Welcome to the new Governmental Affairs page of the Fayetteville Regional Association of REALTORS® web site.  On this page you will find the latest local government updates issued by Angie Hedgepeth, the Governmental Affairs Consultant we are sharing with the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville.  This page is updated frequently, so check back often.

Local Government Update

Governmental Affairs Summarized Reports - August 2008

City Council Work Session
August 4, 2008

Present: Full Council

What Happened: 
Item 4 on the agenda was an update from Greg Caison (Stormwater Director) on the proposed Stormwater Ordinance.  The following are important changes that were made to the ordinance. 

• Functional Maintenance – shall mean any action necessary to preserve stormwater management facilities in proper working condition, in order to serve the intended purposes set forth in this ordinance and to prevent structural failure of such facilities.  Functional maintenance shall not include actions taken solely for the purpose of enhancing the aesthetics aspects associated with stormwater management facilities.

• Permanent Storage Facilities are designed for a 1, 10 and 25-year storm.

• Permanent Storage Facilities may avoid the 25-year design storm requirement if a downstream flood analysis is performed and it is demonstrated to be unnecessary.  In determining downstream effects from stormwater management structures and the development, hydrologic-hydraulic engineering studies shall extend downstream to a point where the proposed development represents less than ten (10) percent of the total watershed. 

• All perennial and intermittent surface waters draining less than 50 acres shall have a minimum 30-foot vegetated buffer.  All perennial and intermittent surface waters draining greater than or equal to 50 acres and less than 300 acres shall have a 35-foot buffer. 

• The City of Fayetteville shall accept functional maintenance responsibility of structural stormwater management facilities that are installed pursuant to this Ordinance following a warranty period of one (1) year or from the date the facility ceases to function as an erosion control measure and starts to function as a stormwater management facility.

• In cases where the City of Fayetteville is accepting functional maintenance responsibility, such responsibility shall be transferred to the City of Fayetteville.  A homeowners’ association, property owners’ association or similar entity shall still be responsible for routine maintenance such as mowing the grass and picking up litter.

After the overview of the ordinance, there was a brief question and answer period.  The mayor then made a motion to move the ordinance on to the next city council meeting.  The motion passed with Bill Crisp voting in opposition.  The following is the dialogue that took place.

Greg Caison – “We had to make it a 25 year in exchange of the functional maintenance since there is a cost with it.  The 25-year will limit maintenance.  It’s a give and take.  This ordinance is a product of the last 10 months.  We haven’t always seen eye to eye and we have been somewhat divided.”

Councilman Bates – “Will there be a rush of permits to get under this?  Will we have 5 or 10 projects that we can’t handle?

Bobby Teague (City Engineer) – “We have to give developers a timeframe.  You probably will get a few.”

Councilman Crisp – “I want to know who changed the 10 year and the lesser buffer to the 25 year and 31 to 100 foot buffer?”

Greg Caison – “I’m not sure I understand that question.  That was back when the city would not keep maintenance.  The city has given a lot.  After looking at the Charlotte ordinance we interpreted the 25 year.”

Councilman Crisp – “I’m under the impression that the stakeholders, stormwater advisory board and the city agreed to the 10 year and the lesser 31 foot buffer.  If that was the agreement how did it change?”

Bobby Teague – “The less was agreed before.  We had to work something out to bring back to you.  They didn’t want to talk about it way back.”

Dale Inman (City Manager) – “ That was when the Homeowners Association took care of it.  This is to keep people from building in buffers.  We heard the message that they wanted the Charlotte ordinance.”

Councilman Crisp – “Why impose more stringent on 25 years rather than 10 years?  Why isn’t the stakeholders, SWAB, and staff on the same sheet of music?”

Mayor – “It’s not that unusual.  There is nothing wrong with a difference of opinion.  This decision makes everyone in the city pay for the BMP (Best Management Practice).  The staff recognized that and I commend them.”

What’s Next:
The ordinance may possibly be placed on the consent agenda at the August 11^th City Council Regular Meeting.

Other Business: 
The Big Box ordinance is moving forward unanimously to the city council for a final vote.

Fayetteville Planning Commission
August 5, 2008

Members Present: Jim Smith (Chair), Chris Dempster, Bill Owen, Mark Ledger, Tom Speight, Debra Patillo, Charles Astrike
Members Absent: Warren Copenhaver, Jim Arp
Others: Jimmy Teal – Planning Director

What Happened:
The City Council has requested the Planning Commission and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission to make a proposed ordinance change to open space requirements. The main change would require increasing land dedication from 500 square feet to 800 square feet per residential unit and using post-development land value rather than pre-development land value for payment in lieu of dedication of open space. Jimmy Teal provided sample calculations on the new change.  They are as follows.

