HL editorial: Flat Rock can make park work

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Some people said yippee and others said oh no when the Flat Rock Village Council voted last week to buy the Highland Lake golf course and develop it as a park.

We believe it was the right call.

As the Lightning has said in this space before, the Village Council exhibited a model of openness and transparency in its study of whether to buy the 66-acre tract, which is on the market for $1.3 million.

The Highland Lake Park Exploratory Committee covered an amazing amount of ground in just over three months, producing a 41-page report that recommended walking trails, a playground, picnic shelters and other passive features phased in over a number of years.

The council has some time, assuming it reaches agreement with the property owner to buy the land, to make plans. Mayor Bob Staton said the council has already notified course owners Jim Sparks and Tom Davis that they may go ahead and sell season memberships through September. Under that time frame, the village would take possession of the property in October. That's when the council will squarely confront the big question — now what?...

Read it all.

Flat Rock Playhouse offers discount for county residents

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Flat Rock Playhouse is offering local people a $5 discount to the first shows of the season — "The Odd Couple" on the Mainstage and "Cotton Patch Gospel" at Playhouse Downtown as a thank you their support over the past few months....

Read it all.

Flat Rock Playhouse hires new financial manager

Stories in both the Hendersonville Lightning and the Times-News on new hires at the Flat Rock Playhouse. From the HL:

The Flat Rock Playhouse has hired a theater manager from Dallas as managing director of the Playhouse, giving her responsibility for budget development and administration, personnel, contract negotiations, marketing and strategic development.

Hillary Hart, a 2000 graduate of the UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, has been with the Dallas Theater Center since 2006. In that job she was responsible for budgeting and strategic planning, contract negotiations, union relations, intellectual properties, vendor relations, personnel and development, said Playhouse president Bill McKibbin, who announced Hart's hiring on Saturday.

The hiring of a general manager with a background in financial management was a key demand of donors who helped the Playhouse survive a financial crisis last year....

McKibbin, the Playhouse president, described the addition of Hart as a structural change that matches the way other regional theaters are managed. It's a departure from the long history of the official state theater of North Carolina, which was led creatively and managed financially for 56 years by founder Robroy Farquhar followed by his son, Robin.

"With this hire, the Flat Rock Playhouse will be adopting the management structure that most non-profit theaters of our size have used for decades," McKibbin said in a news release. The model is made up of equal administrators — the artistic director and a managing director — both directly accountable to the Board of Trustees, he said. "This is a long-term structural change designed to get us fully up-to-date on today's best practices in non-profit theater management," he added....

Stephen Terry, a lighting designer from San Diego who has worked in Playhouse shows in the past, has come on board as fulltime production manager, filling the role that Billy Munoz had held. Terry announced his new job in a Facebook posting....

Read it all, and from the Times-News:

After interviewing more than 40 applicants, Flat Rock Playhouse has hired the former general manager of the Dallas Theater Center in Texas as its new managing director.

Hillary Hart, a 2000 graduate of the University of North Carolina's School of the Arts, will start work April 2. She will report to the Playhouse's board of trustees directly and work collaboratively with Artistic Director Vincent Marini.

Her primary responsibilities will be financial management of the nonprofit theater, said Board Chairman Bill McKibbin, including budget development and administration, personnel, contract negotiations, marketing, strategic planning and daily operations of YouTheatre.

McKibbin said having two equal administrators — one managing, one artistic — who are both accountable to the board was a structural change that brings the Playhouse more in line with what other nonprofit theaters of its size have done for decades....

Hart said the Playhouse's reputation as an “organization with deep roots in the community” was also a draw. She and her husband have a 5-year-old son who is starting kindergarten, so the couple was also looking for a family-friendly area in the mountains to call home, she said....

While Hart's resume was strong on the financial management side, McKibbin said her well-rounded theater background made her an even more impressive candidate. Before joining DTC in 2006, Hart worked as production manager for the renowned Alvin Ailey II dance company and has served, at various times, as a stage hand, writer and director....

