Happy New Year!
May your new year be healthy, happy, and
prosperous.
Saluda Solstice
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The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the
longest night of the year. The sun appears at its
lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation
appears to be the same for several days before and
after the solstice.
Saluda experiences its own winter solstice in January
and February where businesses shorten their hours.
It's a quiet and peaceful time of year that gives
residents time to reflect on the previous year, rest
up, and plan for the spring.
Many shop owners will have their "winter hours"
posted. You may want to call ahead to make sure
they are open before traveling into Saluda.
Painting of "Winter Shadows" by Beverly Pickard
and prints are available at Saluda Fine Arts.
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Saluda Community Fund
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Celebrating Saluda's Energy
The Polk County Community Foundation is excited to
announce the Saluda Community Fund! Any
organization that is located in Saluda and serves the
residents of Saluda is eligible to apply. Saluda
nonprofits, Saluda organizations supported by tax
dollars, and other Saluda organizations engaged in
charitable or civic projects to benefit Saluda
residents are all welcome to apply. An organization
may request funding for any worthwhile endeavor
whether it is a remodeling project, the purchase of
needed equipment, a music festival or a traditional
Saluda civic event.
This fund celebrates Saluda! An anonymous donor
established the Saluda Community Fund in 2006 to
benefit organizations located in Saluda that serve
Saluda residents. Grants will be awarded on a
competitive basis beginning in 2007. The Polk
County Community Foundation will review
applications and award $10,000 in 2007.
“While there are a lot of small towns in America that
seem to be dying, Saluda has the energy it takes to
survive. There is hardly any problem that this little
place can’t solve; I want to see what a little grease
will do.” -Anonymous donor
“This is an important new fund that will encourage
organizations in Saluda to dream bigger dreams,
develop new projects, and strengthen existing
programs. It was exciting and inspiring to work with
this anonymous donor to accomplish this broad goal
of supporting and celebrating community life in
Saluda.” Elizabeth Nager, Executive Director, Polk
County Community Foundation
For additional information contact the Polk County
Community Foundation at, 255 South Trade Street,
Tryon, NC 28782. (828) 859-5314 or
foundation@polkccf.org
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Happenings and Events
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The Saluda Mountain Jamboree January
Schedule:
Jan. 6th-Sound Investment
Jan. 13th-Gary & Lee Hedrick with Dime-A-
Dozen
Jan. 20-Legacy
Jan. 27-Night Vision
Doors open at 7 and music and dancing is 8:00 to
11:00pm.
The Jamboree is a 12,000 sq. ft. facility and climate
controlled for everyone's comfort, it has a huge
dance floor, a beautiful stage and state of the art
sound system. If you get hungry or thirsty, the
concession area has hot dogs, popcorn, snacks,and
drinks for refreshments. Beer and wine also available
in the custom designed bar area.
Morgan Auction & Realty provide real and
personal property sales and business liquidation. The
firm auctions antiques and collectibles two and three
times a month. Next scheduled auctions are
January 6 and 20 at 7pm. The Auction House
is located conveniently off Ozone behind the Apple
Mill.
Curtis Wright Outfitters will be offering fly
fishing classes for beginners on Saturdays in January
(13th, 20th, 27th) and February (3rd, 10th). The
class will be an overview of fly fishing equipment,
trout species, habitat, entomology, reading water,
knot tying, and casting. Curtis Wright will provide all
equipment and materials. Cost is $75 per person with
a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 6 people
per class.
The popular Green River Boys perform at the
City Club Grill Restaurant January 12 and
26 at 6:00pm. You can contact the City Club Grill at
749-1800.
The Purple Onion will be closed for repairs
from January 1 to January 17. They will reopen on
the 18th and musical performers will entertain as
usual on Thursday and Saturday nights. Check their
schedule on the Quick Links provided.
Wine Weekend at the Orchard Inn March 9-11,
2007
Tour some of the world's best vineyards -- right in
our living room. A weekend of wonderful food and fine
wine awaits. Rate includes lodging in the Inn, meals,
wine and gratuity. Please call for details:
1-800-581-3800 or visit www.orchardinn.com.
