Hendersonville Lightning: Highland Lake Road bids more than double projected cost

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...

Hendersonville Lightning: Road updates: I-26, Kanuga Road, White Street, U.S. 64 roundabouts, NC 191

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....

Hendersonville Lightning: Railroad files notice that it plans to abandon line for Ecusta Trail

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...

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...

Hendersonville Lightning: Business owner pledges matching donation to fight asphalt plant

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....

Location changes

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).

N. Highland Lake Road along Pinecrest Presbyterian Church

Yes, down today

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...

Hendersonville Lightning: ‘Not trying to destroy Mother Earth,’ asphalt plant applicant says

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...

Hendersonville Lightning: Company refiles rezoning request for asphalt plant

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...

Hendersonville Lightning: Sale of rail corridor for Ecusta Trail could close in May

From the Lightning: John Mitchell, the county's director of business and community development, said the pieces of the [Hendersonville-to-Brevard rail line for the Ecusta Trail] project are falling into place or imminent, including the transfer of ownership of the tracks from Blue Ridge Railroad Co. to Conserving Carolina. "Our intention is to develop a longterm...

Hendersonville Lightning: Sign is up, speed is down in Flat Rock

From the Lightning: An effort over many years to lower the speed limit in the leisurely paced Village of Flat Rock has come to fruition. The NCDOT erected the new speed limit signs this week lowering the speed from 35 to 25 mph from Woodfield Inn Lane to just north of the Flat Rock Playhouse...

NC FIRST commission report & findings

The NC FIRST Commission was created to research and advise the North Carolina secretary of transportation about potential ways of developing a "sustainable long-range transportation investment strategy." The commission's final report and findings were released on​ January 8, 2021. (FIRST stands for "Future Investment Resources for Sustainable Transportation.") From the report's executive summary: The NC FIRST Commission was...

Update on the N. Highland Lake Road project (U-5887)

Time is drawing close for the N. Highland Lake Road project to begin. Without the support of the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board, the Flat Rock Village Council was unable to get the N. Highland Lake Road project cancelled. Here are some updates on the construction timeline and project cost: Construction timeline:NCDOT to let the project...

Times-News: Our view: On board for Ecusta Trail

From the Times-News editorial page: "Henderson County commissioners deserve the community’s thanks for backing the Ecusta Trail project with a $7 million loan to Conserving Carolina. The local land trust on Oct. 27 entered a contract with Blue Ridge Southern Railroad LLC, a division of WATCO Companies, to begin purchasing the Henderson County portion of...

Speed limit change on Greenville Highway

At the December 10 village council meeting, the council voted to accept Ordinance 108. The council had requested that NCDOT look into lowering the speed limit on this section of Greenville Highway several months ago. After studying the traffic in this area, NCDOT agreed to the council's request to lower the speed limit to 25...