Read it all.

Catching up. . .

So of course, I had to be out of town for the past two weeks when all of the excitement was taking place! (But yes, Phoenix was very sunny and warm, and most importantly of all, had wifi--thank goodness for the Internet.)

So, playing catch up, here are a few things you might find to be of interest.

First, yesterday's editorial in the Times-News:

Flat Rock Village Council should buy Highland Lake Golf Club to create a park, especially now that leaders have determined the village can afford to do so without raising taxes....

There are several good reasons for the village to build a park, including strong public support. Many residents who opposed the idea of the county building a soccer complex at the site in 2011 are much more accepting of the village’s plan for a “passive” park, with walking trails but no ballfields....

It may not be possible for village leaders to issue an ironclad guarantee that having a park will never, ever require a tax increase. But with such a healthy reserve fund, the village should be able to build the park with careful budgeting that avoids the need to raise taxes.

Among the many reasons for Flat Rock to seize this opportunity is the chance to protect a valuable gateway to the village from possible development while providing residents of all ages with places to exercise and play....

Read it all. And check out the information that Vice Mayor Nick Weedman presented on the financial impact if the village of Flat Rock goes through with the park purchase. I won't quote the facts and figures (you can check those out online), but the conclusions are:

• Park purchase would take fund balance to $3 million 
• Developments should be made over several years 
• Minimal grant and donations are projected Park purchase and development could be done without a tax increase 
• Two operational questions of significance 
      - How to manage the facility (volunteer vs contract)
      - Security (is supplemental security needed and cost)

And recommendations:

• Define areas needing further study
• If Council votes to purchase property
      - Quickly appoint Park Management Committee
      - Staff support from Village Administrator
      - Have one or two Council members as permanent liaison to the Park Management Committee
      - Apply for 501(c)(3) status
      - Start grant and donation activities
      - Refine current plan and secure Council approval

Habemus Parkum! [Update]

Well, not quite yet--negotiations on price still to come--but I couldn't resist. From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The Flat Rock Village Council voted unanimously Thursday morning to move forward with negotiations to buy Highland Lake Golf Course and develop it as a passive park.

The vote was unanimous after all seven council members expressed support for the plans. They said an analysis by vice mayor Nick Weedman suggesting there would be no need for a tax increase was one factor.

“I think we all realize that this is a paradigm shift in village policy and over the next two or three years, the torch is going to pass to a new generation of Village leadership and I’m encouraged by the fact that that generation has had a part in the planning for this park,” said Councilman Ron Davis.

“It’s clear to me,” said Councilman Jim Wert, “that a majority of the folks favor pursuing the park idea. I think a key point for me was the analysis Councilman Weedman did on the taxes, (showing that) we should be able to support the development and maintenance of this park without the consideration of a tax increase for several years.”...

"Notwithstanding Councilman Weedman’s excellent work I don’t personally want to and I don’t think that the council wants to promise that there will not be a tax increase," Davis said.

Weedman agreed, saying this council cannot bind future councils to any action.

"I am in favor," Weedman said, though "not without some trepidation, because we are opening a door to the unknown. Who knows how this thing is going to go in the future."...

The council went into a closed session to discuss a price the village would offer to owners of the property, Jim Sparks and Tom Davis and their company, Course Doctors. The land has been on the market for $1.3 million but council members have said they thought they could pay less than that. The Henderson County Board of Commissioners had tentatively agreed in the fall of 2011 to buy the land for $1.1 million before the county scrapped that deal....

Read it all.

UPDATE: Also from the Times-News:

Calling it a “paradigm shift” and a “big step out of the box,” Flat Rock’s village council unanimously agreed Thursday to move forward on purchasing the Highland Lake Golf Course for a municipal park.

By a 7-0 vote, members approved Councilman Dave Bucher’s motion that the village authorize the mayor to negotiate a purchase of the park in a closed meeting with principles of Course Doctors Inc., which owns the 66-acre property.

