What would typically have been a routine agenda meeting of Flat Rock Village Council turned into a heated public forum Monday as residents of three communities voiced their concerns about Henderson County’s plans to purchase Highland Lake Golf Course and convert it into a soccer complex and public park.Read it all.
A standing-room-only crowd packed the assembly room at Flat Rock Village Hall to hear presentations by Clement Riddle, president of the Henderson County Soccer Association, Sheriff Rick Davis and Mike Edney, chairman of the county Board of Commissioners. Afterward, residents seized their chance to ask questions.
More than 90 minutes after the meeting began, Flat Rock Mayor Bob Staton had to halt the sometimes contentious Q&A so the council could finally begin its regularly scheduled meeting to set the agenda for its monthly meeting next Thursday.
“We don’t think a facility like this belongs in Flat Rock,” Ed Foster, president of the Highland Golf Villas Homeowners Association, said minutes later. “Flat Rock is a community that is proud of its historic heritage and a community that doesn’t need a soccer complex coming here that’s just totally out of place with the rest of the community.”...
“Why would you disrupt three neighborhoods with a soccer complex?” asked Mark Stewart, a resident of the Villas, which overlooks the current golf course and shares an entrance with the club. “When everybody else in the country tries to move them away from the population, we’re sticking it in between three communities.”...
Meanwhile, those associated with the project reiterated the support they and several Flat Rock and Hendersonville residents expressed during an Oct. 19 commissioners meeting, when the board voted 4-1 to purchase the 65-acre golf course from Course Doctors Inc. for $1.15 million....
Addressing concerns about park lighting, Riddle said there are currently no plans to light the fields because of the huge cost, and that there is “lots of room for negotiation with homeowners” if and when lighting is pursued years down the road.
Staton, who confirmed that lighting is not in the initial plan submitted by the soccer association — though it is in the county’s draft business plan, he said — was adamantly opposed to the idea....
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
"Flat Rock residents protest soccer complex at meeting"
Another Times-News article by Gary Glancy:
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The word "them" was used in this post - the problem here isn't partly racism against a people who use soccer as a form of exercise is it?
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth are you talking about? "Them" refers to those who play soccer. What is racial about soccer players? Get a grip.
ReplyDeleteya know everybody has a opinion lets let them live on the property and listen to whistles, yelling, lights, crime increase which the sheriff did say will happen ( NONE NOW) and economic depreciation plus a eye soar wake up people of Flat Rock WE SAY PARK YES SOCCER PARK NO WAY it will effect everone in flat rock
ReplyDeleteThe comment from Mr. Riddle about no plans yet for lights at the proposed soccer field smacks of typical language used when an element of a proposed project is particularly nasty to the surrounding environment.
ReplyDelete"No plans" is not the same thing as we will never install lights and we'll put it in writing. Plenty of communities have been duped by this language. Also, because he mentioned possible future negotiations with the surrounding communities if lights are installed, you can bet there will be lights in this projects future IF it goes forward.
The proposal is for 8 fields - times that by the number of lights that will be brought up in the future & you'll have a beacon visible from space.