Sunday, September 19, 2010

Community Meeting

COMMUNITY MEETING SCHEDULED!
A community meeting for the affected annexation areas as well as neighbors of these areas has been arranged.
Please plan to attend on
Saturday, October 2nd at 9am
at the Skyland Fire Department
(upstairs in the Community Room).
And please pass the word along to your neighbors!

Another Letter to the Editor!

Check out Belle Reina's Letter to the Editor printed in the Citizen-Times on Friday, September 17, 2010. Thanks, Belle!
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100917/OPINION02/100916046/1040
Who's going to be the next one to write one? Let's keep getting our voice heard!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Last Night's Meeting

Thanks to all who came out to help support our neighborhood's effort to avoid annexation. And a big thanks to those who aren't in the proposed annexation area and came out to show support and to show their disdain for forced annexation.


While the meeting was just an information meeting (just a video on all of the "services" we'd receive, like trash pick-up and new street signs and then a chance to speak with different officials in a crowded, small room), I think that the turn-out was good and the media coverage was great. Check it out:


WLOS Coverage: http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wlos_vid_2890.shtml


Citizen-Times Coverage:
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100914/NEWS/309140019


WWNC Coverage:
http://wwnc.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=TakeAStand.xml
Matt Mittan's show, Take A Stand, devoted all three hours to the issue of forced annexation.
The link to yesterday's show isn't up yet, but this is a link to the show's archives so you can listen-in once it's posted.


Photos, thanks to Timothy Peck:








Friday, September 10, 2010

Royal Pines Annexation Stats

Characteristics:
* 682 Parcels
* 388.7 Acres
* 670 Dwellings
* ~1,595 People

Land Use:
* Residential

Meets population density test, subdivision test, anddevelopment test
All info taken directly from: http://www.ashevillenc.gov/uploadedFiles/Business/Development_Services/Planning_and_Zoning/Annexation/2010Plan_for_Services_from_Council_Agenda.pdf

Key Dates Posted by the City

Key Dates (all 2010, unless otherwise noted)
• July 27 Council Adoption of Resolution of Intent
• August 10 Council Adoption of Services Plan
• Sept 13 Public Information Meeting
• Oct 12 City Council Public Hearing
• Oct 26 Annexation Ordinance Adopted
• Jun 30, ’11 Effective Date

All Info taken directly from: http://www.ashevillenc.gov/uploadedFiles/Business/Development_Services/Planning_and_Zoning/Annexation/2010Plan_for_Services_from_Council_Agenda.pdf

Our "Extended" Services!

I wanted to post a few items from Betty's link: http://www.ashevillenc.gov/uploadedFiles/Business/Development_Services/Planning_and_Zoning/Annexation/2010Plan_for_Services_from_Council_Agenda.pdf for everyone to ponder...

All of the following was copied directly from the above link

In Regards to Trash Pick-Up
"Properties along private roadways will need to have a private road agreement signed prior to Sanitation Division vehicles serving the properties. Alternatively, private roads can be improved to City of Asheville standards and application made to the City of Asheville for acceptance. One additional alternative is that the residents be offered the option to bring their trash, recycling, and brush to the nearest City-maintained road.
The following are private roadways where trees would need to be trimmed back in addition to having a private roadway agreement in place before service is provided:
• Fox Hollow Court
• Spring Cove Road
• Spring Cove Court
• Oak Terrace
The homes along the following private roadways would need to bring trash to the nearest City-maintained road as the conditions of the roadways make them inaccessible for Sanitation Division vehicles. A private roadway agreement would not be an option for these locations based on current roadway conditions.
• Mount Royal Drive
• Appian Way
• Bramblewood Road
• Green Acres Lane
• Moss Lane
• Rosscraggon Court (proposed for reconstruction)

In Regards to Streets
There are fourteen (14) existing street lights that are proposed to be taken over by the City at an annual cost of $180.00 per light. The annual cost for maintaining the existing street lights in the Royal Pines Area is $2,520.00. There are no existing sidewalks in the Royal Pines Area.
Six (6) stormwater lids require placement at an expected cost of $4,000.00. Cedar Lane, Locust Court and Morgan Boulevard require minor surface repair at a cost of $2,000.00. Asphalt overlays are required on Crestview Court and Fox Hollow Court at a cost of $10,560.00 and $41,250.00 respectively.
It is proposed to reconstruct Rosscragon Court to bring it up to City standards which includes removal of several large trees, excavation and widening, construction of a stone base and applying binder and top course asphalt. Estimated cost is $61,463.00. It is proposed that repairs be divided over a two (2) year period.

In Regards to Water
Royal Pines Area:
Potable water is available to all parcels in this annexation area on substantially the same level as other parts of the City. Improvements to fire protection will be made by adding 500’ of 6” waterline and 3 additional fire hydrants. The proposed improvements are depicted on the included Royal Pines Area Infrastructure Proposed Improvements map. One fire hydrant will be located at the intersection of Rathfarnham and Tuckaway Drive. One fire hydrant will be required at the intersection of Fox Hollow Court and Saint Johns Street. The 500’ of new 6”
26 waterline will be installed approximately from 21 Fox Hollow Ct to 29 Fox Hollow
Ct. A fire hydrant will be installed at the end of the new section of 6” waterline near 29 Fox Hollow Ct. The estimated cost for all the proposed water infrastructure improvements within the Royal Pines Area is $45,500.00. All proposed improvements will be completed within two years of the annexation effective date.

