Sunday, June 24, 2012

Soucek's ETJ Bill To Be Heard in House Rules Committee Tomorrow

The Dan Soucek "Big Developer Enhancement and Bonanza Act" (a.k.a., Senate Bill 949) has passed the NC Senate and is under consideration in the NC House, where it is supposed to be heard by the House Rules Committee tomorrow (Monday) at 5 p.m.

We managed to receive a copy of the following intercepted e-mail addressed to the Republican leadership of that committee and some other members of it:

Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 3:58 PM
To: Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net; Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net; Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Stephen.LaRoque@ncleg.net; Bill.Faison@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net
Subject: Boone ETJ
Importance: High

Gentlemen:

I oppose the bill to remove Boone’s ETJ powers.

I grew up living in Boone, NC, currently own undeveloped land in Watauga County outside the Town limits, presently reside in Durham, and have helped host over a dozen family members visiting and renting accommodations in Boone and in Watauga County in the last two weeks. I first moved to Boone in 1957, and my family ties there go back to before 1950. I worked there as a land surveyor two summers during college, have watched the impact of growth as my family has added to our land holdings there over a span of 50 years, and do have some awareness of the issues facing the Town and County and their history, especially on issues of expanding population and housing.

I urge you not to pass the ill-conceived bill that has made it through the Senate that would remove Boone’s extra-territorial jurisdiction over some aspects of Watauga County. While many would prefer a simpler world, the Town and County are not isolated entities and necessarily must function like an inter-related ecosystem, in aspects of water, view-shed, projected growth, and governments. Over-simplification of the issues divorcing the two, while making a good political sound bite in these anti-government times, ignores the important realities of the relationship and interdependence. The Town and ASU bring valuable business, income, resources, and human capital to the area, all of which significantly benefit the County and its residents. At a minimum, let’s take a step back from that decision to review its real impact.

I hope that you will see through the thinly veiled attempt of some long-time, powerful developers and their political pawns, who have only their personal, selfish, short-term interests at heart, to limit the Town’s involvement in issues that are critical for the entire area in the future evolution of a reasonable, spreading community.

Thank you for considering serious implications of this for ourselves and for our children’s children.


12 comments:

Dusty Roads said...

Ok, i have to jump in on this one. The Town of Boone has a very long history of abusing it's powers by way of the planning and inspections department. The only way you cannot know this is if you have never been a part of any type of building project that falls under the rule of planning anfd inspections. Especially if you were the the one paying the the bills. I suspect everyone who is not supporting this bill has never had to pull a permit from the town because, if you have there os no way you could not support this bill. Take it from someone who knows and who could care less about politics the town has abused its power in so many ways. I know some are gonna jump on this but unless you have pulled a permit from boone in the last year i really dont care what you have to say!

Anonymous said...

I would be interested to know, of those that oppose this bill, how many of you have had a building permit in your name from the town within the last year? I would be willing to bet that anyone that has had to pay the bill on any building permit with Boone in the ladt year or so would be supporting this bill!

Anonymous said...

Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2012 3:58 PM
To: Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net; Joe.Hackney@ncleg.net; Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Stephen.LaRoque@ncleg.net; Bill.Faison@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net
Subject: Boone ETJ
Importance: High

Gentlemen:

I support the bill to remove Boone’s ETJ powers.

I grew up living in Boone, NC, and currently own undeveloped land in Watauga County outside the Town limits.

The Town of Boone is famous for abusing its power. They do not follow their own code.

Thank you for removing power that is being abused, especially as those being hurt can't even vote against the people abusing them.

Anonymous said...

Why do you limit your question to the last year? Are you admitting the abuse in previous years? If so, what makes you think it has changed in the last year?

Anonymous said...

I had to have a permit last year to have a furnace installed. The Boone inspector couldn't have been nicer, and he corrected the error my "contractor" had made, which would have probably caused a fire. This stuff is just the old misdirection play.

Anonymous said...

I pulled a permit for a remodel for my house in town, and had a great experience. Did a lot of work for myself, but subbed out the plumbing and electrical. On the prelim final inspection, the Boone Planning Dept. inspector pointed out issues that might be problematic at the final (like trip hazards - transitions between raised tile and wood floors). I took care of them, the final took 10 minutes, and I got my CO, no problem. On top of that, he was a nice guy, and pointed out a dryer vent issue (not part of the project) that I was able to correct that solved a long-standing problem.

I typically find if you act like a rational adult, you'll be treated like one.

Anonymous said...

Have you went through the conditional or special use permit process?

Anonymous said...

Ah, so now we've moved from "any type of building project that falls under the rule of planning and inspections" and "had a building permit in your name" and "pull a permit from the town".... to "conditional" district zoning projects and "special use" permits.

This seems to be a moving bar of outrage, esp. if those posting don't understand the difference between building/remodeling in accordance with existing zoning, versus higher-impact uses that quite rightfully require special use permits and developer-initiated conditional district zoning. These latter potentially high-impact projects also allow for public hearings, which is also a good idea, since they might negatively effect the nearby homeowners or landowners reasonable enjoyment of their property.

The fact that Anon 3:02 is now asking only these two issues is really telling. This is all about developers, not homeowners. And it passed committee 10-9, btw. I listened to the committee meeting online. I didn't think much of Soucek before, but after hearing his comments before the committee, I am convinced he is 1) an empty suit, and 2) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Templeton, Inc.

MG said...

The TOB abuses are many. An elderly woman is denied a varianc for a garage after paying a huge sum for the right to ask her neighbors while two others are given these variances without the input of neighbors because they financially support town council candidates. That is an abuse of power. This happened in my neighborhood. Why do you think if you live in the ETJ that Boone powers that be will protect you. We have a frat house in our neighborhood in town along with the lunatic that shut down our entire neighborhood after terrorizing us for years all with the consent of the Boone pd. a pd lead by the mayors hand picked puppet. Why do you think drugs are such a problem in Boone. The mayor and council only protect their consisuents. The pushers and users. Wake up people. The inmates are running the asylum!

Anonymous said...

It's about developers, not homeowners - exactly right! It's about a few wealthy people who have a direct line of communication with Soucek and have convinced him that the little town of Boone is all scary and bad. In reality, homeowners benefit from sensible building codes and zoning. And neither of these is unreasonable in Boone, especially if you consider the challenges that are posed by building in the mountains.

Sad to see that the regular people who live in this area are being bypassed in order to satisfy developers who evidently can't be bothered to construct their buildings to code.

MG said...

12:55AM Anon
It's about developers, not homeowners - exactly right! It's about a few wealthy people who have a direct line of communication with Soucek and have convinced him that the little town of Boone is all scary and bad. In reality, homeowners benefit from sensible building codes and zoning. And neither of these is unreasonable in Boone, especially if you consider the challenges that are posed by building in the mountains.

Sad to see that the regular people who live in this area are being bypassed in order to satisfy developers who evidently can't be bothered to construct their buildings to code.

Can you tell us who... what developers want this? Can you give evidence?

Anonymous said...

So developers have no rights? Who built the house where you live< Anon 7:21? Do you live on a lot in a subdivision? Who created the subdivision? Does your lot hurt the neighborhood? Do you have a piece of the pie so you think it is time to quit slicing the pie? What about future buyers that would like a piece?