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Special Called Meeting of Saluda Business Association
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President of SBA, Jim Carson is calling a special
meeting of SBA members and invite all Saluda citizens
who are interesed to also attend. The special
meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 4,2007,
at 5:30 PM at the library. The purpose of the
meeting is to prepare for an upcoming zoning
ordinance hearing. The public hearing is Tuesday,
January 16 at 6:30. If you have any questions, call
Jim at 749-3702 or 749-1118 or email to
jimcarson@tds.net.
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Ring In The New Year With Yoga
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The shopping, the decorating, the baking and
cooking are over. Relatives and houseguests have
decamped, leaving you with left-over cookies you
know you’ll end up eating. You’re looking a new year
in the face, wondering whatever happened to the old
one. As, hand to lower back, you gingerly stoop to
retrieve a fallen ornament, a single thought invades
your mind: Get me to a yoga class!
- If this scenario resonates with you,
- if you’ve intended to try out or get back to yoga
but haven’t quite made it,
- if having some time and space where it’s just
about you—your body, your needs, your nurturance—
appeals to you,
then visit the Saluda Senior Center on Mondays from
12:30-1:30 or 5:30-7:00 p.m. to experience the
rejuvenating and harmonizing effects of this 5,000-
year-old science of physical, mental-emotional, and
spiritual attunement.
Come be part of a merry band of explorers. Our
territory is the body-mind. Our mission: to have fun
learning its language, as we stretch, move, breathe,
relax, observe, and compassionately allow
sensational feedback. The rewards:
- reduced stress, lowered blood pressure;
- expanded breathing capacity (= more oxygen to
the blood);
- increased strength and flexibility;
- balanced endocrine, nervous, and organ
systems;
- greater clarity and peace of mind ;
- enhanced body awareness, self-acceptance, and
well-being—
- among many other proven benefits.
Classes are mixed level—all are welcome. Bring a
yoga mat (if you have one) and your zest for self-
discovery through movement and asana (postures).
The cost is $7 for the noon class and $10 for the
evening class. Seniors (aged 60 and over) may
participate on a donation basis.
Alice Carey, the instructor, has practiced yoga for 23
years and taught it for 18. A refugee from the Cold
North (Boston) to this area, she lived and studied at
the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, where she
received her 500-hour Advanced Teacher Training
certification. She has also studied at Bonnie
Bainbridge Cohen’s School for Body-Mind Centering,
receiving certifications in Embodied Anatomy and
Yoga and Embodied Developmental Movement and
Yoga over a two-year period.
For further information please call Alice at (828) 698-
3299 (Hendersonville).
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Poinsette Passage Opens in Saluda
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Palmetto Trail
After four years of working with the Greenville Water
System, a trailhead has opened through the 50-year
old protected Greenville Water Shed to connect to
the Palmetto Trail. The trailhead is behind Orchard
Lake Campground off Fork Creek Road.
Link here to read more about the Palmetto Trail, get
the rules for hiking on the Poinsette Passage, and
retrieve a map.
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Saluda Scoop
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The latest news and the unusual offerings provided by Saluda shops, restaurants, artists, and craftspeople
Hometown Christmas 2006
Despite the unusually cold night, Saluda's Hometown
Christmas celebration sponsored by the Saluda
Business Association was well attended and a big
success once again.
We should all make a special effort to express our
appreciation to the fine musicians who volunteered
their time and talent.
The Main Street merchants, too, should be included
in the congratulations for their willingness to extend
their day, provide venues for the musicians, and
share a bountiful array of delicacies.
The character of this festive event is just another
example of why Saluda is so special. Plan now to be
part of this annual event next year--always the
second Friday in December.
The participating musicians were Aaron Burdett,
Susan Haskell and her friends int he Mountain Winds
Flute Ensemble, Jan Daugherty and her Top of the
Morning Suzuki Players, Grace and Pascall Reber,
Cass Haskell and his friends, Robert Seiler, Jhon
Akers, Alan Dillman and the Clam Japhry, Todd and
Eric Neel, Sally Frye and the Saluda School Chorus,
Mike and Mary Reeves, Matt Templeton, Jim Hall, and
Katherine Raymond and friends.
A special thanks to Pam Smoak, Laura Fields, and
Katha Underwood for organizing and conducting the
Children's Workshop at the Saluda Volunteer Fire
Department who co-sponsored the event.
