The Council meeting for the Village of Forest Hills was held at the Jackson County Recreation Center at 6:00pm on September 01, 2015.   The Work session started at 6:00pm. 

The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Kolleen Begley

Councilmember Ron Mau

Councilmember Carl Hooper

Councilmember Dan Perlmutter

Councilmember Clark Corwin

The following Non-Council members were present:

Stephanie Gibson, Town Clerk

Sarah Thompson, Planning Director for the Southwestern Commission

Tanner Hall, Sylva Herald

Work Session

1. Call to order:  The work session was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Kolleen Begley.

Sarah Thompson, the Director of Planning for the Southwestern Commission discussed grant writing and administration, she noted that she has a GIS Mapper on staff.

            Sarah met with Mayor Begley and Councilman Corwin to discuss the Village goals and future plans.  She reviewed the goals and what steps are being taken.

            1)  The next step following the charrette report (adopted as Guiding Land Use Plan) and Gerald Green’s recommendations is to revise the Land use Map.  Sarah asked the council if the Village is open to additional housing, green space, and commercial on 107, and mixed use.  She suggested minor changes to the Land Use Map, she noted that her office could do a draft of a new map, just update it and make basic changes.

            2)  Engaging the Planning Board – she noted that the Southwestern Commission will

            have training in the fall for small towns to aid in tools needed to accomplish goals.

            3)  Adopting Planned Community Standards and zoning ordinance amendments – Sarah reviewed Gerald Green’s recommendations and noted the recommendations for ordinance changes are straight forward and will determine future development and land use requirements.  She noted that once a community standard is adopted and zoning changes are made, the Village is ready to work with a developer if they choose to.  Sarah suggested speaking with Kristy Carter about costs and whether or not a grant application is worthwhile.

Council discussed with Sarah and agreed that a conservative timeline would be to complete steps and be ready to discuss proposed ideas in January.

Sarah said that she doesn’t feel that the Village needs to have a formal pedestrian plan, the Jackson Co. CTP schedule is a good area for a pedestrian plan and the Village can add what they would like to have.

COUNCIL MINUTES

    2.  Call to order:  The Council meeting was called to order at 7:20 pm by Mayor Kolleen Begley.

    3.  Announcements:  

a)  February 1, 2016 is the tentative date scheduled for the next joint county-towns meeting. 

b)  RPO/SW Commission meeting September 28. 

4. Approval of Agenda:  Councilman Perlmutter made a motion to approve the agenda; Councilman Hooper seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

5. Approval of Meeting Minutes from August 04, 2015 Council Meeting and August 10, 2015 continued meeting: a motion to approve the minutes from the August 04, meeting and the August 10, 2015 continued meeting as amended was made by Councilman Hooper, seconded by Councilman Corwin, unanimously approved.  

6. Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of August, 2015   Stephanie provided copies of the Financial Report for August.  In August, there were expenses of $555.97 for Administrative fees, reimbursement for Certified mail, and Entrance operating fees.  Revenues for August were $2,240.17 from Sales Tax, Ad Valorem Taxes, Ordinance Violation fee and Interest earned.  The ending balances in the Money Market, Checking, and Powell accounts totaled $198,384.18. 

Councilman Hooper made a motion to accept the financial report; Councilman Corwin seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

7. Public Comment:  None 

8. Reports 

Mayor’s Report:  Mayor Begley said that there was nothing new to report.  She noted that there was an ordinance violation fee received and that she printed some no parking flyers for Ken Dickert per his request. 

Planning Board:  Todd sent revisions for the rules of procedure and said the Planning Board will vote on them at the next meeting.  Councilman Corwin asked Mayor Begley what he should bring up at the next meeting; she asked the council what they would like for the Planning Board to work on.  Councilman Mau said to discuss trainings at Southwestern Commission, she said that she and Councilman Corwin will send emails after they speak with Sarah to discuss the meeting and encourage training. Mayor Begley asked the board to review the documents. 