Monday's Meeting

REMINDER! A public informational meeting will be held at 5:30pm on Monday, September 13th in Room A-109 of the Public Works Building (161 S. Charlotte Street). A few things to note about this meeting.

1. We need as many people to show up to this meeting and to the October meeting as possible. Strength in numbers!

2. Please wear RED to show our unity. This makes a powerful visual statement.

3. The good people from www.stopwoodfin.org are organizing a protest rally in our support from 4:45-6:15 in front of the Public Works Building. Thank You!

4. Royal Pines is not the only area targeted to be annexed. Cooper's Hawk Drive is also a targeted area and will be represented at this meeting as well.

5. Please show up and support our rights to not be forcibly annexed!

Map

Map of the proposed annexation area, provided by the City of Asheville:



Saturday, September 4, 2010

How YOU Can Help

What can you do to help stop this annexation?

- Write, email, and call the folks on City Council
- Show up to the Public Informational Meeting (9/13/10 at 5:30pm)
- Show up to the Public Hearing (10/12/10 at 5:00pm)
- Sign our petition
- Put a sign in your yard supporting No Annexation
- Write a letter to the editor (Citizen Times, Mountain Express, etc.)
- Talk to your neighbors about this and encourage them to do any of the above!

Contact Your Councilmen and Councilwomen!

All info was taken from the City of Asheville website: http://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/mayor_city_council/city_council/default.aspx?id=1354

To email ALL City Council Members: AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov

Mayor Terry Bellamy
Mail: P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802
Phone: (828) 259-5600Fax: (828) 259-5499
E-mail: mayorbellamy@gmail.com
Personal Web site: www.terrymbellamy.com

Vice Mayor Brownie Newman
Mail: 285 Montford Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 243-0107
E-mail: newmanasheville@gmail.com
Personal Web site: www.brownienewman.com

Councilmember Cecil Bothwell
Mail: 54 Fulton Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 713-8840
E-mail: cecil@braveulysses.com

Councilmember Jan Davis
Mail: 209 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 253-5634Fax: (828) 253-8029
E-mail: jandavis@main.nc.us
Personal Web site: www.jandavistire.com

Councilmember Esther Manheimer
Mail: 11 North Market Street, Asheville, NC 28801 or P.O. Box 7376, Asheville, NC 28802-7376
Phone: (828) 258-2991
E-mail: emanheimer@vwlawfirm.com

Councilmember Bill Russell
Mail: P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802
Phone: (828) 274-7388
E-mail: billrussell@charter.net

Councilmember Gordon Smith
Mail: 49 Euclid Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: (828) 279-2551
E-mail: gordonsmithasheville@gmail.com

Annexation Areas

The areas to be annexed include, but aren't limited to:

  • the eastern side of Sweeten Creek Road (from just past Carlyle Way [past the field with the large smiley face mowed into it] to Cedar Lane)
  • Azalea Road
  • Rosscraggon Court
  • Bramblewood Road (parts only)
  • Rathfarnham Road (parts only)
  • Appian Way
  • Birch Lane
  • Royal Pines Drive
  • Walnut Street
  • Chestnut Place
  • Oak Terrace (parts only)
  • Locust Street (parts only)
  • Moss Lane
  • Weston Road (parts only)
  • Rippon Court
  • Cedar Lane
  • Sycamore Drive
  • Maple Court
  • Oak Leaf Lane
  • Summit Drive
  • Pinehurst Circle
  • Saint Johns Street
  • Fox Hollow Court
  • Morgan Blvd.
  • Crestview Court
  • Pointview Court
  • Spring Cove Court

Contacts

Many of you have met Ms. Belle Reina, as she has canvassed our neighborhood over the past week with a petition in hand. In speaking with her, I've published this website/blog to help support her efforts and to help inform others about the proposed annexation.

If you'd like to sign Belle's petition or would like to get involved in this movement in any way, please feel free to get in touch with either of us:

Belle Reina
Phone: 684-3656
Email: bellereina@att.net

Wendy Guyer
Phone: 676-0379
Email: wdguyer@gmail.com

Welcome!

In an effort to bring together the citizens of Royal Pines and the surrounding areas, this website/blog has been created. While surely there will be differing points of view on the proposed annexation by the City of Asheville, this site is here to give basic information as well as to promote NO Annexation.


IMPORTANT DATES
A public informational meeting will be held at 5:30pm on Monday, September 13th in Room A-109 of the Public Works Building (161 S. Charlotte Street).

A public hearing will be held at 5:00pm on Tuesday, October 12th in the Council Chapter located on the 2nd floor of the City Hall Building (70 Court Plaza).