Proposed Land Purchases

The newspapers have run articles recently stating that the town by a 4-1 vote has decided to purchase the Raco and Blythe properties. On the surface it seems like a very good idea for a couple of reasons. The proposed purchase affords the town the opportunity to utitlize the 8,000 sq ft Blythe building as a temporary town hall. This accomodates the staff and space problem that has caused the town to put in the mobile office you see now. It does so at a price that is fair and logistically speaking well positions the town for the future. None of the articles indicated the council voting for the purchase ever ruled out the Downtown project as a location for the new Town Hall. The new town hall was estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $8 million dollars without land and furnishings. Let's just round that number to $10 million. The rushed downtown project has had flaws from the start. Never mind the developer waited 15-17 months after approval to seek easing of 16 of 44 conditions placed upon it by a split council. There has been issues with stormwater, railroad, roads, taking of private lands, and last but not least the sewer/water permit. The proposed land purchase by the town enables them to look at other options for a new town hall especially since there is no guarantee that sewer/water will ever be awarded in the near future and the lack of a workable traffic study may cause more delays.
No surprise that it is reported the Mayor and the towns very own special interest group is against the proposed land purchase. Considering she and the three candidates from the special interest group are being backed by the developer building the downtown project. The mayor stated, "In my opinion, a town hall should be centrally located and a symbol of vision into the future; the heartbeat of a thriving area." Correct me if I am wrong but all three properties in question are centrally located in the downtown area aren't they? I am willing to bet that the distance off the road to the Blythe building is very close to the distance off the road where the new town hall was proposed to be built on the project area. Its not like the Blythe building is off the beaten path and you have to take 3 forms of transportation to get there. Apparently, the Mayor believes the only way for a town hall to be a "vision into the future" is that it has to be built on a grand scale and cost $10 million dollars. Especially if you add in the land swap deal that gives away town assets. The land swap proposed by the Mayor and the majority of the previous council had to be the worse deal in recent history for anyone other than the developer.
The town of Wesley Chapel got a 6 acre gift from the developer doing the downtown project there...we got what? In essence, we gave our assets for an overinflated piece of property to put our extremely decadent new town hall on. The Wesley Chapel project is 44 acres without the 6 gifted, and on it is proposed retail and commercial and not one square foot of residential. We have our 47 acre project with 79% residential (condo, townhomes, and apartments 604 total) and 21% retail/commercial. The Wesley Chapel project has I believe 8 lanes of traffic to afford multiple entrances and exits. We have 2 major lanes and a need to take private land to subsidize the developer for another entrance to a two lane road. If the town hall is not built in the project area, doesn't that enable more retail and commercial space which has been touted as a good tax base? Don't get me wrong, with all its faults that were compounded by the actions of the previous council majority, the downtown project can be good for the town. Since it has been passed, the project will eventually be completed but as the develper stated it will take up to 2 years for completion even if all goes as planned.
So, the current council wants to purchase land reported with renovations $1.6 million dollars. The Mayor and special interest group wants the $10 million dollar white elephant yesterday. The town budget this year was right at $6 million with very little reserve. The question is what does the citizens of the town want to pay for? Is the new town hall more important than public safety? Do you want both? Are you willing to see tax rates at least double to pay for the grandeur of the project?
The vote to purchase the land was not in her favor and she has implied that the process was corrupt...*my words* citizens did not have a say in the process. True..the process has been done so far in closed sessions where land negotiations are done to avoid a run up in price. The council disclosed the proposed land purchase when appropriate and will now have a public hearing on the matter. After that public hearing maybe we should have a public hearing on the proposed new town hall and whether the citizens want it in the project area? We should discuss the infamous land swap while we are at it so we can put this issue to rest once and for all.
The proposed land purchase gives the town options and increases the size of the overall downtown presence. "Downtown" does not have to be located on one 47 acre piece of land or at least 21% of 47 acres. What about the other areas in downtown...existing buildings...they are in the overlay district and subject to rules of the downtown. There are many questions that need to be answered in order to move our downtown forward. Questions some will not want to answer. There are other bigger issues though in our town than the new town hall and project area. Public safety, taxes, roads, traffic, the other villages in the town..will they expect a subsidy for build out? The new town all has to be put into perspective, not allowed to be put on the top 5 issues facing our town.

CROSSROAD FOR INDIAN TRAIL

Indian Trail is at a crossroads this election. The only potential returning person to the council is the Mayor. She has to overcome her less than stellar reputation in order to repeat. Two strong candidates that are fresh and willing to work with the council wait in the wings. Both challengers appear to have integrity, honesty, and the ability to work with others something the current mayor has not been able to display in the past 2 years.
The race for the three open council seats seem to be a David vs Goliath situation. The Goliath in this case is the special interest group called ITCFP that has 3 of their officers running for office. They are well organized, well funded thanks to developer money, they have their opinions just like everyone else on how to run the town and in fact take it a step further with the aire of superiority that is unmatched in this election. Their attitude that their way is the best and that they all have to be elected in order to change the course of the town. Indicates to me that they would be unwilling or unable to work with others on the board to get things done. The other thing to keep in mind is if these 3 are elected to the council the question has to be ..Why would they listen to any common citizen?? They won't have to unless it matches their opinions.
The David's in this group are myself and John Hullinger. Though I don't know Mr. Hullinger well, the two times I have met him, he seems to be very intelligent and able to work with people with a decent attitude. Neither Lee Godwin nor John Hullinger will take donations from people that may want something from the council in the future...ie developers, real estate people, and so on. My campaign is being run on a shoestring unlike that of the well funded special interest group that has already started with color flyers in neighborhoods. They are trying to buy the election for their group and expect a lot more prior to the election. I just won't spend a lot of money for a position that is designed to help the community. Why spend thousands of dollars to claim a position paying $200.00 per month?
To the voters:

1. Get to know the candidates, follow the money. Who stands to reap benefits if they are elected? Ask questions of the candidates.
2. Don't be swayed by slick advertising campaigns just because some can afford such things.
3. Get involved
4. VOTE....VOTE....VOTE Its the most important step in this process. The 3 candidates of the special interest group all live in the same neighborhood, all town business will come through them as will all the solutions. Do you really want to give one area that much power???