Safety:  Councilman Hooper said that were several noise complaints at Summit and there was one citation for marijuana and drug paraphernalia.  Also, there was a warning issued for a stop sign violation. 

Village Roads & RPO Board:  Councilman Perlmutter gave a handout to the Council listing the D.O.T. prioritization list provided at the meeting to eliminate some of the projects.  He noted that the Village project was not eliminated. Councilman Perlmutter said that he feels it would be a good idea for the Village to do a presentation at the next meeting, have it ready and memorized. 

The Council further defined their reasons for requesting the sidewalk on North Country Club to the NCDOT through the RPO Board as: 1) The board is working toward making Forest Hills a more pedestrian-friendly, walkable community  2) A future pedestrian plan included in the Guiding Land Use Plan shows a sidewalk running along North Country Club Drive 3) A sidewalk on North Country Club Drive will connect Forest hills to WCU and the Ramsey Center which would result in less cars on the road and less parking spots used at WCU during classes and events 4) A sidewalk will increase the safety factor of residents and visitors walking on North Country club Drive   5) Creates potential to connect to a broader network of area walking paths and trails within Forest Hills as well as the greater Cullowhee area  6) Health benefits of walking and increased exercise. 

Jackson County CTP:  Councilman Mau said at the last meeting, they went through the survey and that it should be posted online this week, he said that he will send the link and Mayor Begley will add it on the Village website.  

9. Unfinished Business: 

• Planned Community Standards (document from Gerald Green):  Councilman Corwin & Mayor Begley (discussed scheduling a future public hearing on the planned community standards provision to zoning ordinances, the board was to send any questions or revisions to Councilman Corwin or Mayor Begley to submit to Gerald Green for him to complete).
• Zoning Ordinance Review (document from Gerald Green): Council discussed moving this item to a future agenda after the session being given in the fall by the Southwestern Commission (discussed by Sarah Thompson during the Work Session.)

SUMMARIZED REMAINING ITEMS TO ADDRESS:

1. Change lot size requirements reducing 2-acre minimum lot size requirement to:

Minimum ½ acre if on public water/sewer

Minimum 1 acre if on well/septic

Lot dimensions are documented appropriately and setbacks are appropriate but should be re-worded    (pg.4) to be clearer and avoid inconsistencies.

   2.  Revise the standards for manufactured homes to add a minimum width in addition to the 1,420 sq. sizes.

   3.  Work with owners of University Inn to incorporate development standards:  Mayor Begley to invite them to (October or November?) work session and ask them to meet with her and Councilman Corwin before then.

 10.  New Business 

• Kristy Carter:  Councilman Corwin said he will email Kristy Carter and let her know that the Village will contact her in November or December.
• Paving Repair Cave Springs Road:  Councilman Hooper gave a proposal from Parker Paving to repair and repave a section of Cave Springs Road for $5,625.00 Mayor Begley asked about a repair rather than paving, Councilman Hooper said that Parker Paving said that gravel is needed before they could put asphalt.  Council questioned having to repair both sections of the road.  Councilman Hooper recommended fixing the one side and leaving the other as it is that was previously graveled. 

Councilman Perlmutter said that he will speak with the Teagues and Meigs and ask what the specific road issues are.  He noted that he will call Victor Lofquist to discuss. 

Councilman Mau asked about roads that go to the apartments, whether or not they are the Villages and Mayor Begley replied that they are ETJ areas.

• Teapot Ridge:  Mayor Begley noted that she ordered the new road name sign for Teapot Ridge and will have it installed.
• Balsam West High Speed Internet:  Mayor Begley and Councilman Mau – Balsam West (Partnership of EBCI and Drake Software) – Council discussed the option of looking into connecting to fiber optic lines for high speed internet.   Councilman Mau and Kolleen Begley discussed this with Balsam West but right now they do mostly commercial, although there is fiber optic running in Jackson County and are close to Forest Hills.

  11.  Additional Public Comment:  None

  12.  Adjourn:  At 8:45pm Councilman Corwin made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Hooper, unanimously approved.