Swapping land, placing a moratorium on projects, an issue with a cabin rental company and other concerns were addressed during a Tuesday, October 6, City of Blue Ridge workshop.
All council members were present to discuss swapping parts of River Street for a piece of land on Ada Street owned by local businessman Mike Galinski.
“The reason we’re asking for that is I’d like to start a turning lane about where you turn into Blue Jeans off Ada Street and make a turning lane so people coming off of Ada can turn up Mountain Street,” Planning, Zoning and Project Manager Jeff Stewart said. “Then you’ll have a turning lane to go down Mountain Street.”
Stewart added that he believes, when the Highway 5 project begins, more people will rely on Ada Street to travel.
When permits were discussed, Councilwoman Rhonda Haight suggested adding an impact fee on builders as well as placing a moratorium on all projects within the Central Business District with plans of building over 45 feet high.
She added that there are currently no plans for projects of that scale, but wants to put a hold on it until the council decides whether or not to lower the 60 foot allowance of buildings’ heights.
Councilman Mike Panter said he “thinks” there are, in fact, prospects.
Councilman Nathan Fitts noted that the city’s building inspectors
are “unqualified.”
He explained that the local, licensed builders have questioned the authority of theses inspectors, given that they have a license to build and the inspector does not.
Mayor Donna Whitener said that it is not a requirement for the city’s inspectors to have a building license.
Fitts suggested working with Fannin County’s inspector.
An issue was recently discovered with Willow Creek Cabin Rentals, which has been renting out a home downtown without proper zoning, a Special Land Use Permit.
“It kind of slipped through the cracks because we weren’t checking it,” Haight said.
In fact, a citizen brought the matter to the council’s attention, Haight said.
The home is allegedly still being rented out, and the city has not told the company to cease rentals.
“This is unacceptable,” Fitts said after learning the city has not advised the company to stop renting the home.
The city plans to issue a $250 penalty for each night it has been rented.
Agreeing with an editorial published in The News Observer, which called the city chaotic, Haight suggested revising the charter to a city manager form of government.
She claimed that there is simply too much happening in the city to not have someone monitoring activities full time.
She also suggested incorporating staggered terms, but said she wouldn’t present the ideas until November.
Fitts suggested lowering spending limits, and Haight suggested moving it to $500 from $2,500.
Haight added that three council members should have to sign off on any purchase above the limit and have it ratified at the next meeting.
Fitts added that he plans to hold everyone accountable for following the ordinances and charter.
Councilwoman Robbie Cornelius excused herself about halfway through the workshop.
All matters were scheduled to be voted on Tuesday, October 13.