Watershed & Mobility main topics @ June 25, 2018 monthly Planning Board Meeting
The Planning Board did not hide their discontent concerning the watershed text amendments and outcomes from the joint work session that occurred with the Board of Commissioners (BOC) on June 5, 2018. Much discussion was had to find the difference in the Planning Board’s unanimous vote in support of the amendments and the Board of Commissioners decision to send it back for review. Is the charge of the Planning Board to support commissioners or lobby them to get on board with staff directed changes to the Davidson Planning Ordinance (DPO)?
Watershed Discussion:
According to the Planning Board, misinformation was provided to the BOC via citizen comments which lead Commissioners to believe there were issues with the proposed amendments and Mecklenburg County officials were not ‘on-board’ with the changes. Ordinance Committee members Ellen Donaldson and Shawn Copeland were able to correct the record stating that Mecklenburg County’s Water Quality expert, Rusty Rozzelle, is in complete agreement with the proposed changes …Except for sections 17.6.1 & 17.6.2, which deal with Expansions & Lots of Record and were items of concern with many citizens.
The Chair of the Planning Board, Mickey Pettus, then expanded on how after 6 months of hard work by the Planning Staff/Board, the Board of Commissioners were “ignorant about the watershed”. Later citing how Jim Fuller “just looked at me and said ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’”. Shortly after the ignorance statement, a board member asked if anyone knew where the 1993 year came from and if other towns had to adhere to the same date? If anyone has been following the watershed, this is a fairly well-known date.
Planning Board member Mike Minett brought up an interesting point about a 2016 Water quality report of the Lakes. Lake Davidson has good marks, but Lake Cornelius not so much. Something about high algae levels, causing low oxygen levels to points where fish and plants can’t survive. Ellen Donaldson seemed to agree with the concern, acknowledging how “the proposed Potts development will napalm all of the trees” and “how will that impact the lake”?
Mickey, Ellen & Shawn plan to meet one-on-one with the commissioners to review the amendments prior to the next BOC meeting, which is assumed to have voting on the agenda. Stating that 3 votes are needed to pass; discussion continued as to how certain commissioners would lean on the matter. One board member opened up by saying “pretty sure one [commissioner] won’t touch it”, while Pettus said “Matthew Fort and (Jane) Campbell get it – I couldn’t give you a nickel on the other ones. We’ve got some educatin’ to do”.
Mickey said several times that PB would not have hurt feelings if BOC did not approve of the water quality amendments they forwarded (noting that over time there had been plenty of disagreements) but that he would keep the process moving forward. Planning Board (PB) seemed to recognize that new BOC had so much to deal with that the put amendments on hold; but, Chair and others were surprised at how little was understood when so much (water quality) was at stake.
It sounds like the Planning Staff, Board and Ordinance Committee have their plates full. The Planning Board is set to present their recommendations at the next Board of Commissioners meeting, around July 11th. It sounds like a two-phased approach, tackle the easy stuff ASAP and address the complex by Oct/Nov 2018. Notices to those affected will be mailed citizens will be invited to come in for meetings at their request.
Mobility Discussion:
August 21, 2018 – Mobility Report meets builders
Planning Staff member, Travis Johnson indicated it would be September and maybe up to November before it got to BOC, Mickey expects October to be the month.
There is still time for input! We encourage everyone to stay on Town’s website for Davidson Mobility Plan updates and to make suggestions or comments
For more information:
– Visit www.davidsonmobilityplan.com
– Subscribe to the Davidson Mobility Plan eCrier list at www.townofdavidson.org/eCrier
– Contact Senior Planner Travis Johnson at tjohnson@townofdavidson.org or 704-940-9639