Hendersonville approves Half Moon Heights; $1K Christmas bonuses for permanent city employees
With little discussion, Hendersonville City Council on Thursday approved 4-1 the greatly opposed Half Moon Heights housing development and unanimously approved bonuses for permanent city employees.
Ninety-three single-family houses will be built at 297 Rustling Pines Lane. Residents have voiced opposition to the development at several meetings over concerns of increased flooding from stormwater runoff, elimination of trees and habitats for animals, increased traffic, decrease in property values and road damage from construction vehicles.
Jerry Smith, who cast the dissenting vote, reminded council before they voted that there has been overwhelming opposition from city residents. Council tabled its decision on the development at its November meeting.
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Several residents submitted written comments and spoke during public comment at the meeting against the development citing similar concerns.
At council member Lyndsey Simpson's request, City Manager John Connet will write a letter to N.C. DOT requesting they check their culvert on Highway 64 near the proposed development to see if improvements need to be made to eliminate flooding that residents have reported.
Simpson also asked him to write a letter to N.C. DOT to request a traffic light be put up on Highway 64 toward North Henderson High. Council member Jennifer Hensley said she already recently "got the ball rolling" on the request.
N.C. DOT doesn't usually put up traffic lights on their own dime, Connet said, but will if paid for by the city.
"Housing is needed at all price points in the city," Volk said. "Yes, it is going to be a change for the neighbors and I am sorry about that, but it's just that I do feel that this development is appropriate in this area."
Smith disagreed and said he doesn't think the price point of the houses that will be built in Half Moon Heights, which he thinks will be $500,000 or above, isn't needed in the city. Developer Joe Schlotterbeck previously told council the houses will be "semi-affordable" at $375,000-$475,000, just based on the current the cost of materials.
Agreement with Laurel Park
Council unanimously approved an annexation and sewer service agreement with Laurel Park. The agreement establishes a boundary under the new land use law Chapter 160D for Laurel Park to annex properties and Hendersonville not to annex properties or provide sewer service during the term of the agreement.
Sewer service would only be allowed to Laurel Park properties within the primary or satellite corporate limits of the town.
City Attorney Angela Beeker and Laurel Park Mayor Carey O'Cain previously said the agreement won't forcefully annex existing residential properties. It will only allow voluntary annexations.
New council sworn in
Following those actions, new council member Debbie Roundtree was sworn in to take Jeff Miller's seat. Miller didn't run for re-election.
Incumbents Smith and Volk were sworn in to begin their new terms. Council elected Simpson 4-1 to serve as mayor pro tempore for the next two years. Smith voted no for Simpson and voted in favor of Simpson's nomination for him.
Bonuses for city employees
Hensley proposed $1,000 Christmas bonuses to all permanent full- and part-time employees as a reward for outstanding service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council unanimously approved the bonuses. The cost to the city will be around $350,000. Council didn't discuss where the money will come from in the budget, but the agenda packet states "a budget amendment will be prepared to appropriate fund balance or other revenue to cover this expense."
Council meetings can be viewed on the city's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Lurah Lowery is the education and city government watchdog reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA Today Network. Twitter: @lurahlowery. Concerns or story ideas? Send Lurah an email at llowery@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Hendersonville: Christmas bonuses and Haly Moon Height approved