Current Open Space Calculations
10 unit Residential Development
10 x 500 sq. ft. = 5,000 sq. ft.
or payment in lieu
5,000 x .25 (pre-development) = $1,250.00

Proposed Open Space Calculations
10 unit Residential Development
10 x 800 sq. ft. = 8,000 sq. ft.
or payment in lieu
8,000 x .63 (post-development) = $5,000.00

After Jimmy Teal’s presentation, the commission questioned the timing of the ordinance.  Bill Owen was concerned that the housing industry could not absorb the increase in cost.  He also said that if the city council insisted on making a change that maybe the process could be done in steps.  Teal also explained that around 20% of payment in lieu comes from condominiums, apartments and town homes.  Tom Speight suggested that there should be incentives for development and that the Phase II Stormwater requirements would burden the developer even more financially.  He said it was not fair to put a pond in a subdivision and not count it as open space.  Teal also said that our area is below state standards on our open space requirements and that making this change would put us on the state average.  After the question and answer period from the commission, the chair opened up the public comment period.  Below are just a few of the many comments that were made. Around sixteen people representing the building industry were present.

Ralph Huff (Developer) – “I’m perplexed as to the planning board on who keeps coming up with this stuff?  The people on the boards don’t even want this. Who is doing this?”

Jimmy Teal – “”City Council brought it up.  The Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Committee are not interested in money but open space.”

George Armstrong (Developer) – “The bottom line is we keep losing customers.  The national HBA provided a report that said if you increase your house by $1,000 dollars you lose 256,000 customers.  At the end of this ordinance you need to find out how to raise salaries in Cumberland County.  Don’t look at us when you raise your fees, look at new people coming to town.  Our industry puts a lot of money and taxes in this community.  On the new Stormwater Ordinance…nobody can even begin to put a dollar figure on that cost.”

Tommy Bradford (Developer) – “When you (city) have property, you don’t even maintain it.  The .63 cent is a fabrication.  We can’t survive.  This is GUTLESS TAXATION!  This is a tax that everyone is going to pay.  We don’t earn the salaries that Charlotte, Raleigh and Cary do. Our people make thousands of dollars less.”

Joe Gillis (Developer) – “I don’t speak as eloquently as the rest.  They have done a good job.  You don’t want me to start in on the city.  It’s a crime we spend 50% of our time on rules and regulations put in place.  The city is supposed to work for the people not stumbling blocks.  It’s time the city government work for the people.”

Greg West (Realtor) – “What you are considering aren’t worth the risk.”

Debra Patillo (Commission) – “In the spirit of cooperation.  Is there any square footage of open space other than the 800 that you can live with?”

Billy Hylton (HBA President) – “Reduce the fee and bump the land.  If it’s not about making money than make it about not making money.”

Linda Lee Allen (Real Estate Services) – “I’m with buyers all day long. I ask them why they chose Hoke or Harnett.  It’s not a big deal to them.  They are use to the commute.  If you can get one more bedroom, an extra garage, that’s more house for them.”

Billy Hylton (2008 President of the HBA) gave the following official statement from the Home Builders Association.

“My purpose here this evening is to present the facts that the proposed changes to the open space and storm water ordinances will have on new home construction in Fayetteville.  If adopted, you will eliminate all new home sales under $300,000 in Fayetteville and it’s MIA.

The following is an analysis using statistics from the Fayetteville Regional Association of Realtor’s multiple listing service.  This data is based on new home closings from January 1, 2008 through July 31, 2008. (a handout on the data was given to the commission)

These statistics tell us that with the new open space and stormwater ordinances the City of Fayetteville appears prepared to implement, new home construction and development would cease in the City of Fayetteville and it’s MIA.

This means that the City of Fayetteville is telling its nurses, schoolteachers, firemen, police officers, city and county employees and the vast majority of our military that they don’t want you to buy a new home in their jurisdiction.

The numbers from the MLS show us that you will be relocating 84% of your new home sales out of the city.  These drastic changes will mean no more middle class subdivisions in Fayetteville or it’s MIA.  We will continue to supply housing for the 84% of new home buyers that the city doesn’t want; it just will not be in the City of Fayetteville or it’s MIA.”

