BY DEBBIE PAGE
Winter Flake Drive residents pleaded with the Troutman Town Council during last Thursday’s meeting to intervene after Prestige Development failed to honor its promise to protect a 100-foot wooded buffer between their homes and the new Wakefield development.
Seven neighbors were impacted when what Prestige called a “human error” caused the woods behind their homes to be cleared, leaving only a 25-foot buffer with very few trees and now exposing them to the construction noise and unpleasant views behind their homes.
Clearing these woods violates an approved development plan, signed by both Prestige Development and the Town of Troutman, said resident Wynn White.
Prestige representatives admitted they removed the canopy trees by mistake at a May 20 meeting with the residents. The company then presented a landscaping plan that homeowners said was inadequate to compensate for the huge trees that were lost.
Prestige also claimed that an appraisal report the company commissioned stated that the Wakefield development increases these homeowners’ property values, which the company believes helped compensate for the error.
White said that Prestige is not addressing the lack of privacy and erosion issues that now exist behind their homes. She also noted that Prestige has a history of similar issues at other developments and that progress has stalled on finding a resolution because the company has stopped communicating with the neighbors.
“We feel dismissed. There is no enforcement from the town, no remedies, and no steps to restore the buffer.”
Ravae Bostwick asked the town council to support the neighbors because Prestige is a big company, making it harder to get the remedy that the homeowners deserve.
Paul Pasquarella wants a face to face meeting with Prestige representatives. He questioned the veracity of the claim that home values would increase because of their proximity to the development because of the destruction of the wooded area behind their homes.
Town Attorney Jason Ralston said that if the town has a development agreement in place that required the 100-foot wooded buffer, the town and residents do have legal basis for complaint.
Councilman Eddie Nau was upset by these revelations and asked the town staff and attorney to investigate and see what recourse is available.
In another public comment, Matt Sin asked the council to oppose NC House bill 765/Senate Bill 205 which would take away local zoning authority. Sin said that government is best when it is close to the people, and these two bills are trying to take away the rights of people to determine what their own communities look like.
Sin said there is a trend in Raleigh to be very pro-developer, which makes it harder for ordinary citizens to make developers do what they promised.
The proposed legislation would also increase liability for local board members, who could be sued by developers if they do not get the approvals they desire. Sinn urged everyone to contact their representatives in the N.C. General Assembly to oppose these two bills.
Iredell County NC General Assembly representatives are NC Senator Vickie Sawyer (vickie.Sawyer@ncleg.gov) and NC House members Todd Carver (todd.Carver@ncleg.gov), Jeff McNeely (jeffrey.McNeely@ncleg.gov), and Mitchell Setzer (mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.gov).
In his elected official comment time, Mayor Teross Young said that these two bills were a matter of concern, and he agreed that zoning issues need to be decided at the local level where they have the most impact rather than by state lawmakers.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council unanimously approved:
♦ An ordinance amending Troutman’s Code Of Ordinances concerning weapons prohibited on town property (available HERE).
♦ A request to annex and rezone 20.67 acres located on Charlotte Highway, south of the southern entrance of Flower House Loop.
♦ An amendment to the Town of Troutman Code of Ordinances allowing nonprofits to display a 3 by 5 foot sign at the event location and two 4 x 8 foot banners at Town of Troutman display areas for 30 days (first come, first served) and are to be removed one day after the event.
♦ A resolution adopting Troutman’s Wastewater Asset Management Plan, presented to the council by Town Engineer Benjy Thomas at Monday’s Agenda Briefing.
♦ A resolution verifying receipt of the Wastewater AIA Project (E-AIA-W-21-0226) final report.
♦ A resolution verifying receipt of the 2022 Clay Pipe Sewer System Project final report.
♦ Phase 2-Water Capacity Improvements.
♦ An amendment to the town’s personnel policy to require any employee working with children to undergo an SBI and FBI background check and fingerprinting to comply with a new state law.
♦ A rezoning request for 0.56 acres located at 508 South Main Street from suburban residential to local commercial after giving assurances to neighbors and the council that adequate rear parking would be constructed to avoid traffic issues.
♦ An amendment to the Troutman Schedule of Fees to add basketball and pickleball rental fees of $15 per hour for in-town residents and nonprofits and $25 for those out-of-town.
♦ Budget amendments for incoming revenue for the Police Department from insurance settlements to maintain and repair vehicles, for the Parks and Recreation Department from increasing revenues to purchase recreational supplies, and for the Public Works Department from insurance proceeds from fire damage and tractor damage claims.
♦ Appointment of Michael Adney to the Planning and Zoning Board as an inside alternate member.
♦ A resolution to award a service firearm to a retiring Troutman police officer.
♦ Setting an annexation hearing date for 1.24 acres at 491 Perry Road for November 13.