Council members acknowledged there are still unanswered questions about the cost of operating and maintaining the park, but chose moving forward over further analysis since the subject has been thoroughly vetted over the past six months....

Immediately following the vote, council went into a closed session to discuss the terms and price of its offer to Course Doctors. Council members were not expected to disclose their offer until it’s presented to the owners, Staton said, perhaps on Friday.

Read it all. 

Agenda for March 14 Flat Rock village council meeting

From the village of Flat Rock website, the agenda for this Thursday's village council meeting (yes, there will be discussion/action on the park):

AGENDA

FLAT ROCK VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING
VILLAGE HALL ASSEMBLY ROOM
110 VILLAGE CENTER DRIVE
MARCH 14, 2013
9:30 AM

Call to Order

Moment of Silent Meditation

Pledge of Allegiance

Agenda Approval/Changes

Public Comments

Consent Agenda
1. February 4, 2013 – Agenda Workshop Minute
    February 14, 2013 – Council Meeting Minutes

Special Reports
2. Administrator’s Report – Village Administrator Boleman
3. Village Hall – Council Member Wert
4. Tax Report – Vice Mayor Weedman
5. Sidewalk Update – Council Member Farr
6. Comprehensive Land Use Plan – Council Member Chandler

Old Business

7. Highland Lake Park – Discussion/action

New Business

Other Business
8. Mayor - Council Reports

Public Comments

Adjournment

Flat Rock council: No tax increase necessary for park

From the Times-News:

Flat Rock can afford to buy Highland Lake Golf Course and develop it into a passive park in phases without raising taxes, Vice Mayor Nick Weedman told an overflowing room during a public hearing Monday.

Weedman presented a financial analysis, based on numbers from an exploratory committee report, showing it would cost the village about $1.21 million through 2019 to operate the park, averaging about $200,000 per year.

While creating the 66-acre park would shrink the village’s fund balance from $5.6 million to slightly more than $3 million by 2019, he said no tax hike would be necessary to run it. Taxes have been the main bone of contention for park opponents....

Weedman, the council’s finance officer, said the key is spreading the costs of park development over several years. He outlined a plan that would spend $1.4 million in 2013 to get the park up and running, and roughly $982,000 over the next six years, assuming $200,000 in donations for a playground in 2016-17 and a $460,000 state grant....

However, a few park opponents were undeterred by Weedman’s analysis. Kenmure resident Warner Behley, who was instrumental in creating that subdivision’s park, said, “I think you’re greatly underestimating the cost (of maintenance)” and predicting the park would be “underutilized” except by dog walkers....

The vast majority of those in the packed room spoke in favor of the village buying the land, saying it would protect a valuable gateway to the community from possible development while providing kids and adults alike with places to exercise and play....

A decision about whether to buy the property could come as early as the next council meeting Thursday, Mayor Bob Staton told the audience.

Read it all.

My letter on the park decision

I sent this letter yesterday to Mayor Bob Staton and the village of Flat Rock council members.

Dear Mayor and Council members:

Since I won’t be able to attend the Monday evening meeting, I am sending you my comments here on the possible purchase of the Highland Lake Golf Club by the village of Flat Rock. I am in favor of this purchase for the following reasons:

