Town of Weddington Fall Newsletter

THE

FALL

2018

WEDDINGTON JOURNAL The Official Newsletter for the Town of Weddington, North Carolina

Weddington Survey Results...

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WEDDINGTON

In this issue...

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The results of the town-wide survey conducted this summer have been collected. Read about how the data is being analyzed and the “overwhelming concerns” residents mentioned on page 3.

Weddington’s land conservation project is in full swing.

A special message from the Weddington Town Council and Mayor Callis.

These Litter Sweep volunteers spent almost 200 hours picking up trash around Weddington.

Have any questions about the community?

Contact us!

TOWN HALL

1924 Weddington Rd. | Weddington, NC P H O N E | (704) 846 - 2709 E - M A I L | lthompson@townofweddington.com W E B | www.townofweddington.com

Weddington Journal - The Official Community Newsletter for the Town of Weddington - Fall 2018

SAY HELLO TO OUR

New Deputies

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he Town of Weddington would like to introduce you to our two newest deputies, Deputy Shawn Dodd (left) and Deputy Romana Marks (right). The Town of Weddington contracts with the Union County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement services for residents and businesses. The current contract provides the town with three officers who are stationed out of town hall.

After graduating from Weddington High School, Deputy Dodd went on to receive his Criminal Justice degree from Methodist University. In his spare time, he coaches basketball for his high school alma mater where he enjoys serving as a positive role model for the local youth. When asked what inspired him to pursue a career in law enforcement he shared that both his father and grandfather served on the force.

Deputy Romana Marks was raised on the west coast in Oregon.

Before joining Weddington, Marks served for the Town of Marshville. Her father, a retired sheriff, inspired her to pursue a career in law enforcement. In her spare time, Deputy Marks makes a special effort to drop by the local schools to engage with the students. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending downtime at home with her fiancÊ and dog.

friendly, approachable, and available to the Town of Weddington residents and businesses. They would like everyone to feel comfortable reaching out to them.

Both Deputy Dodd and Deputy Marks would like the local community to know that they are here to serve and protect. They are

Randall Arendt Conservation by Design

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he Town of Weddington is preparing to revamp the Conservation Subdivision Ordinance. The ordinance will address community concerns that came to light in a recent resident survey as well as suggestions given

by Randall Arendt who was hired by the town to conduct case studies on existing conservation subdivisions.

The purpose of a conservation subdivision is to preserve 40-60% of the land to be used for trails, usable open space, more trees, and better stormwater management. The new ordinance would allow individual

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lots to be pulled away from power lines, streams and existing residential lots versus developing and mass grading the entire property.

show that home values in a conservation subdivision are equal to if not higher than in a conventional R40 zoned subdivision.

Randall Arendt suggested a design approach similar to that of a golf course. The process would begin with a site walk to identify usable open space. These common areas would be designed first with the home sites and roads being laid out around them.

We have included two diagrams for your reference, one is of a conventional subdivision (Figure 1, pg. 3) and the other is of a conservation subdivision (Figure 2, pg. 3.) The side by side graphics depict the benefits of more open space.

The conservation land would be protected and would not be available for future development. Studies

Thank you for your feedback with the survey and please feel free to offer suggestions through the amendment process.

Weddington Journal - The Official Community Newsletter for the Town of Weddington - Fall 2018

And the Survey Says...

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Results from the recent town-wide survey.

his past summer, the Town of Weddington contracted with Benchmark to complete a land use survey.

Over 30% of the households within Weddington completed the survey.

The response rate alone shows that residents take pride in and value the Town of Weddington. We are in the process of formally reviewing and analyzing the results to ensure the findings are turned into action.

When asked about what they like about Weddington, residents used words like ‘small town’, ‘beautiful,’ ‘rural’, and ‘small suburb’.

Concerns listed include the fast pace of growth and loss of identity.

One of the overwhelming concerns is the pace of growth (Figure 3). The town cannot stop development, but we can continue to make our subdivisions, planning, and land use ordinances better.

There were a lot of comments on conservation subdivisions. The majority of residents liked the concept but voiced concerns over this type of development. The town brought

FIGURE 1

in Randall Arendt the land planner professional who wrote “Conservation By Design” to conduct some case studies on the current conservation subdivisions within the Town of Weddington and to give us ideas and feedback on what the town can do better.

Did you know that we’ve had conservation subdivision ordinances for over 20 years now and Weddington has over 13 subdivisions that are designed as conservation subdivisions?

See story on page 2.

We received a lot of comments on code enforcement. The town has recently approved a junked/abandoned/nuisance vehicle ordinance, and tall grass ordinance. We now regulate the accumulation of junk within front yards as well. See story on page 5.

We will continue to work with our partners at the schools, Union County government, and NCDOT to address traffic concerns, school crowding and growth. We will continue to strengthen our land use plan to support rural development and open space with a minimum oneacre density. We will also continue to restrict commercial growth to the downtown at the corner of Hwy 84 and Providence Roads.

