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Town Council To Meet Thursday: Panhandling, Junaluska, Property Rezoning on 421 & More

By Jesse Wood

The Boone Town Council will meet on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 5:30 p.m. inside the Council Chambers on Blowing Rock Road. Agenda items include a public hearing on proposed revisions to the town’s panhandling ordinance; a request for conveyance of property near Junaluska water tank for a small workforce housing project; property rezoning request on U.S 421; and a resolution honoring retiring police office Mike Foley.

See agenda and packet info here. 

Panhandling

panhandlingThe Boone Town Council is holding a public hearing on Thursday regarding proposed revisions to the town’s ordinance regulating panhandling. The hearing is scheduled for 5:35 p.m.

“The changes will strengthen the business community by mitigating aggressive panhandling in the town. These changes include establishing specific times and locations where panhandling will be prohibited, including where citizens are most vulnerable,” according to a memo from Town Manager John Ward to council members.

The panhandling ordinance was initially adopted in 2004 to address aggressive panhandling. At last month’s council meeting, Boone Police Department Capt. Andy LeBeau said that the department deals with panhandling issues on a general basis through related trespassing, intoxication and harassment matters.

See list of prohibited acts and click here to view the entirety of what’s proposed.

Water and Sewer Requests on George Wilson Road

James H. Hodges Jr. is requesting water and sewer services for properties located at 687 and 711 George Wilson Road, where ServePro Restoration Services, Tsuga Canopies, LLC and Metal Machine Hobby/Workshop operate.

Charter Communications is also requesting water and sewer services 739 George Wilson Road for a signal-processing center.

Junaluska property map
Junaluska property map

Workforce Housing Project at Junaluska?

On behalf of Watauga Community Housing Trust, LLC, Scott Eggers is requesting the Boone Town Council to grant a commitment letter for the conveyance of property adjacent to the town’s Junaluska water tower for the development of a small workforce housing project. The group plans to work with Junaluska neighbors by holding community meetings.

“The commitment will facilitate the ability to seek funding and garner resources for a detailed plan to return to the Town for a formal deed transfer request,” according to a WCHT letter to council. “The Watauga Community Housing Trust, LLC has completed basic site planning, to the extent that the Northwest Regional Housing Authority could financially assist in order to meet with Town of Boone Planning staff for review. After positive feedback and additional meetings with Mr. John Ward, we have determined this request to be the next step.”

Rezoning of Property at 1846 U.S. 421 South

Scott Porter with Hampton Property LLC is seeking to rezone a portion of property from R3 multi-family and RA residential/agriculture to B3 General Business. He is also seeking to rezone a portion of property under the same pin number to Conditional District R2 with a “site-specific development for an architecturally integrated subdivision of 20 lots to be used for either single family dwelling or duplex (one duplex per lot).

The Boone Town Council will consider sending these cases to the Sept. 26 public hearing. Click here to see where property is located exactly.

Resolution Honoring Retiring Police Officer Mike Foley

Boone Police Department Master Officer Edgar Michael Foley is retiring Aug. 31 after “serving as a leader in the Boone Police Department in an exemplary fashion,” according to the draft resolution.

Foley served 16 years with the Holly Hills Police Department in Florida before joining the Boone Police Department for another 18 years. Foley’s beat was downtown Boone.