The Saluda Business Association has elected
officers for 2007. Jim Carson was elected President,
Robert Thompson, Vice President, Charley Thompson,
Secretary, Shelley DeKay, Treasurer, and Cathy
Jackson, Promotions.
The Saluda Business Association sponsors Saluda
Hometown Christmas and The Saluda Arts Festival,
as well as promotes Saluda businesses by providing a
web site,www.saluda.com, and rack cards, which
describe Saluda businesses and show where they are
located. The SBA also makes contributions during the
year to various Saluda civic matters.
The Saluda Business Association (SBA) was formed in
1995 and represents approximately 50 area
merchants, service people, artisans and crafts
people, building contractors, and interested
individuals who love Saluda. The vision of the SBA is
to help Saluda prosper, preserve its heritage and
culture, and keep revenue and the next generation in
the community. The mission of this association is to:
- Maintain and enhance the quality of community
life in Saluda
- Support and promote all local businesses, artists
and crafts people
- Create and sponsor civic projects
- Provide unified representation of the views of
Saluda businesses to local government
- Promote the growth of business in Saluda that
fulfills the needs of the community
After four magnificent years, Frank and Amy Beeson
have closed the FrontPorch Coffee Bar to pursue
other endeavors. They generously taught Cindy at
Tosh's Whistlestop Cafe to make the delicious Italian
ice cream, Gelato. So along with the homemade ice
cream the WhistleStop will be serving Frank and
Amy's Gelato.
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You Are My Sunshine
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by author, Joe Adams
My father called me "Darling" when I was a boy, and
he continued using this Southern term of endearment
long after I was too tall and too lanky to fit easily on
his lap.
Being called Darling was just one of the casual,
everyday ways I was assured of my father's
affection. (Modern day psychologists would call it
unconditional love, but my father didn't take to
psychologists nor to unconditional arrangements. He
had many expectations for me. Great expectations,
in fact, which he verbalized as often as his terms of
endearment.)
He also called me "Son" as if it were a proper name.
Sometimes he would say it sternly and with a prefix
as in, "Now, Son." It was a sure sign that I should
listen up and not stray into what he considered a
wayward life.
Sometimes he would repeat the words, "Son. Son.
Son." Usually this was said slowly and deliberately
with a heavy tone of dispair, which was quickly and
accurately interpreted by me to mean, "What am I
going to do with you?"
Other times he would say, "Let me sing you a song,
Son." And before I could say alright, he would go
right into singing "You Are My Sunshine", and I could
tell that he meant it.
Or, he would sing "Beautiful, Beautiful Brown Eyes"
and when he finished, he never failed to tell
me, "Son, you were the first boy child in our family to
have brown eyes and I truly don't think I can ever
love blue eyes again."
It wasn't until years later when I heard him
singing "Beautiful, Beautiful Blue Eyes" to my own
daughter that I realized he freely adapted this song
to the color of the child's eyes presently on his lap.
Nevertheless, I never doubted his sincerity, then or
now.
I do miss having my father around to call me Son,
yet I will always be extremely grateful for being his
Darling, his Brown Eyes, and his Sunshine.
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Saluda Senior Center
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The Senior Center serves warm nutritious lunches
Monday through Friday from 11:30-12:30 at a cost
of $3.00 a person.
The Senior Center welcomes all Saluda citizens to
join in the activities and programs offered. You don't
have be a "senior" to participate!
Decorating the walls of the Saluda Senior Center are
original artwork from local residents. Students of well-
known artist, Dale McEntire, these artists have
created beautiful work. The center invites you to
view these paintings. They are:
- "French Connection" by Janice Honeycutt (pastel)
- "Autumn Splendor" by Claudia Seagle (oil on
canvas)
- "Tracey Grove Road" by Sally Thomas (oil on
canvas)
Monday Activities Schedule
9:30 Walking Group
9:30 Line Dancing
10:00 NIA Class
12:30 Yoga
5:30 Yoga
Closed New Year's Day
Tuesday Activities Schedule
10:00 Bridge
Wednesday Activities Schedule
9:30 Walking Group
10:00 Trash Train and NIA Class
12:30 Tai Chi
Thursday Activities Schedule
9:30 Knitting Group
10:00 NIA Class
2:00 Art class
2:30 Board Meeting (January 11)
Friday Activities Schedule
9:30 Walking Group
10:00 Trash Train
11:00 Bones, Balance and Bend-Chair Exercise
Special Note: A Thrifty Barn needs people who
will pick up and deliver for customers. They would
like to have a list of people on call for this service.
