of real estate. Hasentree’s new home marketing group, Fonville Morisey & Barefoot, is expected to continue running the sales center.

ITEM 4. RALEIGH MAYOR CHARLES MEEKER IS CRITICAL OF DENSITY ALLOWANCE IN REVISED LITTLE RIVER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
On November 29th, the News & Observer printed an article reporting that Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker recently made some critical comments about the density allowance recently agreed upon by the Raleigh City Council in the Little River watershed. The Raleigh City Council recently endorsed limiting residential development to one house per two acres in the watershed "critical area" surrounding the planned Little River reservoir.
As you are aware, this past summer, the Wake County commissioners rejected recommendations to require at least three acres for each new house within about a half-mile of the lake. The proposal was aimed at reducing the risk of polluting the future water source.
Meeker said he voted for the rules because they are better than nothing. But he thinks they won't be enough to satisfy federal and state regulators who will decide whether Raleigh can build the 1,100-acre reservoir to help slake fast-growing Wake's thirst.
The Little River Resevoir is the last water-supply reservoir planned for Wake County. The lake would provide 17 million gallons of drinking water a day for Raleigh and towns of northeast Wake.
The city estimates it will need the additional water by 2020, so it must begin building the lake by 2017. The permitting process takes years and requires the Army Corps of Engineers and several state agencies to sign off.
Raleigh and Wake County leaders disagree about how strict the development rules for the 6,237-acre Little River watershed must be to get regulatory approval.
For more information, click here to read the entire News & Observer article online.

ITEM 5. NEW RALEIGH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The City of Raleigh is in the midst of revamping its Comprehensive Plan. The draft released Monday, December 1st calls for Raleigh to funnel 60 percent of its growth over the next two decades -- about 72,000 residential units -- to downtown, seven urban centers and a number of major road corridors.
The plan's goal is to encourage urban living and create more transit options. Most American cities are moving in that direction. But moving so aggressively would be a major shift for Raleigh, a place where urban sprawl is rampant and reliance on the automobile is nearly total.
The current comprehensive plan, last updated in 1989, is widely considered to be overly complex, difficult to interpret and a relic of a time when concerns over growth were minimal. The city's population has increased more than 70 percent to about 368,000 since the last update, and more than 200,000 new residents are expected to arrive by 2030. Raleigh has annexed 56 square miles since 1989, and it now encompasses more than 140 square miles.
For more information about the draft plan, click here for the News & Observer story or click here for Raleigh's updated Comprehensive Plan.

ITEM 6. OTHER:
A. Copies of the Economic Development RFQ were sent-out this week. An advertisement about this RFQ is scheduled to be in the paper next week. The submissions are due January 8th.
B. The replacement Police Department vehicle (for the one wrecked last spring) was finally delivered today. The vehicle was ordered in April.
C. The inaugural Wendell Candlelight Christmas Tour is being held on Saturday, December 13th from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. The tour is being sponsored by the Wendell Historical Society with the assistance of the Wendell Chamber of Commerce. Live music and refreshments will be provided at various locations. Maps will be provided with directions to each home. Tickets are available at Wits End and the Chamber office.
D. Time Warner Cable has tentatively scheduled the Wendell Community Center on Thursday, January 15th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as a time to meet with downtown merchants to discuss the opportunity of hooking onto a fiber optic communications system when the lines to serve the town buildings are installed.
E. The Chamber’s "Charms of Wendell" art exhibition will be displayed in the Wendell Woman's Club building on Cypress Street from Friday, January 23 - Sunday, January 25, 2009. This exhibit will showcase original fine art pieces that depict our people, landscapes, town views, unique buildings in Wendell.
F. As part of its ongoing Local Elected Leaders Academy, the NC School of Government will offer a one-day training session entitled, “Good Growth: Chance or Choice”, on February 24, 2009 in Raleigh. Click here for more information on this workshop. Commissioner Baynes is already registered for this workshop.

ITEM 7. UPCOMING EVENTS:

DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION

12/08 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

12/12 10:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Town of Wendell / Wendell Falls / Universal Chevrolet Christmas Party @ Wendell Community Center

12/13 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wendell Historical Society Candlelight Tour @ Historical Homes

12/15 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

12/17 9:30 a.m. Joint Legislative Study Commission on Municipal Annexation @ TBA

12/22 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

12/24 – 12/26 Christmas holiday (town offices closed)

01/01 (Thursday) New Year’s Day (town offices closed)

01/05 6:00 p.m. UDO Meeting @ Town Hall

01/07 7:00 a.m. Employee Appreciation / Safety Breakfast @ Wendell Community Center

01/12 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

01/19 (Monday) Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (town offices closed)

01/20 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

01/23 – 01/25 Wendell C of C “Charms of Wendell” Art Exhibit @ Wendell Women’s Club

01/26 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall