August 2026

Village of Forest Hills

08-04 Public Hearing: Land Use Map Update-Summary

Date: August 4, 2026, at 6:50 pm

Location: Village Assembly Hall

 

Participants: Mayor Ron Mau, Councilmember Nilofer Couture, Councilmember Larry Ingersoll, Councilmember Daniel Shields, Clerk Stephanie Gibson, Residents Marianne Barker, Jack Brown, Jayne Buchanan, and Ron Yount.

Public Hearing: Land Use Map Update

- A public hearing was held to discuss updating the village's future land use map.

- The goal is to ensure the land use map is consistent with the current zoning document.

- The existing land use map shows a "mixed-use" area (purple), which does not match the R1 (single-family residential) zoning of that area.

Proposed Change and History

- The proposal is to remove the "mixed-use" designation from the land use map, changing the area to R1 (single-family residential).

- This change aligns with past decisions by the council and planning board in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, which were never finalized. However, these past actions demonstrate VFH’s intent.

- The planning board reviewed and approved this change again on June 16th.

- This action is not a change in zoning, but a correction to the advisory land use map for consistency.

Procedural and Legal Context

- The village's attorney has reviewed the proposed change and found no issues.

- As this is not a zoning change, public notification was made by publishing in the Sylva Herald on July 16th and 23rd, meeting legal requirements.

- The zoning for the area is single-family residential (R1) with half-acre lots if water and sewer are installed, or one-acre lots without.

- No objections to proposed change when presented to the public. Resident Marianne Barker asked what the previous changes were.  Mayor Mau responded that the change was to R-1, updating it and ensuring the zoning is consistent.

Mayor Mau noted that Brown Haven Homes is applying for a zoning change.

Conclusion of Hearing

- At 7:05 pm, Councilmember Shields made a motion to adjourn the public hearing; Councilmember Ingersoll seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Village of Forest Hills Work Session Minutes

August 04, 2026

6:50 PM

Participants: Mayor Mau, Councilmember Ingersoll, Councilmember Couture, Councilmember Shields, Clerk Stephanie Gibson, Residents Jack Brown, Jayne Buchanan, Marianne Barker, and Ron Yount.

1.      Call to order: Mayor Mau called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm

2.      Planning Consultant and Land Use Plan Discussion: 

a.     Contract and Grant: The Village has a grant to update the land use map, potentially adding conservation developments that cluster smaller lots while placing up to roughly 70% of acreage under conservation easement (trails, gardens, utility easements).  Contract with planning consultants is still pending.  Stephanie has completed required grant questionnaires; follow-up with the granting agency is underway.  Matching funds/time may be needed; volunteers may be sought.  Cost remains undetermined until the contract is received.

b.     Clerk – update:  Stephanie noted that the SAM registration had expired but is in the process of renewal; she is waiting to hear back.

3.      Assembly Hall Usage: Mayor Mau and Council will follow up with the discussion after consulting with the Village Attorney and liability.

4.      Tables and Chairs – Identification: Mayor Mau noted that the chairs and tables the Village has need to have a sticker and/or other label or marking on them to identify them as Village property.

5.      CIP Roads: Mayor Mau noted that he has not had a response from the Professor at WCU about a potential road condition survey, identifying Powell Roads, by students.

6.      Events Committee: 

a.     Process: Councilmember Ingersoll said that he, his wife, and a couple of other residents mentioned the possibility of having an events committee to assist with planning future Village events.

b.     Responsibilities: Members would determine responsibilities and divide duties among the group.  Councilmember Ingersoll said that he would create a list of duties and have that in order by October. 

7.       ROW Trees:  Council discussed that the overgrowth from trees is bad in some areas of the Village and needs to be checked to see what the best solution is to clear those areas. Councilmember Ingersoll said that a contractor has been identified to trim roadside brush and overhead branches up to 10’ in height along non-state-maintained private roads.  The estimated timeframe is the third week in August; the job would take two days, and the cost is approximately $3000 with cleanup included. 

8.      Sweep Rite Contract: Council discussed the contract for road clearing and maintenance by Sweep Rite and discussed having a new contract created and signed and paying the total in 12 monthly payments to avoid invoice delays.    Consensus was to create a contract and pay in 12 monthly payments of $1000.

9.      Planning Board vacancy: reminder: Mayor Mau noted that the Council will need to keep any residents in mind that may be willing to join the Planning Board since Clark Corwin has moved and will not be continuing indefinitely. Also, when Jack Brown’s term ends, we will need a replacement for the ETJ area.

10.Board member vacancy: Mayor Mau reminded Council that when Amy Bollinger moves, a replacement for the Council will be needed.

11.Website update – live:  Mayor Mau shared that the website is working and will continue to be updated. He reminded Council member Couture to try and get updated photos from residents of the village and its wildlife.