Payment would be between delivery person and the
customer. Please call Joyce at 749-3320
For more information about activities at Saluda
Senior Center call Donna at 828-749-9245.
The Saluda Senior Center provides many services
to the growing retirement community in Saluda.
Volunteers to provide these services are needed.
They encourage you to share your time to help
deliver meals on wheels or work in A Thrifty Barn
retail shop. Please contact Donna at 828-749-
9245.
Basement Sale at A Thrifty Barn first and third
Saturdays of the month.....great bargains!
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Religious Services
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Readers have requested that Saluda Lifestyles
provide a listing of local church services. This is not
a complete list but a representation of the
denominations in Saluda. Painting of Transfiguration
Church was done by Sylvia Jones.
Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
The Reverend Paula C. Morton
8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist - Rite I
9:15 a.m. - Sunday School
10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist - Rite II with music
Saluda Presbyterian
The Reverend Gene Witherspoon
Adult SS 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 am
Saluda First Baptist Church
The Reverend Ray Talley, Interim
SS 9:45 am
Worship Service 11 am & 6:00 pm
Wednesday 7:00 pm
Saluda Methodist Church
The Reverend Tony Sayer
SS 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 am
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Saluda City Notes
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From Mayor Rodney Gibson
Memo To Saluda Board of Commissioners, City Staff,
Planning Board Members
Subject: Proposed Zoning Ordinance; Proposed
Leadership Retreat—Future Saluda 2007
Date: December 16, 2006
Opening Remarks
The City of Saluda is entering the future that we’ve
all talked about but have been fortunate enough to
avoid thus far. This era is one that will pit multiple
views and visions of what Saluda is and what it
should be. The current Board of Commissioners, City
Staff, Citizen Boards and Mayor will now have to
confront this future with wisdom, resourcefulness,
creativeness, tolerance, patience and
understanding. We have had the fortune of previous
leadership that did put into place many basic tools
that we have at our disposal and we are adapting
those tools because of the realities of growth and
culture . However, the pace of change is increasing
and we must respond vigorously to the challenges.
As such I’m proposing that we conduct our annual
leadership retreat on Saturday, January 20 or
Sunday, January 21. If it’s to be held on Sunday,
we will provide a “worship” break in the agenda.
Saluda Mission
The role of the Mayor is to understand and keep the
Board of Commissioners and Citizen Boards focus on
the Saluda Mission. It is also the Mayor’s role to
provide leadership on governance and the
administration of governance. From this viewpoint, I
offer that the Mission of the Governing Board is
simply:
“To provide services and leadership that protect
and enhance the quality of life for our citizens."
I’m sure this can mean a lot of different things to
different people, as any mission should. However, it
is our duty to fairly implement pragmatic solutions to
our present and future challenges. In the sense of
public duty, our ideology is the mission statement but
the solutions must come through practical steps and
actions. As such, you can expect that no solutions
will provide a 100% solution and that each action
needs to consider the impact on not only our current
citizens but our future citizens.
Current Challenges and Focus
We have had a very unsettling and difficult path to
walk over the last few years regarding land use
planning and zoning. Through the efforts of past
planning boards and the current planning board, we
have seen the future through different approaches
and philosophies, learned a number of lessons with
regard to our citizens viewpoints and I think, are
learning to better govern as a result of these
lessons.
We are now at the crossroads on several initiatives
regarding land use and zoning. We have two
important challenges that we must give our
immediate attention. I offer the following information
and viewpoints for your consideration:
Challenge No. 1. The proposed zoning ordinance has
been in progress for some time and it has been a
tough, sometimes an agonizing journey for all
involved. We now have a proposed ordinance that
represents a fundamental restructuring of the
language and approach to land use and zoning. It is
now written more clearly, simplified in its approach
and I believe it will “protect and enhance the quality
of life for our citizens." As I stated, there are no
100% solutions but the proposed ordinance would
establish a sound foundation for our next challenges.
