Rep. Chuck McGrady's farewell newsletter.
The asphalt company owner seeking a rezoning to allow an asphalt plant in East Flat Rock has withdrawn the application. . . The proposed plant had set off a broad-based opposition campaign from neighbors, environmental activists, summer camp owners and others, saying that the plant would cause air pollution and water pollution, hurt property values... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Applicant withdraws request for asphalt plant
Time for another round of Coffee with a Transportation Planner (held now via Facebook Live). Join French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) staff on October 14 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss ongoing initiatives in transportation development in our region.
Coffee with a transportation planner
Public hearing on asphalt plant re-zoning request
Who: Henderson County Board of Commissioners What: Special Meeting - Public Hearing for consideration of re-zoning application for asphalt plant in East Flat Rock When: October 1, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. Where: Technology Education and Development Center, Blue Ridge Community College (49 E. Campus Drive, Flat Rock)
Unfortunately, the N. Highland Lake Road project seems to be one of the few not delayed. From the Lightning: "Nearly all the major state highway projects scheduled for construction in Henderson County would be postponed — some for years — under a recommendation the cash-strapped NCDOT has sent to regional planning agencies. The project delays... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: NCDOT seeks to delay $292 million in road projects in Henderson County
A regional transportation planning agency on Thursday awarded $7 million worth of greenway construction money to Henderson County — roughly $5 million for the first 5¾ miles of the Ecusta Trail and $2 million for the Clear Creek Greenway in Hendersonville. The French Broad MPO voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of a committee that... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: MPO awards $7 million for Ecusta Trail, Clear Creek Greenway construction
A 150-mile network of trails across five counties would include the proposed Ecusta Trail, the Oklawaha Trail from Blue Ridge Community College to Westfeldt Park and a link from Westfeldt Park to Brevard, the Henderson County Transportation Advisory Committee learned last week. The plan is unfunded and a long way from becoming a reality. Of... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: MPO rolls out plan for 150-mile Hellbender Trail
The Flat Rock Village Council voted last week to kill a $40,000 bicycle-pedestrian study that envisioned an ambitious network of greenways and sidewalks linking popular destinations along public roads and through undeveloped land. The board’s action was the latest in a series of moves by the newly elected council majority to roll back or kill... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Village Council dumps $40,000 bike-ped plan
Short-circuiting a long night and dozens of comments at a public hearing, the Henderson County Planning Board voted to recommend that the Board of Commissioners deny a rezoning request that would permit an asphalt plant in East Flat Rock. . .
Hendersonville Lightning: Planning Board turns thumbs down on asphalt plant
From the Hendersonville Lightning: State Rep. Chuck McGrady said Saturday he plans to resign from his House seat next month before taking a seat on the North Carolina Board of Transportation. . . McGrady has a substantial portfolio in road planning and transportation policy. He served on the Georgia Board of Transportation, was chair of... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: McGrady will resign from House to take NCDOT board seat
Public comment period on the French Broad River MPO Hellbender Regional Trail Plan
From the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), a public comment period is open now until August 21 on a plan for a regional trail network, the Hellbender Regional Trail. This plan puts together the various bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway plans developed locally in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties. You can view... Continue Reading →
From the Times-News: The General Assembly gave its final approval on Wednesday to a North Carolina transportation funding and governing overhaul following a recent stinging audit and COVID-19-related revenue declines at the Department of Transportation. The House agreed 99-17 to the Senate version of the bill, which also would let legislative leaders pick six members... Continue Reading →
Times-News: Transportation spending, governing changes heading to Cooper
CLG supports the Friends of East Flat Rock
The Cultural Landscape Group:Flat Rock (CLG) supports the Friends of East Flat Rock in their work to protect their community from any damaging impact to their environment and residential neighborhoods due to a re-zoning request to build an asphalt plant on property incompatible for that purpose. The property is currently zoned Community Commercial, and an... Continue Reading →
From the Associated Press: A proposed financial and governing overhaul for North Carolina’s Department of Transportation received unanimous state Senate approval this week even though it would lessen Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s control of the DOT board. The measure, which now goes to the House after more Senate floor debate on Friday, locates over $600... Continue Reading →
AP: Money, board overhaul at N.C. transportation clears state Senate
From the Hendersonville Lightning: The General Electric plant, the largest employer in East Flat Rock since the 1950s and one of Henderson County's oldest manufacturing operations, has come out against the proposed asphalt plant a few hundred yards down the road. Plant manager David Martin and human relations manager Lisa Richmond notified employees Thursday that... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: GE comes out against asphalt plant
From the Hendersonville Lightning: Facing a broad grassroots campaign against his request, a rezoning applicant seeking permission to build an asphalt plant in east Flat Rock has delayed the request by two months. . . But after opponents fired dozens of questions during a neighborhood compatibility meeting last week— questions they insist remain unanswered —... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Applicant gets delay of asphalt plant rezoning until August
From the Hendersonville Lightning: The Flat Rock Village Council voted unanimously on Thursday to urge the Henderson County Board of Commissioners to deny a rezoning request that would allow an asphalt plant on Spartanburg Highway at U.S. 25 Connector in East Flat Rock. . . Though the location for the proposed plant is outside village... Continue Reading →
Hendersonville Lightning: Village Council urges county to reject asphalt plant
From the Times-News: An estimated 150 or more neighbors and interested parties electronically attended a neighborhood capability meeting Monday, many expressing opposition to a proposed asphalt plant at the Spartanburg Highway and U.S. 25 interchange near East Flat Rock. Jeff Shipman of SE Asphalt has requested that the county conditionally rezone 6.5 acres off Spartanburg... Continue Reading →
T-N: Neighbors oppose asphalt plant proposed for East Flat Rock
From the Times-News: An asphalt plant has been proposed at the Spartanburg Highway and U.S. 25 interchange near East Flat Rock. Jeff Shipman of SE Asphalt is asking for the county to conditionally rezone 6.5 acres off Spartanburg Highway to construct a new asphalt drum plant. The land is currently zoned community commercial. A neighborhood... Continue Reading →
T-N: Asphalt plant proposed near East Flat Rock; Meeting set for neighbors
From the Hendersonville Lightning: . . . [Senate Transportation Committee] Lawmakers asked [NCDOT] department officials how, in fiscal year 2018-19, the DOT spent $742 million more than its budget, based on a May audit report. Senators reviewed the department’s budgeting process, its oversight mechanisms and its responsibility for the budget hole that threw the transportation... Continue Reading →