12.Items to keep on the radar and get completed: 

Fund Balance Policy: no update; long-range need to do a formal review.

Aggressive animal ordinance: Councilmember Ingersoll will complete the wording for the ordinance and present it to the Council.

Revised Rules and Procedures: Ron will follow up with Attorney Coward and review the draft copy.

Water Stakeholder Update: Western-related water group will reconvene when students return and then reach out.

13.Calendar:  What should the Village track on an internal calendar? Please let Stephanie know.

14.Adjourn: Councilmember Shields made a motion to adjourn at 7:20 pm.

 

Village of Forest Hills Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, August 04, 2026 – 7:20 pm

Forest Hills Assembly Hall, Cullowhee, NC

 

The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Ron Mau

Councilmember Daniel Shields

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

Councilmember Larry Ingersoll

The following non-Council members were Absent:

Councilmember Amy Bollinger

The following non-Council members were Present:

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

Residents: Marianne Barker, Jack Brown, Jayne Buchanan, and Ron Yount.

 

1.    Call to order: At 7:20 pm, Mayor Mau called the meeting to order. 

2.  Announcements:  Reminder – Please silence cell phones for the meeting. 

3.    Approval of Agenda: The agenda was amended to add two new business items: Changes to the Sweep Rite contract and Events Committee.  Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to approve the agenda as amended; Councilmember Shields seconded the motion, unanimously approved.  

4.    Approval of Meeting Minutes for July 07, 2026, Regular Council Meeting: (All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for July 07, 2026. Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

5.    Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for June and July 2026: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) The June and July financial reports for 2026 were reviewed at the August meeting.

o   June Balances:

o   North Carolina class account: $216,112.43

o   United Community Business checking account: $74,254.18

o   Total assets: $290, 366.61

o   Revenues: $5,510.45

o   Expenditures: $8,602.56

o   July Balances:

o   North Carolina Class account: $216,792.81

o   United Community Business Checking account: $71,059.07

o   Total assets: $287,851.88

o   Revenues: $3,459.27

o   Expenditures: $5,974.00

The first two Powell Bill reports for NCDOT were completed; the final report is due in December.  The Village map was updated by Engineer Victor Lofquist and posted on the website.

Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to approve the financial reports for June and July.  Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

6.    Administrative Reports

Mayor’s Report:

• Mayor Mau shared that he attended the Southwestern Commission annual dinner/meeting on Monday, July 27.
• A draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sheriff’s Department is in progress. The Sheriff indicated their service pay rate may need to be significantly increased, potentially doubling the current rate of $25/hr.
• A Jackson County housing needs survey was highlighted for community participation.

Safety Report:

·        There were 31 calls to 911, including medical issues, false alarms, a missing person, and an accident.

·        A lack of patrol car presence in the village was noted, likely due to staffing shortages. 

     Roads and Ordinance Update:

·        DOT removed two large trees from a public road and is behind on trimming due to rain and contractor shortages.

·        DOT is being urged to restripe the village entrance.

·        Jones Paving was contacted again for a quote on repairing road shoulders.

·        The new manager of The Sky at Cullowhee will address garbage issues and have an abandoned jeep towed. 

Social Committee:

The committee’s formation is in progress, with three confirmed members and one consideration.  A list of duties is needed.

Assembly Hall Cleaning:

Discussion on hiring someone to clean the assembly hall, possibly quarterly.  Stephanie will gather more information from the person who cleaned previously and update at the next meeting.

     Future Land Use Map Update (Resolution)

·        A resolution to amend the Future Land Use Map was presented.

Key changes:

·        Redesignates the area along North and South Country Club Drive from “Mixed Use” to “R-1” (low-density single-family residential).

·        Removes the “Mixed-Use” designation entirely from the map.

·        The map will now only reflect the retained zoning districts: R-1, R-1A, R-2, and M-1.

Clarifications:

·        This resolution amends the advisory land use map only and does not change any property’s zoning or development rights.

·        The change aligns the advisory plan with the village’s established character and residents’ preferences.

The Planning Board reviewed and recommended adoption on June 16, 2026.

Councilmember Shields made a motion to adopt the resolution; Councilmember Ingersoll seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

Right-of-Way Trees

Authorization to proceed with trimming trees on Powell Bill roads was discussed.  Councilmember Shields made a motion to authorize Councilmember Ingersoll to finalize the contract and pay the $3,000, pending receipt of a written estimate.  Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

Sweep Right Contract

The street clearing services contract was discussed.

Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to approve the new contract language, with the payment schedule (monthly vs. quarterly); Councilmember Shields seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

The motion was amended to include obtaining an updated scope of services from the contractor clarifying included work versus special projects.

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Shields at 7:50 pm.