Result:
At the end of the public comment period, Bill Owen made a motion that the Planning Commission formally advises the City Council that now is not the time to accept the proposed ordinance changes due to economic impacts and risk to the community.  The motion PASSED unanimously.

What’s Next:
Jimmy Teal will notify the council on the Planning Commission’s decision.

Upcoming Agenda Items: 
Thursday, August 14^th – 1^st Ramsey Street Corridor Community Meeting
6:00 p.m. Reid Ross School – Ramsey St.
Tuesday, August 19^th – Review Revised Junk and Salvage Yard Ordinance
Tuesday, September 16^th – Public Hearing on Junk and Salvage Yard Ordinance

Fayetteville City Council Meeting
August 11, 2008

Absent: Val Applewhite

What Happened: 
The following consent items relating to the building/realty industries were approved unanimously. 

• The Public Works Commission during their meeting of July 23, 2008, approved the lease agreement with the Department of Veteran Affairs for lease of 1,512 rentable square feet of office space at the Robert C. Williams Business Center.

• Approved a resolution in support of NCLM Green Challenge Program.  The North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) is promoting conservation and sustainability through its Green Challenge program.  By accepting the Green Challenge, the City would be committing to achieve three of five objectives over the next three years.  Among the objectives is to adopt a sustainability plan, to conduct an energy audit, to create a water conservation education program and to conduct a baseline emissions inventory.

• Approved the Downtown Manager position.  On June 9, 2008 the City Council approved the 08-’09 budget, which included funding for the creation of a position to be responsible for the many unique issues and challenges that come with an expanding downtown environment. 

• Approved the Big Box Ordinance.  This ordinance regulates the design and development of big box retail stores.  After the public hearing on this ordinance, several changes were made to address stakeholder concerns.  The changes provided additional clarity and design options. 

Other Business:
No action was taken to consider a franchise agreement between the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County for the operation of a municipal solid waste construction and demolition waste facility at the existing Ann Street Landfill.  The agreement is currently being negotiated.

The council unanimously approved the annexation report for Gates Four.  The approval of the report will set in motion several actions including a public hearing on September 29^th.

What’s Next:
Thursday August 14^th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. – The first community meeting of the Ramsey Street Corridor study.  This will be a five-month project beginning this month.  Products from the project will include an updated land use plan and recommended zoning and development standards.  An ad hoc appointed Task Force has been approved to provide guidance during the project.

City of Fayetteville - Zoning Commission - City Council Chambers
August 12, 2008 - 7:00 P.M.

Commission Present: Jack Cox (Chair), John Crawley, Pete Paoni, Jeannie Nelson

What Happened: 
The following cases were voted on. 

• Consideration of an application by Cheryl and David Reed for a Special Use Permit to allow a daycare in an R6 Residential District for property located at 313 Johnson Street, containing .75 acres more or less and owned by Cheryl and David Reed. PASSED unanimously. 

• The rezoning from R10 Residential District to M2/CZ Industrial District/Conditional Zoning to allow an auto salvage business on property at 898 Santee Drive, containing 11.54 acres more or less and owned by Neal K. Bullard. 

• Karen Hilton (Assistant Planning Director) said that the city staff recommends denial based on the City Council’s goal to amortize over time and that the land use plan for this area is becoming more residential.  A motion was made by Crawley to approve the rezoning.  The motion PASSED unanimously. 

• Consideration of an application by Chris Pusey, 4 D Site Solutions, for a
  Special Use Permit to allow a mini-storage facility in a C1P Commercial District for property on Strickland Bridge Road near Summerwood Drive, containing 1.46 acres more or less and owned by LVST, LLC. PASSED unanimously.

• The rezoning from P2 Professional District to C1 Commercial District or to a more restrictive zoning district for property at 1009 Marlborough Road, containing .20 acres more or less and owned by Thomas Frangakis.  PASSED unanimously.

• The rezoning from P1 Professional District to P2 Professional District or to a
  more restrictive zoning district for property at 3401 Village Drive, containing .34 acres more or less and owned by VU Properties, LLC.  PASSED unanimously.

• The rezoning from M1 Industrial District to R6 Residential District or to a
  more restrictive zoning district for property at the end of Quality Drive, containing 66.33 acres more or less and owned by Broadwell Land Company.