• The Highland Lake Golf Club location is one of the entrances to the village of Flat Rock. Losing this location to increased development (even if some open space remains) will directly impact the “look and feel” of the village. Creation of a village park in general is not a high priority for me, but retaining the rural, pastoral character of the village is, and developing this location as a low impact, passive park helps keep that character.
• Although the village of Flat Rock is primarily residential with large lots, it has limited open space on its municipal boundaries. I agree with Doug Johnson’s point made at the Feb. 25 special council meeting that saving this property now as open space helps keep at bay any encroaching development later. I have lived in areas where development between communities has essentially over time obliterated any difference between those communities. The area then becomes one large urban/suburban tract. Flat Rock has a unique character, and by providing space between the village and the city of Hendersonville or any additional commercial development, a park can help maintain that character. There is no guarantee that the property would remain open space if bought by a private entity. The point has been made that of the 66 acres, almost two-thirds are in a flood plain and would not be developed. That is not necessarily true. While it would be very expensive and would require zoning variances, residential development of the flood plain area could be approved in the future, thereby eliminating any open space.
• The village population has almost doubled since 1990. Then, the population was 1,721 residents, and now (from 2011), the population is approx. 3,159, an increase of 83.5% (Henderson County Planning Department). I understand from what Bob Demartini has written that at incorporation in 1995, many residents wanted to make sure that village government stayed limited with no additional tax increases. I agree with that in principle, but the reality is that the village in 2013 is different from the village in 1995. The more people there are, the more demand for increased residential development and the greater loss of green space. I think the village council has an obligation to preserve the quiet pastoral nature of the village where it can to help mitigate some of the increased development. The golf course location is ideal for this because it is in an area that has seen much of the residential growth over the past decade.

There are some caveats to the purchase, however:

• The village of Flat Rock should be the only governmental body that has control over the park. Henderson County should not have any control over land the village buys. If the village decides the best option for maintenance is to contract with the county, the contract should relate to maintenance only.
• The property has been on the market for two years with no buyers. I believe strong negotiations on price are essential for the village to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. The asking price is just that—an asking price, not a final amount. (Yes, the village council should be prepared to walk away if the price isn’t right.)
• I hope the village will work closely with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on any entrance/exit requirements to keep the rural character of the roads in the area.
• The village should carefully monitor any grant applications to make sure the village is not giving up any control or committing to unknown expenditures if certain grant monies are accepted.

If the village does purchase the property for a park, it will change the relationship of the village council with the village residents. Certain expectations and obligations will be entered into, and there is the possibility of a property tax increase. All of that is not to discourage the purchase, but rather to say that if the property is purchased, we need to work together to create a park we can all enjoy while carefully managing the financial responsibilities.

Thank you.

Second public input meeting set for Flat Rock park

From the Times-News:

Sensitive to claims that an earlier meeting excluded working families, the Village of Flat Rock has scheduled another special meeting to take public input on a proposed municipal park at Highland Lake Golf Course.

On Feb. 25, council held a 2 p.m. special meeting to discuss the possible purchase of 66 acres owned by Course Doctors Inc. for use as a passive, dawn-to-dusk park, as recommended by an exploratory committee last month.

Roughly a dozen village residents in the packed assembly room asked council to hold a referendum before deciding on the purchase, citing concerns about higher taxes and the redundancy of more parks and trails.

But John Dockendorf, an exploratory committee member and local camp director, said the afternoon meeting didn't fairly represent the spectrum of public opinion because "clearly at 2 o'clock … working people and families are not represented in this room."

Several council members agreed with that assessment, said Mayor Bob Staton. So the village has scheduled another special meeting from 7-9 p.m. Monday [March 11] at Village Hall to gather more public input on the proposed park.

Staton said if more people show up to speak than can fit into the village's small assembly room, the meeting will be pushed to the following night, Tuesday, March 12, at the parish hall of St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church on Greenville Highway....

Residents who can't make the March 11 meeting can also mail their comments to council at Village of Flat Rock, P.O. Box 1288, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

Read it all.

Special park meeting March 11

Notice of Special Meeting

The Flat Rock Village Council will conduct a special meeting on Monday, March 11, 2013, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., in the Village Hall Assembly Room to obtain public input on the village's proposed purchase of the Highland Lake Golf Course, located at 34 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock, NC, and its redevelopment as a municipal park primarily for passive recreational uses.

The Village Hall is located at 110 Village Center Drive, Flat Rock, NC.

Council agenda meeting March 4

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Monday, March 4, at 9:30 a.m. is the regularly scheduled Flat Rock village council agenda meeting. I believe that they will be continuing their discussion on the possible purchase of the golf course for a village park, so if you're interested, be there!