To the editor:
I had attended the Wake Forest Commissioner Meeting last week because I wanted to speak about another issue. During the meeting I listened to the Commissioners describe the contacts that residents’ have had with them about the 40 proposed townhomes on N. Main Street. Many of the comments were not appropriate and some were absolutely uncalled for. I have known the mayor and three of the commissioners for the better part of a decade and I do not for one second believes that any of them are corrupt including the two I do not know very well.
I do however understand why people are being uncivil in a situation like this and I am not sure if the commissioners actually do. I also understand why people would call them corrupt. They are wrong, but I understand their reasoning and hopefully the commissioners will heed my advice on future votes so that people may have faith in their government. For many of those against the townhomes it is in their backyard as they are the ones directly affected by the construction noise for several years and eventually the additional 80 cars a day in increased traffic. Many feel that their voices were not heard at the planning board because they did not get to say their piece.
Four years ago there was a proposal to build 109 apartments on the corner of S. Franklin and the Bypass. It was a judicial hearing so anyone wishing to speak to the planning board in opposition needed to have a traffic engineer, a surveyor, two other types of engineers and an attorney to speak to the planning board. Our voices were not heard.
Subsequently I had asked the commissioners to set up a legal defense fund or change the way that way of the planning process. Nothing has changed. I can say this with authority: that the application was rammed through the planning process. A year later the developer decided to change plans and build 69 townhomes. Ironically when the apartments were approved the developer was allowed to only have to have one access road, but when the townhomes came there had to be two access roads. The buffers to the neighborhood in the back were greater as well. Why?
In 2016 the same developer wanted to build 7 townhomes on the corner of S. Allen and E. Elm. The planning board rejected that project in a unanimous vote, citing the concerns of the neighbors who lived in single-family homes across S. Allen. The current planning board chairman was quoted, “I don’t think we should disadvantage the people who live there. Based on the fact that both this project for 7 townhomes in 2016 and the 40 townhomes met all of the requirements set forth by town ordinance they either should have been both approved or both denied. Concerns for the people living in the area were cited as the reason for the planning board’s rejection of 7 townhomes, but not taken into consideration for the 40 townhomes. Why?
I ask the commissioners and the planning board to please explain this logic. There is no rhyme or reason why one of these projects should be denied and the other approved. Our elected leaders are wondering why people are upset and insulting them. It is perception. It is perceived that you are not listening to their concerns.
Homeowners in Wake Forest are placed on many restrictions both with town ordinances and within their HOA’s. That is the price we have to pay to live here, but we often see certain developers get to do what they want. It does not matter if it is reality, it is the perception.
If the commissioners do not explain why half the time when one wants to speak before the planning board they need to hire professionals; there will be assumptions that the town is in the developer’s pockets. If the planning board and commissioners do not explain why a lower density project needs two access streets and a higher one does not, there will be assumptions that developer’s pockets were not deep enough the second time around. Lastly if two projects come before the planning board where there is vocal opposition to said projects and one gets flat out denied in a unanimous vote and the other approved it will lead to assumptions that the opposition on one project had the town in its pocket and the opposition for the other project did not.
I know many of our elected and appointed leaders and know them to be good people who love and care about Wake Forest. I also know many people who have tried to make their voices heard to our leaders and were dismissed. I am one of those people. When one is dismissed by their elected leaders they tend to get upset. I for one am upset. I implore our leaders to explain their actions on votes and be consistent on their votes.
Sincerely,
Matthew Reck