Isn't That Interesting

So under the file of I told you so, it seems we can file the delay of the Indian Trail Downtown project, not on the council, but the current condition of water and sewer in the county. In an article in todays Neighbors of Union County, Charlotte Observer August 9, 2007 under the headline "Utilities board under pressure" seems that developer Dean Harrell sent a letter asking the board to think about his sewer problems. His letter goes on to describe what he needs for his individual projects. It describes a request for the following:

• One-third each year of the sewer capacity needed for a mixed residential (79%) and commercial property (21%) project in downtown Indian Trail. He says the project has NO SEWER PERMITS.

The letter also outlined the taxvalue of the projects and their benefits to the community.

The county has had sewer and water permits shut down until the 12 mile creek expansion is up and running. At last glance, that expansion is slated to be completed sometime this month and then requires the state to sign off on the project. Only after the state authorization will permits be able to be handed out. No time table has been established for the state sign off, though the county would like it to be sooner, rather than later. After the expansion is completed, the county will have a limited amount of capacity for new projects and the board is still trying to audit the Public works to get an exact extent of needed capacity. This is important, because without the sewer permit, most municipalities won't let a builder break ground to include Indian Trail. Though Centex homes got approval to build last month or so primarily due to the advance payment of hook up fees and an unusual contract they had with the county.

If you have read previous post on this blog you can see I suggested that no sewer was the real reason behind the delay. Not some trumped up hatred the current council has towards this development. Update: The traffic study was received by the Planning staff on August 8, 2007 for the downtown project. It will be interesting to see what the findings are that come of the Traffic study this time.

And The SAGA Continues.....

So when we last left the vaunted downtown project, the developer was to get the traffic study to the planning staff the day after the July 10th council meeting. The Planning staff and developer were to work out the final details associated with the project and finally get this thing started. Complaints have been showered onto the Council by an outspoken PAC contingent that believe for whatever the reason the current council has been dragging their feet trying to stall the project from moving forward. It's an interesting assumption, but has no truth in the idea. That however is another argument. The council voted to put this project in the hands of the Planning staff and developer to work out the final details as I stated prior. As of August 7th, 2007 approximately 9:00 pm the Planning staff was still waiting for the traffic study. Apparently, the study has been received by the developer but as of now, the town has yet to see it. Curious that a project so full of potential, tired of being mired in controversy and delay would not advance the next step? Why is that I wonder? Is the delay part of the full court press to gain majority on the Council? Delay, delay, delay until after the election? See if your 4 horseman become elected and then they could rubberstamp any further changes? IF and I mean IF, the traffic study has a favorable solution, it makes no sense to sit on the information, except it just gives more fodder for the critics of the current council. Think about it.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

The Charlotte Observer ran an article in the August 2, 2007 edition of the Neighbors of Union County. The article "Developer backs PAC in Indian Trail races." The so called non partisan group called ITCFP, now sporting three of the 5 candidates running for Council. In the Mayor's race endorsed the incumbent Mayor for another term. Not surprising 2 of the 3 candidates are officers in the PAC though I believe one is moving to the background with the addition of Mr. Rubin who had signed up to run for council but has quit the race to join the PAC. I have to admire the PAC and their organizational skills.
The story goes to tell that out of the $3,500 dollars raised, $3,000 has come from developer related donations. You don't have to be a rocket scientest to see where loyalties are going to possibly lie in the future? I am sure if asked about loyalty they will tell you as the developer backed incumbent Mayor stated .."she has made no promises to anyone in exchange for donations". Ok so lets just assume she and the 3 headed hydra will do whats right for the town, doesn't seem to be a solid footing to start a foundation with though?
The group of Candidates being supported by the PAC have a main idea in common. They all believe that from their perch atop of the crowd they know what is best for the town. As they look down upon everyone and everything making their criticisms of the people that are also doing what they believe to be correct. Dean Harrell stated, "she believes in her heart she's doing what's best for Indian Trail." I think everyone up there in their hearts are doing what they believe to be best for Indian Trail. Just like the previous council. Do I believe this council or previous councils have done things right all the time? NO. It would be an impossibility. You will never make everyone happy. Abuses from the past will rear their ugly head again if the PAC controls the elections. ALL DECISIONS, PROJECTS, CONCERNS WILL COME THROUGH THE PAC. THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE BEFORE ANY OF THEM WALK IN THE DOOR FOR THE MEETING. NO INDEPENDENT THINKING WILL BE IDENTIFIABLE.
It is a serious matter, thankfully the citizens of the town have a chance to avoid such a situation by voting for independent people not the like minded PAC candidates.
Follow the money. See who stands to benefit from a PAC sweep. Outside of the Mayor, what has any of the candidates done for the town???? Don't just listen to the sound bites candidates are throwing out there...ask them for details. See if they know what they are talking about or are they just being coached. Above all, get out and VOTE!!! One way or the other this election will change Indian Trail forever and you need to be part of it.