We are proud of our staff customer service and our police and fire services and the town is happy that this is reflected in the survey results. We will continue to look at connecting neighborhoods and creating a community gathering place.

The town would like to thank everyone that took the time to provide feedback.

FIGURE 3 - RESIDENT PERCEPTION OF PACE OF TOWN GROWTH

FIGURE 2

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Weddington Journal - The Official Community Newsletter for the Town of Weddington - Fall 2018

A Message from the Council...

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s I took on this new role in December, it came with a lot of new territory for me. One of my goals was to help create a sense of community and build on what my predecessors have accomplished to make Weddington such a fantastic place to live.

We started the year out by having our faith based community pray before our monthly meetings. What a fantastic honor it has been to see the enthusiasm of the ministers each month. As an entire board, we have come together and shown mutual respect for each other, accepting our differences as positive qualities that make us so unique. This has allowed us to make some progress on the new town property.

The recent town survey results showed an overwhelming response from residents stating the desire to have a gathering place. Subsequently, we have contracted with a professional planning and landscape architect firm to help with the design, layout, and use of this land. We look forward to the anticipated community space that this will provide.

Weddington’s Teachers of the Year Recipients (Clockwise from top)

Michelle Katon - Weddington Elementary Cassie Sloop - Antioch Elementary Heather Layton - Weddington Middle Candace Purcell - Rea View Elementary Tim Higgins - Weddington High Congratulations from The Town of Weddington!

We will continue to work hard with the hopes of a prosperous 2019 for the Town of Weddington.

Elizabeth Callis Mayor of Weddington

Warrior Promise Project Groundbreaking The groundbreaking ceremony for the Weddington High School Athletic Booster Club’s Warrior Promise project took place on October 22nd, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. The construction of the three new ticket booths is being spearheaded by Dwight Hunter Homes, Inc. The booths were designed by architect David L. Gobble and should be completed in 7-8 weeks.

Pictured in photo: Wesley Hunter, builder; Scott Buzzard, Weddington Town Council; Sarah Van Gundy, Tammy Shipley, AJ Pleasants, and Ken Berko, WHSABC Board Members; Michael Hart, WHS Athletic Director; Janice Bowers, WHS Secretary-Guidance

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Weddington Journal - The Official Community Newsletter for the Town of Weddington - Fall 2018

NEW JUNK & NOISE ORDINANCE The Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement Ordinance is summarized below:

92-11 regulates construction debris on property visible from the street or an adjoining lot.

mantled or inoperative condition or which is not completely enclosed within a building.

92-03 states that the town will only regulate this ordinance when someone reports a nuisance.

92-12 regulates large pieces of junk versus the accumulation of junk described in 92-10.

92-13 and 92-15 includes procedures to abate or subject the offender to civil penalties. The owner has a right to appeal the violation in writing to the Town Council.

92-10 declares any accumulation of litter, debris, garbage, junk, etc. from any front or side yard, or underneath any building, as a public nuisance. It also controls weeds and grasses over 24 inches. However, pastures, wooded areas, regulated meadows and undeveloped open space are exempt.

Newly Adopted Aug 2018

Specifically, dilapidated furniture, icebox, refrigerator, stove or other appliance, machinery, equipment, building material or other item or junk which is either in a wholly or partially rusted, wrecked, junked, dis-

92-50 and 92-51 authorizes the town to remove abandoned, nuisance or junked vehicles.

These terms are defined by state statute. The remaining sections describe the notice, removal and disposal of such vehicles.

W E D D I N G TO N

Litter Sweep On Saturday, September 29th The Town of Weddington hosted our biannual Litter Sweep.

We had an exceptional turnout of 60 volunteers comprised of the Weddington High School Environmental Club led by Hannah Wright, along with Sergeant Major Brookshire and Lieutenant Colonel Morgan who brought a large number of WHS JROTC members, and last but certainly not least some dedicated Weddington patrons. A phenomenal 180 hours of service was earned overall. Volunteers met at Town Hall where they received cleanup supplies such as orange trash bags, gloves, and orange safety vests. A $25 award was presented to the volunteer who discovered the most unusual piece of trash. Thank you to all the participants who came together to keep Weddington clean!

Interested in volunteering? The next Litter Sweep will be in April 2019.

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Weddington Journal - The Official Community Newsletter for the Town of Weddington - Fall 2018

TOWN OF WEDDINGTON ANNUAL

FRIDAY NOV 30 5-9PM

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COOKIES, HOT CHOCOLATE & S’MORES

DJ FANNIE MAE & SPECIAL GUEST, SANTA TREE WILL BE LIT BETWEEN 6-6:15

COAT DRIVE

We will have a collection bin for new or gently used winter coats, hats and gloves. Items will be given to families in need in Union County.

FOOD FROM

Have any questions about the community?

Contact us!

TOWN HALL

1924 Weddington Rd. | Weddington, NC P H O N E | (704) 846 - 2709 E - M A I L | lthompson@townofweddington.com W E B | www.townofweddington.com

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