April 2021

 

Village of Forest Hills
Council Meeting
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 – 7:00 pm
Forest Hills Assembly Hall, Cullowhee NC
 

The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Jim Wallace

Councilmember Marcia Almond

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

Councilmember Ron Yount

 

The following members of the Council were absent:

Councilmember Jerry Rice, III

 

The following Non-Council members were Present:

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

Jack Brown, Village Homeowner

Rick Cardona, Planning Board Chair

John Jeleniewski, Sr. Planner, Jackson Co. Planning Dept.

Ashley Hill, Developer, Prospect Western

 

  1. Call to order:  at 7:00pm Mayor Wallace called the meeting to order.  
  1. Announcements: 

Reminder – Please silence cell phones for meeting 

  1. Approval of Agenda: Councilmember Almond made a motion to approve the agenda, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 
  1. Approval of Meeting Minutes for March 2, 2021 Regular Council Meeting: (All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Yount made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for March 2, 2021, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 
  1. Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of March 2021: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.)  Councilmember Yount made a motion to accept the financial report, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.  
  1. Architectural Review: John Jeleniewski with the Jackson County Planning Department presented the architectural review of the commercial section of the Prospect Western Development.  Council asked when the anticipated start date would be and Ashley said they hope to start construction in the summer but they do not have a certain date.  Council asked what businesses might potentially be housed in the commercial area and Ashley replied that several restaurants had expressed interest but with COVID he wasn’t certain if they were interested at this time.  He did say that if the details and contract work out that Western Carolina Power will likely occupy one of the units. 

Council asked if the plans for the commercial architecture were firm, John said they were, the presentation is just the review for previously approved buildings. 

  1. Public Comments:  Jack Brown and Rick Cardona both expressed concern over the number of 911 calls and disturbances coming from renters near the ETJ area where they both live.  They said that several of the renters have caused disturbances 

Council recommended speaking to the owner of the rentals and seeing if he would agree to attend a Council meeting to discuss issues with renters.

  1.  Vote: Councilmember Almond made a motion to accept the architectural review as presented, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 
  1. Reports:  

Mayor’s Report:  Jim Wallace

  • Discussion of Zoning Ordinances and Planning Document:  Mayor Wallace discussed the Zoning Ordinances and asked what changes Council wanted to make, Council members requested that Mayor Wallace make recommended edits to the document and give to Stephanie to make requested edits and have Council review revised copy in May. 

Roads:  Jerry Rice – Councilmember Rice was absent 

RPO/TAC:  Marcia Almond – Councilmember Almond said she was not able to attend the last meeting and had nothing new to report.  

Planning Board:  Rick Cardona said that the Planning Board held a special meeting and meeting and also listened to the presentation of the architectural review and asked questions and discussed the new commercial section of Prospect Western. 

Village Safety:  Nilofer Couture – Councilmember Couture said that officers patrolled for the month.  She said that numerous 911 calls were on the report for February and March and noted that the majority of them came from North Country Club Dr., and were in connection with rentals and the University Inn. 

Councilmember Couture asked about the replacement safety mirror Council voted on to replace the one that is broken on Oak Forest and Virginia Lane, Stephanie ordered a replacement and received it and asked BH Graning’s office to install it as soon as possible and notify she or the mayor when they were ready to get the mirror from the Assembly Hall.

    10.  New Business:  None

    11.  Unfinished Business: 

  • Complaint regarding barking dog – notice was sent to residents with barking dogs. 
  • Assembly Hall named for former Mayor & resident, Irene Hooper and plaque with all Mayors names:  Mayor Wallace said we could decide on wording and vote at the next meeting.

    12.  Additional Public Comments:  None

    13.  Adjourn:  At 8:30pm, Councilmember Yount made a motion to adjourn, Councilmember Almond seconded the motion, unanimously approved.