This site was an old mill.  The mill burned down and now a vacant lot remains.  There is also vacant land adjacent to the site.  The city is looking for medium to high-density redevelopment in this area.  About 20 Massey Hill residents were present.  Seven signed up to speak in opposition.  Their main concern is the lack of drainage in the area.  Dohn Broadwell (Developer of property) said the 200-unit development would be a benefit to the neighborhood and would cause an increase in property values.  The planning staff recommended approval based on the consistency with redevelopment and down zoning. 

Crawley made a motion to deny – motion did not carry with no one to 2nd.  A motion was made by Paoni to change the rezoning to an R10 – motion did not carry with no one to 2^nd.  A motion was made by Crawley to defer the rezoning until January of ’09 – motion did not carry with no one to 2^nd.  A final motion was made by Cox to pass the rezoning.  Cox and Nelson voted for the motion but Paoni and Crawley voted in opposition.  Teal said that a deadlock on the vote meant instant DENIAL of the rezoning.  The rezoning will go before the City Council on September 22^nd as a Public Hearing.

• The rezoning from AR Agricultural Residential District to R6/CZ Residential
  District/Conditional Zoning to allow an apartment complex (232 units) on property on the western side of Rim Road, north of Olted Road, containing 21.96 acres more or less and owned by John and David Gillis.  PASSED unanimously.

• The rezoning from AR Agricultural Residential District to C1P Commercial
  District or to a more restrictive zoning district for property at 7761 Raeford Road, containing .09 acres more or less and owned by Malcolm, John, and Mary Gillis and Judy McKethan.  PASSED unanimously.

What’s Next: 
These cases will be on the City Council Agenda September 22^nd.

Ramsey Street Corridor - Task Force Meeting - City Hall
August 18, 2008 - 12:00 p.m.

Present: Karen Hilton (Assistant Planning Director), Scott Lagueux, LandDesign, Councilmen Keith Bates & Bill Crisp, Various residents and representatives along Ramsey Street.

What Happened: 
Scott Lagueux from LandDesign has been hired by the city to study and produce a plan for the Ramsey Street Corridor.  He explained that the city has requested a comprehensive plan be prepared in partnership with the community to help guide land use and quality growth.  They have also requested key corridor improvement efforts be identified to improve the overall character and quality of the corridor for the future.  There will be 5 tasks involved.

1. Inventory/Analysis – Completed in August

2. Plan Development – Completed late September early October

3. Implementation Strategy – Completed late October

4. Plan Preparation – Completed in November

5. Adoption – Plan will move forward to the City Council for approval in December or January.

Karen Hilton said she hopes to have a mixed-use organization for empty retail space along the corridor.  She also said that this plan would update the larger 2030 plan.  Board members will be asked to read the plan and development guidelines.  The plan will be turned into regulations and once the plan is approved it can be processed into law.

What’s Next:
Community Meetings & Public Drop In/Review
September 2^nd               3:00-7:00               North Regional Library
September 4^th                2:00-4:00               North Regional Library
September 4th              6:00-8:00              College Lakes Rec Center Community Meeting on Draft Ramsey Street Corridor Plan
October 30^th                   6:00-8:00              TBA 

Contact Information: 
For comments or questions contact:
Karen Hilton, Fayetteville City Planning Department
910-433-1612
910-433-1437
khilton@ci.fay.nc.us

Scott Lagueux, LandDesign
704-333-0325 ext. 2286
slagueux@landdesign.com

BRAC Regional Task Force - Executive Committee Meeting
August 21, 2008 - 3:00 Spring Lake Resource Center

Present: Executive Committee; Paul Dordal – BRAC Executive Director; Don Belk – BRAC Regional Planner; Renee Lane – Outreach Coordinator

What Happened: 
Paul Dordal gave his Executive Director’s Report.  The Economic Adjustment Committee Meeting will be held September 9, 2008 the location and time will be announced. The Garrison, BRAC and School Superintendents will be in attendance.  Superintendents Bill Harrison (Cumberland) and Dan Honeycutt (Harnett) will give a briefing on their school systems to the EAC.  As of yesterday, total school growth in Harnett County is at 800 with 419 students who have registered military.  Dordal said he is still waiting on reports from Cumberland County.  Mayor Chavonne asked if the private school sector had been analyzed.  The answer was that less than 13% percent of military students are attending private schools. An action was made and passed to approve $7500 dollars for the preparation for the upcoming EAC visit.

