The only surprise during Tuesday’s town board meeting was the lack of action on what was supposed to be the settlement of a suit brought against the town by downtown real estate owner Bob Johnson, who says he has deeds to the land under what the town contends is an extension of East Owen Avenue.
The matter, which has been pending for close to two years, was to go to trial Feb. 1. Instead, attorney Charles George with Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton, said in an email on Feb. 10 that the trial did not go forward because there was “a potential resolution that requires Board approval. We’ve not finalized the specifics yet to present to the Board, but we would expect it to be resolved soon.”
The resolution was listed at first on the board’s agenda for Tuesday, but by 7 p.m. it was off the agenda and listed as the topic for a closed session. Staff members said there was no resolution. That is apparently true because the mayor, commissioners, town manager and town attorney went into a short closed session. When they returned to the board room it was only to adjourn the meeting.
What the board did do was to approve the annexation of 135.2 acres in the northwestern quadrant of Gilcrest Farm Road and Royal Mill Avenue and then approve the master plan for the Traditions North subdivision, a rework of an earlier plan. It was approved by the planning board in January, and it will be an age-restricted community for those 55 and older.
The commissioners also approved the funding for the sprayground at the Taylor Street Park with 80 percent paid by a Wake County grant, 20 percent by the town. We are unable to give the figures because the town is shifting to electronic agendas and the editor is unable to access any of the supporting documents in the agenda currently
In other action, the commissioners agreed to:
*Accept a petition from George C. Mackie for annexation of 112.45 acres in three parcels stretching from north of Wait Avenue to Jones Dairy Road. The land includes all of the Wellington Trailer Park and all of Mackie’s industrial park on the north side of Wait. The name for the future subdivision is Quail Crossing, and the plan calls for 307 housing units, a mix of single-family and townhouses. It would be only on the south side of Wait with two entrances on Wait and one on Jones Dairy Road. It is currently under review.
*Agreed to waive the ordinance banning the consumption of alcohol on town streets for the beer garden planned for Meet in the Street on May 7 and also agreed to close some streets for the event.
*Approved a fund balance policy as discussed during the January retreat, approved an internal financial control policy and agreed to refund some bonds from 2006 in a way that will save the town close to $400,000.
*Agreed to an agreement with Raleigh that the contractor for the Grandmark Avenue extension will do the work of installing a short water line that will provide a needed connection. Afterward, Raleigh will pay the town for the work it did not have to do.
