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High Country W.A.T.C.H. To Hold Community Meeting on Monday, Feb. 27 at Humane Society

Below is a press release from High Country W.A.T.C.H., which formed in opposition to newly proposed asphalt plants in Watauga County. 

High Country W.A.T.C.H. is sponsoring an important community meeting for all Watauga County residents who have concerns about protecting the environment from toxic polluting industries. This meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Watauga County Humane Society, 312 Paws Way in Boone.

The High Country W.A.T.C.H. meeting takes place one day prior to the Watauga County’s public hearing on revisions to the High Impact Land Use (HILU) ordinance, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the King Street Court House. Please attend this public hearing and lend your support by your presence or plan to speak to encourage commissioners to adopt the strongest protections for our county’s health, property values, tourist economy and the natural beauty of the high country.

You can find the proposed revisions (HILU ordinance revisions start on p. 24 of the packet.) at: http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/BOC/Forms/PublicBoardPacket/022117BoardPacket.pdf

High Country W.A.T.C.H. and citizens who support responsible development in Watauga County are directly responsible for many of the protections that the commissioners will be considering. Additionally, you have helped us raise tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees to help protect Watauga County residents from asphalt plants proposed for both the Rainbow Trail and the 421 Scenic Byway neighborhoods. The community support for protecting Watauga families from the toxic consequences of high impact development in Watauga has been tremendous.

Another important topic to be covered at the W.A.T.C.H. meeting is an update on where the asphalt case is now (NO IT IS NOT OVER!). Local residents Carolyn and Randall Henion are currently awaiting the judge’s final order in their Superior Court appeal supporting the county planner’s decision to halt the proposed asphalt plant on 421 Scenic Highway. Want to help keep the 421 Scenic Byway scenic? Please consider donating to GoFundMe established to help with the Deep Gap asphalt appeal legal fees: https://www.gofundme.com/stopdeepgapasphalt.

We will also offer opportunities for volunteers to help keep our mountain air clean & clear. So please mark your calendars now and join us next Monday at the Humane Society and next Tuesday at the Watauga County Commissioners public hearing. Working together, we can make a difference.

​About High Country WATCH: High Country WATCH (Wataugans Against Toxins Close to Home) was formed by a group of concerned Watauga County residents who are actively advocating for responsible economic development in Watauga County. High Country WATCH, a non-partisan, non-profit chapter of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL), is composed entirely of volunteers. You can find out more about High Country WATCH at its website: www.highcountrywatch.com. Follow High Country WATCH on Facebook and on Twitter: @H_C_WATCH.