There are many voices that I hear concerning the
matter as I talk with our constituents. I hear
concerns that there are missing elements and the
concerns are not being heard or disregarded in the
debate. It is important to understand and hear
these concerns because they represent the joint
wisdom and knowledge of our community. The first
of our challenges is to hear and properly address
these concerns. What I hear is:
1. The proposed zoning ordinance is less
stringent than the current ordinance. In many
ways, it appears to be less stringent, but in
application I believe it to be no less stringent and in
some cases more stringent that the existing
ordinance. It does need to be pointed out that there
are aspects of our existing ordinance, such as
parking requirements that have not been addressed
and are not changed by this ordinance.
2.We shouldn’t pass the ordinance until it is
complete. Often this argument states that we have
momentum on the land use planning and zoning issue
and need to keep the momentum going. Well, I
agree that it’s nice to keep the momentum going, but
it is also necessary that to keep the momentum
going, we need to bring closure to our first goal. The
first goal was to put into place an ordinance that I
think is substantially the proposed zoning
ordinance.
3. The current ordinance does not adequately
deal with the Ozone Corridor issues. I have to
totally agree with this statement. As the ordinance
stands, the dreaded “Four Seasons Boulevard or
Columbus Exit” future could be very real part of our
future and degrade rather than protect and enhance
the quality of life for our citizens. We do not have to
accept this future, but that does not mean that the
current ordinance should be held up until this
complex issue is resolved.
4. Once you pass this ordinance, the effort will lose
its momentum. I can assure everyone that the
effort is not going to lose its momentum if we pass
the proposed ordinance. That is part of the reason
for the “Saluda Future 2007” retreat—to keep
our focus and momentum on this very important
aspect of governance. But to go forward, we need
to “refresh” and “refocus." Every journey needs to
have defined accomplishments and our committed
Planning Board volunteers deserve our support and
recognition for this very significant accomplishment.
This will allow them to “refresh” while
the “refocusing” occurs.
Challenge No. 2. We must now refocus on the next
big challenge from a land use and planning
perspective. Our next challenge is the manner in
which we will manage the development of
our “Gateways” into the City. The “Gateways” are a
combination of the roads and/or streets that lead
into and out of our City, and the impressions that
they make regarding the quality of life and priorities
by which our citizens live. These “Gateways” not
only reflect on “who we are” but they reflect
on “who we want to be." If we all believe that
Saluda is a way of life, then the Gateways need to
reflect “Saluda’s way of Life."
There are going to be many opinions on this matter.
There are also going to be many challenges and
roadblocks to implementing any programs that direct
and control the development of the “Gateways."
However, I believe we have the wisdom and fortitude
needed to meet this challenge.
Factors to Consider
1. Urgency. It is of the utmost urgency that we
not lose our commitment and momentum on land use
and zoning. We are in a period of potentially rapid
growth, especially in our “Gateways” and it is likely
that current development plans will degrade the
quality of the “Saluda way of life." It is our duty to
move responsively and quickly.
2. Private Property. The sanctity of the private
property rights in America is a very real ideal and
there are laws that protect private property. We
must recognize this in our efforts. It must also
be recognized that there is a juncture at which
private property rights begin to conflict with the
general rights of the community to protect itself from
harm. It is in this realm that we are operating and
idealism is threatened. Both sides of the argument
will be made and heard, but we must find the line
that provides a solution to our ideal, “protecting and
enhancing the quality of life for our citizens."
3. Tax Revenues. Tax Revenues are not a sound
reason for opening up the Gateways to wholesale,
unmanaged growth. The tax revenue we receive from
sales from businesses is distributed on a county-
wide, population basis. Saluda’s population does not
grow very quickly, now or historically, compared to
the rest of the county. Therefore, our percentage
cut on each dollar collected will continue to decline
on a percentage basis. Hence, we get the same
amount of sales tax for a franchise chain whether it
locates in Columbus, Tryon, Mill Springs, etc as we
would if it is located in Saluda. The property tax is
only moderately affected by the type of business
that goes on the property. Whether it’s a franchise
restaurant or an individual sole proprietor, our tax
revenues would benefit about the same for the same
square foot of facility. We can affect this positively
by having high value businesses develop that do not
use “cookie cutter” low cost, low value structures.
