"Subdivisions boot Flat Rock soccer field plans"

From this morning's Times-News, Subdivisions boot Flat Rock soccer field plans:

Flat Rock Village Council proceeded with plans Thursday to form a committee of residents charged with finding common ground on the controversy surrounding the proposed building of a soccer complex at Highland Lake Golf Course if it's purchased by Henderson County.

Based on the feedback from homeowners who live on adjoining and nearby properties, however, there might not be any.

"All three of the subdivisions oppose the sale of this property to the county, and there will be no compromise on a soccer complex," Ginger Brown, president of the Highland Lake Village Homeowners Association, told the council at its monthly meeting.

Village Hall was packed for the 9:30 a.m. meeting — a rarity, Mayor Bob Staton joked. Staton was nearly forced to adjourn the meeting before it even started because the maximum capacity of the room was well-exceeded as people flowed out into the lobby area. Only when several residents volunteered to leave were the proceedings allowed to begin....

Staton began the meeting by saying compromise was needed because, "I don't think anybody here would approve the plan as it stands today." Staton reminded the crowd, however, that because the county's plan for a return on its investment relies on shared revenues with the Henderson County Soccer Association, the soccer complex comes with the package....

Staton said the council wouldn't take a vote on the matter until after the committee has had a chance to meet, and until it sees a request for a conditional or special-use permit because of zoning restrictions on the property....

Two sheriff's deputies were assigned to monitor the meeting, and they escorted one homeowner out of the building after he twice interrupted speaker John Dockendorf, a Flat Rock resident and business owner who has been an outspoken proponent of a park and soccer complex.

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