Don Belk gave his update on the Regional Growth Plan.  Belk said that the North Carolina Agriculture Development and Farm Land Preservation Trust Fund has been given a $400,000 dollar grant for regional working land protection.  The contract documentation is currently in progress.  A county team and stakeholders meeting will be held in late September or early October.  Each county will be given $30,000 for their working land protection plan.  Belk said the purpose of the grant is to enhance economic development for farm lands.  He also spoke on the Emerald Place Partnership that will soon take place in Hoke County.  Recently a meeting was held between BRAC, Tom White (Economic Developer at N.C. State University) and various administrators from the College of Design for proposed SIPS Technology (Structural Insulated Panel System) being constructed into affordable housing.  A series of meetings have been held in Hoke County for discussion on developing a track of land one mile from downtown Raeford.  Belk went on to say that this land was a “prime piece of real estate.”  He said N.C. State has obtained a service grant, which will be used to develop 40-50 affordable houses that will use SIPS technology.  The houses will then be marketed to soldiers.  When asked if future meetings between BRAC and N.C. State were open to the public, Belk said, “he would have to check.”  An article from the National Association of Home Builders on SIP technology has been provided for you below or go to www.nahb.com for further information.

Renee Lane gave her update on future marketing opportunities for BRAC and the community.  At the upcoming trade show September 10 & 11 in Atlanta Georgia, BRAC RTF would like to provide soldiers attending the fair to a “Welcome to North Carolina” barbeque dinner.  The dinner would feed around 800 people.  Currently, Renee is accepting bids from North Carolina barbeque restaurants. The budget of the dinner will be $10,000 dollars. Eight thousand dollars have been raised through sponsorships.  Henry Spell (Fayetteville Regional Association of Realtors 2008 President) spoke to say that possibly the FRA and the HBA may be able to provide the final sponsorships.  Since marketing collateral will be limited, Lane said that there would be a large banner with a list of the sponsors at the barbeque dinner.

What’s Next:
Full Board Meeting Thursday, August 28 @10:00 a.m.

NAHB Article:

March 24, 2008 - A new BASF study shows that residential builders can reduce their framing labor needs by as much as 55% by using structural insulated panels (SIPs) instead of conventional "stick-building" methods.

The study was conducted on a two-story, three bedroom, Cape-style home in Tilton, N.H. Engineers from the RS Means unit of Reed Construction Data observed the construction of the home and compared the workers' productivity with a benchmark home built using 2x6 construction and fiberglass batt insulation.

The SIP installation crew spent 130 fewer hours framing the exterior walls and roof of the home by eliminating many time-consuming steps from the construction process.

Used for walls, roofs, floors and foundations, a structural insulated panel (SIP) sandwiches a rigid foam insulating core between two structural skins usually made of wood. The seamless, closed-cell rigid foam core reduces air leakage and thermal bridging through the panels by providing a continuous span of insulation. In a large, single component, SIPs perform structural, insulating and air sealing functions, and they can be installed quickly, saving builders time and money.

The Tilton home used energy-efficient SIPs for all its exterior walls, the roof and two window dormers. Complex and hard-to-insulate dormers are easily pre-assembled using SIPs and hoisted into place with a crane. Installation of the SIPs dormers was found to be 25% faster than on the benchmark home.

By using precut channels, or "chases" in the foam core of the panels, electricians were able to wire the Tilton home in 11% fewer hours than its 2x6-framed counterpart, according to the study.

Building with SIPs also reduces waste, since they arrive at the job site prefabricated and require less measuring, cutting and framing. The study noted a 93% material utilization rate that sharply reduces the cost of job-site debris disposal.

SIPs create a well-insulated and airtight building envelope and SIP-built homes repeatedly demonstrate annual energy savings of 50% to 60% when combined with other energy-saving techniques. For example, SIP test homes monitored by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show heating and cooling costs as low as 32 cents per day. Airtight construction also provides better indoor air quality for the home's occupants.

Due to the airtight qualities of SIP construction, the EPA waived its blower door test requirements for any SIP homes qualifying for the Energy Star program, thereby reducing the cost of an Energy Star home inspection. Coupled with federal and state tax incentives available for energy-efficient home construction, SIPs offer builders another money saving-option.

BASF, which commissioned the study, supplies polyurethane and expandable polystyrene insulation, formaldehyde-free binders for oriented strand board skins, and low-VOC adhesives and sealants used to manufacture SIPs.

For more information about structural insulated panels, download the BASF brochure "Everything You Need to Know About SIPS."

To find contractors by area, click here.

