From the Lightning: The North Highland Lake Road widening project and money the village might receive from a COVID relief grant were among a number of topics residents discussed Thursday evening during a town hall with their elected leaders. “Let’s have a conversation. Let’s see what’s on your mind,” Flat Rock Mayor Nick Weedman said... Continue Reading →
The Flat Rock Village Council will begin a series of town hall meetings for the village community July 8. These meetings will be held in various locations in the village to give residents a way to get involved with their local government and talk with their elected leaders. “It’s important that council members hear citizens’ priorities... Continue Reading →
T-N: Five town hall meetings set by Flat Rock Village Council to speak with residents
A clarification to this letter--the original estimate for the project was $2.62M (not $5M), and the total cost is now $9.57M. From today's Times-News letters to the editor: Taking issue with Highland Lake Road improvement plan To the Editor: Regarding the awarding of the contract for Highland Lake Road improvements, Flat Rock did not support... Continue Reading →
T-N letter to the editor: Taking issue with Highland Lake Road improvement plan
T-N letter to the editor: Elected officials let public down
From the June 25 Times-News: Elected officials let public down To the Editor: The North Highland Lake Road project in Flat Rock has been the poster child for the malpractice of governance from Day One. It began as a fever dream among some members of the previous village council who -- despite opposition from a... Continue Reading →
From the Hendersonville Lightning: The N.C. Department of Transportation recently awarded a contract to upgrade North Highland Lake Road with construction starting as soon as Oct. 1 — an amount that puts total project cost $7 million above engineers' original projection. In January of 2020, the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization voted 15-1 in... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Highland Lake Road project cost soars
From the Hendersonville Lightning: Henderson County Commissioner Michael Edney announced Wednesday that he will oppose a rezoning request to allow an asphalt plant in East Flat Rock. Edney said he was announcing his decision now "to help alleviate the fear and stress brought on by uncontrolled misinformation.". . . Here is Edney's full statement: "The... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Edney announces he’ll vote no on asphalt plant
And the saga continues. From the Lightning: Henderson County commissioners delayed a decision on a rezoning request to allow an asphalt plant in East Flat Rock, saying they needed more time to review information presented in a public hearing. The board voted 4-1 to delay a vote until June 1. The board's action came after... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Commissioners push asphalt plant decision to June 1
From the Hendersonville Lightning: The NCDOT rejected bids for the much-debated Highland Lake Road improvement after they came in at more than double the original estimate. Contractors' bids ranged from $6.1 million to $7.2 million, Mayor Nick Weedman told the Local Government Committee for Cooperative Action last week. The low bid exceeded the original estimate... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Highland Lake Road bids more than double projected cost
From the Lightning: [Lonnie Watkins, the NCDOT engineer for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties,] also reported that the Kanuga Road widening has been pushed off the current State Transportation Improvement Plan. The project now has a construction date of 2040. “It’s so far out they just put a date out in the future,” Watkins said.... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Road updates: I-26, Kanuga Road, White Street, U.S. 64 roundabouts, NC 191
From the Hendersonville Lightning: Blue Ridge Southern Railroad plans to file a notice with federal authorities that will lead to the abandonment of the 19.1-mile stretch of tracks that would become the Ecusta Trail, according to a legal notice. . . Official abandonment of the tracks is a crucial step that must be approved by... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Railroad files notice that it plans to abandon line for Ecusta Trail
CLG statement of support for the Friends of East Flat Rock
In July 2020, CLG issued the following statement in support of those opposing the re-zoning request for an asphalt plant in the East Flat Rock area. We're re-issuing this again to show our continued support in light of the developer's re-application for re-zoning: The Cultural Landscape Group:Flat Rock (CLG) supports the Friends of East Flat Rock in... Continue Reading →
From the Hendersonville Lightning: "Businesses near the site of a proposed asphalt plant in East Flat Rock are banding together to raise legal and advertising funds. Rick Baldaramos, new owner of Lakemont Cottages, announced Tuesday that he will match dollar for dollar the first $12,000 in Friends of East Flat Rock donations received through April 15.... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Business owner pledges matching donation to fight asphalt plant
The location for both the March 30 neighborhood compatibility meeting and the April 15 planning board meeting on the rezoning request to allow an asphalt plant in the East Flat Rock area has been changed to Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College (49 East Campus Drive, Flat Rock).
Location changes
N. Highland Lake Road along Pinecrest Presbyterian Church
Down today?
Word is that the trees at Pinecrest Presbyterian Church (corner of N. Highland Lake Road and Greenville Highway) are coming down today.
Trees down as utility relocation work starts on the N. Highland Lake Road project
Conditional rezoning request #R-2021-01-CD, proposed asphalt plant meetings
UPDATE: The location for both the March 30 neighborhood compatibility meeting and the April 15 planning board meeting will now be the Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College. Here are the upcoming meetings on Conditional Rezoning Request # R-2021-01-CD for the proposed asphalt plant, organized through the Henderson County Planning Department. This application was... Continue Reading →
From the Hendersonville Lightning: Southeastern Asphalt Co. Jeff Shipman defended his renewed effort to build an asphalt plant on Spartanburg Highway at the U.S. 25 connector, saying he has spent weeks looking for another site to no avail. . . “They were saying that they moved here for the zoning,” he said. “They didn’t have... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: ‘Not trying to destroy Mother Earth,’ asphalt plant applicant says
From the Hendersonville Lightning: "The owner of an asphalt company has refiled a rezoning application to build an asphalt plant in East Flat Rock, a move that is certain to renew a contentious battle between the company and neighboring land owners. Southeastern Asphalt Co. owner Jeff Shipman withdrew a rezoning application in December after the... Continue Reading →
