“The only consistent thing I see around here is that we are really inconsistent.” -Commissioner Matthew Fort addresses the lack of written policies and the water/sewer process
If your head hurt during the Town of Davidson Board of Commissioners meeting last night, you are not alone. Many citizens felt like they had just left a four-hour SAT test after staff and commissioners discussed the watershed text amendments and water/sewer.
Commissioners drew their guns and fired the big questions:
1. If “the county” asked for the watershed text amendments, why have staff neglected to invite “the county” to come address the controversial topic?
2. Why are the text amendments being used for zoning rather than water quality?
3. If the goal is to address water quality, why is the planning department asking for big changes for single-family built upon area (BUA) in the critical watershed, but not for high-density developments?
4. Can the town send a text amendment notification postcard to every homeowner in the critical watershed?
5. Why can’t the Board of Commissioners approve/deny density averaging rather than the Board of Adjustment?
6. What is the current policy and process for voluntary annexation?
7. What is the current policy and process for water/sewer approval?
8. Why is there no written documentation or criteria for either of these processes?
The watershed text amendment discussion ended in a percentage soup. Can we build 24%? 34%? 46%? It became crystal clear that the subject is not ready for a board vote on June 12th.
Commissioners expressed intent to seek public input on the annexation/water/sewer process. The current, undocumented practice allows the Town Manager to approve water/sewer, but the commissioners are seeking to change this practice. They would like to see formal criteria and written documentation.
Plan your three-minute public comment for Tuesday, June 12th, at 6 pm.
Quotable Moments
“Why don’t we just get Rusty (Rozelle) in here?”
-Fort questions why planning staff say “the county” told them to write the controversial text amendments, but have not invited “the county” to come speak
“I hear you, I just don’t agree with you.”
-Fort questions planning staff on the watershed text amendments
“Wet detention ponds are required by our ordinance.”
-Senior Planner Trey Akers states that wet detention ponds are currently required in the critical watershed
“I’m not a water quality expert.”
-Planning Director Jason Burdette, Town of Davidson Watershed Administrator
“This is nowhere near consensus.”
-Mayor Rusty Knox acknowledges the watershed text amendments are not ready for a board vote
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