To the editor:
While the meeting didn’t provide any updated information on the revised plan and how McAdams was going to address the questions/comments to the first plan submitted to the Town Planning Department, Nil Gosh said his role after the neighborhood meeting was to take every question/comment back to the property owner so he would know how the surrounding neighborhoods felt about his proposed development…an interesting comment in my mind.
If Carroll Joyner truly cared about our involvement in the development of this property, why has he chosen not to make himself available to meet personally with these adjoining neighborhoods so there could be a discussion about what type of plan would be in the best interest of both parties?
In my opinion, asking for a change to the current zoning set forth in the UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) for the Falls Lake Water Supply Watershed/Horse Creek Overlay District from 2 dwelling units per acre or 20,000 sq. ft. lots on the east side of Horse Creek and base zone of GR3 on the west side of Horse Creek to GR10 is a gross overreach to why this area was given a separate Overlay Zoning District – to establish regulations which ensure the availability of public water supplies at an acceptable level of water quality for present and future residents.
One question that the town needs to answer is why the R40W zoning was removed from the WFGC property in 2013 and replaced with the Falls Lake Water Supply Watershed/Horse Creek District Overlay Zoning that is less restrictive. At the same time, the town actually created a new District Overlay, Little River Water Supply Watershed, which has the same restrictive zoning requirements as R40W – 1 dwelling unit per 1 acre or 40,000 sq. ft. lot. Why remove the R40W zoning from the WFGC property and create a new District Overlay with restrictions that mirror R40W? The wording in the UDO reads as follows:
The Little River Watershed Protection regulations are established as an overlay district to preserve water quality in the Little River water supply watershed in order to provide safe drinking water. The intent of this district is to establish regulations which ensure the availability of public water supplies at an acceptable level of water quality for present and future residents. One district is hereby created: Little River – Watershed Management Area (LR-WMA)
The wording in the UDO for the WFGC property reads as follows:
The Falls Lake Watershed Protection regulations are established as an overlay district to preserve water quality in the Falls Lake water supply watershed in order to provide safe drinking water. The intent of this district is to establish regulations which ensure the availability of public water supplies at an acceptable level of water quality for present and future residents. Two districts are hereby created: The Falls Lake-Critical Area (FL-CA) and the Falls Lake-Watershed Management Area (FL-WMA).
Lastly, as I said at the neighborhood meeting, this development is all about money. When you acquire a property of this type for less than $400K and design a development of this magnitude, requiring a major zoning change to accommodate the density…it is not about what is good for everyone, it is about what is in the best interest for you – ALONE!
Sam Joyner
Wake Forest
6 Responses
In response to: “If Carroll Joyner truly cared about our involvement in the development of this property, why has he chosen not to make himself available to meet personally with these adjoining neighborhoods so there could be a discussion about what type of plan would be in the best interest of both parties?”
1st answer: People these days are jerks and many that approach him on this topic are as rude as they can be. I’ve seen it in person and have been the target of it in the past when I have disagreed with even a single point that the neighboring homeowners have.
2nd answer: The people attending these meetings only want Mr. Joyner to compromise to their way of thinking and try to tell him what to do with the property HE owns. Anything short of that and they will not be satisfied. Those same people would be livid if anyone told them what they should do with their own property.
They are certainly entitled to their opinion but some of them go about expressing it the wrong way. It rubs people the wrong way and causes their opinions not get the analysis they would if they were presented in a more professional manner.
With the Town of Wake Forest going back in its word with regard to the PUD related to the old golf course, many residents on the other side of town realize that the Town’s previous commitments regarding the so-called ‘80 acres’ (actually 94 acres, I believe) behind Heritage High School also can not be trusted. Much of that land was acquired in cooperation with Wake County Open Space and has specific conservation restrictions on its use. Yet, where Heritage Branch Rd dead-ends at one edge of the ‘80 acres’, a sign now stands stating ‘future road extension’. When there was talk about putting a road through the ‘80 acres’ to Ligon Mill Rd in the past, officials from Wake County Open Space called the Town office to remind them of their obligations. It will be increasingly difficult for any group or the Town to partner with organizations such as Wake County Open Space to acquire land in the future now that the town’s reputation for following through with its commitments is tarnished. The Town of Wake Forest is no longer a credible partner, yet urges those concerned about disappearing open space to seek out such partnerships! Do our officials not understand that reputation matters?
Things like this are why I sold my house adjacent to the old golf course and moved to North Raleigh. I know of at least other similar, former resident that did the same thing. The leadership of the town will continue to run good resdents out of town. The residents of the new rows of townhouses will most likely be transient. I loved my former house, but I could see the handwriting on the wall. Soon, the Town of Wake Forest will be nothing but rows and rows of town houses with very little open sace.
Join the club. Look what is happening N main North!!!
Indeed! I have asked the town for the minutes and briefings that removed R40W from the UDO. I have not received anything yet.
When did you request that information?