MINUTES
WORKSHOP
WATAUGA CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL COUNCIL
CHAMBERS,
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005
5:30 P.M.
The City Council and City Staff of the City of
Henry J. Jeffries Mayor
Jerry Adams Mayor Pro Tem
Ernest P. Koontz Council Member
Richard Helmick Council Member
Pete Beierschmitt Council Member
and
Nancy J. Meadows City Secretary
Janina Jewell Director of Finance
Johnnie Reagan Director of Public Works
Planning and Zoning Members were also present.
Several citizens were present at
the workshop. Most were from
Council Members Mike Steele, Seth Thomas, and Lee Griffin were absent. City Attorney Mark Daniel was not required to attend this workshop.
Mayor Jeffries called the workshop to order.
The purpose of said workshop was
to discuss proposed development of four dwelling town homes, proposed to be
located on the south side of
Cliff Harris and Keith Hamilton, representatives of Clifford Land Company, LLC, were in attendance for a presentation and discussion of said proposed development. Mr. Don Phifer, a Real Estate Broker was also present.
Mayor Jeffries called upon Cliff Harris of Clifford Land Company, LLC for his presentation.
Mr. Harris explained that he just
wanted the opportunity to explain more about the proposed development of four
dwelling town homes. Mr. Harris then
spoke in explanation of the proposed development and spoke of the location on
Mr. Harris spoke of a Home Owners Association. Mr. Harris explained the different expenses the developer would be out with street development, water and sewer lines, etc.
Mr. Harris explained there was no homeowners association in Hillview so he sent out letters to the property owners of the subdivision.
Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Adams asked Mr. Harris how long he had lived in Watauga and if he moved in to Watauga with the purpose of building town homes and moving out or did he move to Watauga to make it his home.
Mr. Harris explained that he had lived in Watauga for almost a year. He explained that it was his home.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams questioned if there was backing for building the town homes or if they might get half finished and run out of backing money
Mr. Harris explained that the backing is already taken care of.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams questioned what would happen if an owner who was a member of the Home Owners Association sells the home and then the buyer doesn’t know there is an association and 25 to 30 percent of the homes could end up with the owners not in the association.
Mr. Harris wasn’t sure how that works.
Don Phifer explained that he is the broker. He explained that when there is a Home Owners Association it has to be disclosed. Mr. Phifer explained how that was handled at the title company at closing.
Mr. Lacy asked if they had been involved in this type of homes before.
Mr. Phifer explained that he had as a broker and as a former City Council Member. He explained that he had not actually built any before.
Mr. Lacy inquired as to the price of the town homes.
Mr. Harris explained that they would start at $130,000.00.
Mr. Lacy questioned if they were going to build and sale or sale and then build.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams questioned why they wanted to present this to the City Council before going to the Planning and Zoning Commission, through the usual process.
Mayor Jeffries explained that he had contacted Mr. Harris in regards to a letter that was sent to the City Council Members and the Planning and Zoning Members wanting to meet and explained that they could not meet without it being posted. Mayor Jeffries stated that he had suggested the workshop since they were already meeting there that night.
Mr. Harris explained that he wanted to get as much information out as possible. He explained that if it was a normal subdivision development such as Durham Farms they would just do the normal things. Since the town homes are a different type of development, he explained that they just wanted to make sure that there wasn’t any additional things they would need to provide. He explained they wanted to get out as much information as they could. He explained they wanted to try to get as much input as they could from the adjacent neighborhood. He explained they wanted to address concerns.
Council Member Beierschmitt questioned if they were going
to face
Mr. Harris explained that they would, that there would be a five foot easement behind them.
Mayor Jeffries explained to those present that it was just a workshop for the City Council. He explained that the Planning and Zoning Meeting would begin right after the workshop and they would have an opportunity to speak during a public hearing at that meeting. Mayor Jeffries explained that there would be another public hearing at the City Council Meeting.
Mayor Jeffries closed the workshop at 6:05 p.m.
Approved: this the ___ day of ______________ 2005.
Signed: this the ___ day of ______________ 2005.
APPROVED:
_____________________
Henry J. Jeffries, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Nancy J. Meadows, City Secretary