To find out more about how BASF contributes to more sustainable construction, click here and click here.

Headquartered in Florham Park, N.J., BASF Corporation is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry - The Leading Suppliers of NAHB.

Fayetteville City Council - Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008

Present: Full Council

What Happened: 
The following consent items as they pertain to the building and realty industry were approved. 

• Approved the rezoning from R10 residential district to C3 commercial district for property located at 660 South Reilly Road.  The property is .48 acres and is owned by Boomerang Holdings.

• Approved the rezoning from PND Planned Neighborhood Development to C1P commercial district for property located at 402 McArthur Road.  The property is .67 acres and is owned by Dr. Frank Stout. The owner owns a larger parcel next to this parcel that is zoned C1P and he wished to zone the smaller parcel to C1P. Councilman Bates voted in opposition.

• The following properties are found to contribute to blight in the neighborhood.  The City will demolish the following properties and place a lien against the property for the cost of the action.

416 Alfalfa Street
            112 Chase Street
            409 Gillespie Street
            Sapona Road (Mobile Home Park, 12 trailers)
            736 Topeka Street
            1112 Turnpike Drive

The following public hearings were voted on. 

• Consider an application by C. Patrick Moore III for a special use permit for a mini-storage facility in a C1P commercial district for property located at 3650 Ramsey Street.  The applicant wishes to use the building that once was an old Kroger grocery store at the corner of Ramsey Street and Law Road. PASSED unanimously.

• Consider an amendment to the Fayetteville Code of Ordinances to add regulations for the use, location and duration of temporary storage containers in residential zoning districts. The ordinance PASSED with Councilman Applewhite, Haire and Massey voting in opposition.

• Consider an amendment to the Fayetteville Code of Ordinances to regulate the material and color of fences.  The ordinance PASSED unanimously.

• Consider an amendment to the Fayetteville Code of Ordinances requiring an outdoor litter receptacle for any business operating a grocery store, a convenience store or an establishment selling food or beverages for consumption off the premises.  The ordinance PASSED with Applewhite, Evans and Haire voting in opposition. 

Other Business: 

• Consider a franchise agreement between the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County for the operation of a construction and demolition waste facility at the existing Ann Street Landfill.  PASSED, with Haire voting in opposition.

• Consider adoption of the Stormwater Control Ordinance.  The ordinance is intended to establish minimum requirements and procedures for new development to control the adverse effects o increased stormwater quantity and runoff quality as discussed in the Council Work Session on August 4, 2008. Greg Caison (City Stormwater Director) presented Council with the latest draft ordinance.   A motion was made by Applewhite to deny adoption and to allow staff, stakeholders group and the Stormwater Advisory Board to come together for discussion.  The next draft will be brought back to council in 90 days.  The motion PASSED unanimously.  The following is some of the dialogue that took place.

Councilman Meredith – “You had stated that you have had numerous meetings on the ordinance.  You couldn’t get together on the 10% downstream or the 25-year storm.  You have reviewed the ordinance with Stormwater Advisory Board and the stakeholders group?”

Caison – “We have met since the public hearing.  The concern is that as a result of us including the functional maintenance we also included the other items you mentioned.  We asked for the opportunity to talk about it but the stakeholders did not want to discuss that.”

Councilman Crisp – “I don’t see any minutes of that meeting in my packet.  I’ve had emails and telephone calls and there is divisiveness.  Those quadrants are not in agreement. Were those minutes excluded intentionally? 

Caison – “There available and they were not excluded deliberately.  I don’t see the groups divisive against staff.”

Councilman Evans – “With this ordinance, would it change the cost of a starter home and if so how much more would it change?”

Caison – “I can’t answer that specifically.  I can see where you are putting additional
      requirements on the developer.  There will be increased cost and suspect they will pass

on the majority of those cost.”

Councilwoman Applewhite – “I think there is still opportunity for discussion.”

Councilman Bates – “You know I’m one of the biggest pushers on stormwater management control but I don’t get a warm and fuzzy on this either.”

Sidebar:
Once the meeting was adjourned, a Home Builder Association member approached Councilman D.J. Haire and thanked him for supporting the denial of the Stormwater Ordinance.

D.J. responded, “Well, we all know that the builders run the City Council…Just kidding…I hope no one was around to hear me say that.”

What’s Next:
City Council Work Session – Tuesday, September 2^nd @ 5:00 p.m.  Discussion of open space requirements for developers will be on the agenda.

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