No End to Maple Trace Problem, STR Regulations

Maple Trace HOA Vice President David King pleads his case as Maple Trace HOA President Jeff Nipet (right) stands behind him. Photo by Clint Parker

Weaverville – The June (June 24) meeting lacked a 2024-2025 budget, which was discussed and adopted during a 15-minute workshop on June 18. The $9.3 million budget did not include a property tax increase. Weaverville Fire Chief Scottie Harris also was named acting city manager in place of Selena Coffey, who is on extended medical leave on doctor’s orders due to what Coffey told the Tribune last week was a “hostile work environment.”

At the regular meeting, council continued to grapple with the Maple Trace annexation and short-term rental regulations. Both issues were debated ad nauseam and were once again adjourned to a later date.

In the consent program, the city made budget amendments to the police budget of $52,000 from Buncombe County for school resource officers, a $5,000 grant and an insurance payment for damages to the police department. The consent program also included the lease of the Dry Ridge Historical Museum, an update to the ADA transition plan, amendments to the personnel policy – ​​reclassifications/plan amendments and several board appointments.

Then came the city manager’s report, presented by acting city manager Scottie Harris. The report was brief, and the council moved on to public comment.

First to speak was Darla Letournean, who said city residents had noticed what was happening with city government and wanted to know what was happening. “I’m asking the council tonight to be transparent with the public about what’s going on.” She listed resignations, the deputy mayor stepping down and the city manager’s contract being delayed. “We deserve to know what’s going on and why.” When she finished, the council responded without saying a word.

Other residents commented on the Maple Trace annexation, short-term rental regulations and the need to relocate the pickleball court because of noise, which came after spending $25,000 to reduce noise at the courts.

As mentioned earlier, there was a lengthy discussion about the short-term rental issue. After hearing from City Attorney Jennifer Jackson, who could not guarantee that the regulations would not result in a lawsuit, the council postponed the matter.

In the Maple Trace discussion, the conversation focused mostly on the city, considering the roads that the council says are below standards and that the city says testing has confirmed. The president and vice president of the Maple Trace Homeowners Association (HOA) were very passionate in their calls for the development and roads to be accepted into the city, even questioning the impartiality of Public Works Director Dale Pannell in his opinion not to recommend that the streets be included in the city system.

HOA President Jeff Nipet first criticized the credibility of residents who opposed the annexation during public comment, explaining how the roads were built and repaired. HOA Vice President David King criticized Pannell’s opinion that the city was being asked to come in and take over “a failing road system, regardless of what Mr. Pannell says. I disagree with that… there’s more than one engineer, there’s more than one opinion.”

Councilman Doug Jackson was concerned about the language about the city’s lack of oversight of the repairs. Nipet said the city is welcome to come and oversee the work.

Councilwoman Catherine Cordell was adamant that it shouldn’t even be scheduled for a hearing, much less a vote. Nevertheless, the hearing was scheduled for the next regular council meeting, and Cordell was the only person to vote “no.”

The council adopted updated sign regulations “to provide greater clarity, consistency and compliance with the law” and updated changes to the recreation complex/playground code, one of which prohibits weapons in the city’s recreation center and playground while stating it does not prohibit weapons at the lakefront or on walking trails.

The council then accepted the No. 9 Pleasant Grove Road water connection to the city system, then heard the quarterly report from Public Works and Water and adjourned for the night.