Boone council discusses DOT
By Frank Ruggiero
Out with the old, in with the new.
The adage seems almost too appropriate, as a mixed-use development
will fit the space that formerly occupied the Boone Antique Mall.
Better known as “the
old Heilig-Myers building,” the space that up to
recently housed the Boone Antique Mall will be renovated
for mixed-use development of student housing and retail.
Photo by Mark
Mitchell |
The building, located on the corner of King and Water streets
and better known as “the old Heilig-Meyers building,”
is owned, in part, by John Winkler, who said he intends to renovate
the space to house a total of 10 four-bedroom units on the second
story and basement level, with retail use on the street level.
Winkler appeared before the Boone Town Council at its regular
meeting March 20, requesting 3,450 gallons per day (gpd) for the
project. He said approximately 2,900 gpd were already approved
in January, but since then, the scope of the project has been
expanded to include more units.
Council member Rennie Brantz asked Winkler what sort of time frame
he expected, and Winkler said crews were ready to start anytime,
hopefully in two to three weeks.
Council member Liz Aycock asked to whom the units would be marketed,
and Winkler said the residential portion would be high-end student
housing, with each unit approximately 1,400 square feet in size.
In terms of parking, he said 48 spaces were leased from the town
of Boone on Queen Street.
Architect Kimberly Marland presented the project’s design
to the council, saying the retail façade would face King
Street, while the apartment façade would face Water Street.
The awning and plywood upfront would be torn down and replaced
with brick.
Marland added that she’d like to see the 80-foot long front
façade divided into a series of several storefronts. “Whether
or not this is occupied by single retail or m any, it would give
a layered sort of look to the downtown space,” she said.
Aycock asked if the plans included adding a sidewalk on Water
Street, and Boone Public Works director Blake Brown said his department
is already working on it.
“I think it’s very important to maintain a retail presence
on the King Street side and think it would be important to condition
this allocation that no matter what there will be a retail [facing]
King Street,” Aycock said, adding that even though such a
use was presented in Winkler’s plans, she’d prefer to
see the allocation conditioned like so.
Aycock moved to approve the request with water from 2008’s
supply, on the condition that retail space is maintained on the
King Street façade. Mayor pro tem Lynne Mason seconded,
and the motion carried unanimously, with the exception of council
member Stephen Phillips, who recused himself from the proceedings
for having prior contact with the applicant.
Phillips said he had been approached by Winkler, who was curious
about the water allocation process.
Other matters
Due to the many bureaucratic roadblocks encountered with the
N.C. Department of Transportation, the council agreed to schedule
a special meeting with area DOT representatives.
A letter from Mayor Loretta Clawson on behalf of the council,
requesting enhancement of state-maintained roads, was met with
a response from Dean Ledbetter, division traffic engineer with
the DOT’s 11th Highway Division.
Regarding N.C. 105 issues, Ledbetter says in his letter that,
per the council’s request, the speed limit on N.C. 105
was reduced from 45 to 35 miles per hour, but that the installation
of a traffic signal at the N.C. 105-Poplar Hill Drive intersection
is unwarranted.
Recommendations for that particular area would be considered
in light of the proposed future development of a roadway to
link Appalachian State University to N.C. 105 at the intersection
of 105 and Poplar Grove Road.
Ledbetter said improvements to the U.S. 321 and N.C. 105 intersection
would include new wheelchair ramps and crosswalks on all legs
of the intersection. Concerning the council’s request for
additional crosswalks at other intersections, Ledbetter says,
“The decision to install crosswalks must be based on specific
needs, not simply on a desire to create a ‘pedestrian-friendly
environment’ or to ‘enhance safety.’
“Improperly placed crosswalks neither increase pedestrian
volumes nor improve pedestrian safety. They often only create
a feeling of safety and can be harmful by giving pedestrians
a false sense of security.”
The council also request that speed limits be reevaluated on
all state-maintained roads throughout town. “I am not aware
of any roadways within the town for which I feel the speed limits
are inappropriate,” Ledbetter says in the letter, adding
that if town staff is aware of specific problems, he would be
glad to evaluate such concerns.
“I think we’re at the point where writing letters
is not an effective way to resolve some of our transportation
issues,” Mason said, adding that the council’s concern
for safety includes neighborhoods located along old East King
Street to the site of the new Watauga High School.
She acknowledged that the DOT’s mission is to move vehicle
traffic, “but we’re at a point where there are some
other issues we need to be looking at and promoting alternative
transportation and making that safe.”
Mason moved to schedule a meeting with DOT officials, and Phillips
seconded, suggesting that other stakeholders be invited to attend.
The motion carried unanimously, with April 25 as a tentative
date and May 2 as the alternate.
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