For the past few months, public discussion about the future of the former Wake Forest Country Club has been consistent, with many people advocating for minimal use or conversion to a town park. And it is, after all, in the Falls Lake watershed and previously had watershed zoning of R40W.
One subject raised recently has been the possibility of graves on the land. That was taken seriously enough that Mike Sanchez, a group manager with McAdams Co., hired Spangler Environmental Inc. of Raleigh to use its ground penetrating (GPR) to evaluate a 1.4-acre site.
In a March 30 letter, Spangler reported that two areas were encountered and flagged. The firm also recommended further evaluation before the land is disturbed, though McAdams could strip off the topsoil to see if there is evidence of a burial.
In a letter to Wanda Mukherjee, Patrick Reidy, one of the town’s senior planners, said: ” We’ve had other sites where similar anomalies ended up being buried stumps or trash. At this point, the property owner has a couple of options. They can either further investigate those two areas to determine if there is any evidence of graves and then go from there to either leave in place or follow state laws regarding relocation. They could also choose to reconfigure their development around those areas and fence them off as open space. We have not heard which direction they plan to take.”
In other subdivisions locally, developers have unearthed broken farm implements and the bones of cows and horses. This was largely farmland 200 years ago and up to almost the present day. Or, one or both sites might be unmarked sites of slave burials.
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It has been very interesting to watch the reactions of the would-be developers of the former country club when, hearing strong outcries from town residents, the language in the draft Community and Land Use Plan was totally rewritten for that 155 acres. The version that was approved last night by the town board calls for careful and thoughtful development with a conservation subdivision. Some people, including me, think its best use is as a very carefully planned town park and open space.
But the developers apparently fear that preference for light use of the Joyner property will endanger their plans, which call for 350 (or maybe 450) homes on both sides of Horse Creek and its floodplain. Their plan, recently resubmitted to the Wake Forest Planning Department, will be considered and have to conform to the regulations and specifications in the old Community Plan that was in force until last night. They particularly fear their plan will not receive R-10 zoning, which is apparently a prerequisite for Toll Brothers to participate in the plan.
Twice they have submitted possible changes in the new Community Plan, recommendations which would have meant high density housing on almost every square inch of land not floodplain, creek or pond. And they tried again Tuesday night, with Jim Adams appearing at the public hearing about the Community Plan to urge high density.
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Although the public hearing is over and the new Community Plan is in place, it may not be out of order to begin campaigning against the list of nine town areas that are considered ripe for development.
They are set out in the plan like dominoes, ready for the push to fall for development. Why did someone feel the need to do that? Maybe because they – planners or developers – can use the list as justification for rezoning or whatever is needed to make them ready for the bulldozers. Do we as a town really want a whole small subdivision of new houses in the Glen Royal Mill Village? Are our tree ordinances ready to fight against clear-cutting every tree? And where are the deer, rabbits, skunks, possums, raccoons and beavers supposed to go? Will we still see cardinals and blue birds? And when did we lose the designation as a bird sanctuary?
The untouched land around E. Carroll Joyner Park contributes to that park being a sanctuary for animals and birds. Without that land, the park would be diminished. There is value to land left to nature.
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8 Responses
I do not think the town Mayor and the board are considering what this will do to our already over populated highways and streets in our town. The town Mayor and board along with developers are overly greedy.
Unless things have changed, there is a golf course (open to the public) on land bordered by Durham Road and Stadium Dr, Though my game was never near “par”, I enjoyed walking and playing there. I am told it is where Arnold Palmer played golf when he was in college at Wake Forest when the college was located here
So everyone could have the opportunity to play, like the parks and pools we have and of course RenCen and the greenways.
So you wanted the whole town (all taxpayers) to subsidize so YOU could afford to play golf? Makes sense. It’s crappy land, the least valuable properties in the entire town.
The old golf course use to serve the high school golf teams in the area. Cause Ammons wouldn’t make it affordable for the kids to play. Real estate agent or employed by a developer? Stop being lazy & go walk the entire property. Urban sprawl is what’s ugly!
The demise of WF Country Club is a sin and a shame. I have live here for close to 30 years and played that course many times. The course should have been bought by the town after it was closed and turned into a municipal course. Towns smaller than ours have Muni’s. We all give lip service to wanting to provide opportunities to our underprivileged and underrepresented population, but this flies squarely in the face of that. Sadly, many of that group can’t afford to pay $60 plus to play a round at Heritage, much less join Heritage and pay monthly dues. We missed an opportunity to do good. I have my theories as to why, but they are just that. I’m thinking the town didn’t want to go into “business” against Ammons.
#FACTS No doubt Ammons & Adams wine & dine city hall ?
‘Have not noticed or been aware of this “Wining/Dining”. Is this really happening?? You #FACT this comment as “fact” so, when and where do you know this is taking place? Please share so all can know these “facts” Thanks