4. Options. We have floated a number of ideas
about regulatory controls on the “Gateways” and find
that there are obstacles (perceived or real) with
regard to most of them. It is obvious that there
are no “silver bullets” and that it will take a wholistic
combination of infrastructure, land use and
zoning “tools” to protect and enhance the quality of
life for our citizens. I don’t believe minimalist,
Laissez-faire approaches are an option in our
community and neither are overly-burdensome, micro-
managing regulations. It will take a combination of
negative and positive regulatory constraints that
allow private property owners significant freedom to
use the value proposition of their land while at the
same time limits the degradation of the “Gateways”
away from “Saluda’s way of life”. This does not
mean
unrestrained development or overpowering
governance.
5. Attitude. The process will be contentious.
We will have to learn, seek knowledge, listen and
discuss. We will find ourselves angered by
comments, threatened by implications, insulted by
assumptions and worn into despair. But we will
prevail and create a new sustainable governance
that balances the interests of each individual and the
interests of our community at large. WE, the
Community, will be enriched and our reward will be
that we have protected and enhanced the quality of
life for our citizens now and in the future.
Land Use and Planning Tools
To better prepare you for the upcoming retreat it will
be helpful if we do some thinking (noodling) on the
different approaches and tools that we know we
have available to help us manage the quality of the
growth so that it protects and enhances the quality
of life for our citizens. These are things to think
about not proposals to vote on nor all inclusive
control approaches.
Approaches:
•One approach is to do nothing but pass the
proposed ordinance and hope that developers will
invest in “Saluda’s Way of Life” and not just their
own short-term, self-interest.
•A second approach is to use general
incentives. We have a few controls, but still mostly
rely on the developers own self-interests to shape
the future
•A third approach is to use positive and negative
incentives, and synergies with other infrastructure
elements such as water and sewer to create
a “wholistic” approach.
•A fourth approach is the “Chaos” approach.
Eliminate everything and just let it go—you get what
you get, like Russian Roulette. Some like to call this
the “Free Market” approach—“Freedom’s just another
word for nothing left to lose" History tells us that
the lack of controls is as bad as too much control
(e.g., Robber baron era, the Great Depression, 80’s
savings & loan crisis, current energy policy)
Specific Incentives/Disincentives—These are some
ideas. We’ve been told that moving franchises
outside the Interstate would be illegal.
•Limit drive-through businesses to outside
the Interstate. This promises to lower the incident
of accidents, allows us to keep the Ozone Corridor
more neighborhood-like. This also puts potential
transient crime elements further from our
neighborhoods and city center.
•Limit the quantity of water and sewer allotted to
new businesses (something like 1,000 gallons/day).
We have limited capacity for growth and that should
be reserved for current residents. The use of our
existing capacity should be directed towards
encouraging businesses that are low water
and sewer quantity users. When we start using
80% capacity for the sewer, we have to start
planning to spend millions of dollars on a new
system. A couple of fast-food restaurants will never
increase revenues enough to offset this kind of cost.
•Require eating establishments to provide adequate
space for sit-down eating. Put criteria in that uses
kitchen and food preparation area size (square feet)
to factor in a minimum amount of sit-down eating
space---say, for every square foot of
kitchen/preparation area that there be 10 square
feet
of sit-down space.
•Require that all parking and loading areas be behind
the building. Changes the architecture of the
building and site to limit flat long buildings whose
main architectural feature is the parking lot in front.
Gets the buildings close to the road where we can
install sidewalks and green space to give it a
neighborhood feel rather than a urban sprawl
feel.
•Work with the NCDOT to work out a green
space plan with sidewalks on both sides of the
corridor. This allows the City to develop the green
space and create a neighborhood feel long before
significant business growth occurs. If the “Green
Corridor”is installed piecemeal as each lot is
developed, the “Green Corridor” will be spotty and
inconsistent for years to come. Having the Green
Space already in place will help attract businesses
with a vision more aligned with the Saluda Quality of
Life. Additionally, we would need development fees
for new businesses to offset the costs of the “Green
Corridor."
•Use and implement strict architectural
standards. This will require new development fees
that are significant—say $25,000– $50,000 for each
new business. We would need to get an architect to
make a consistency determination and support a
City position to enforce the requirements.
•Impose significant restrictions on signage for new
businesses. Say keep the signage to 20 square feet,
no higher than 6 feet above ground level and lighting
that is passive and indirect. The City can do like the
DOT and charge people to put their name on
direction signs that we would control and locate in
the “Green Corridor."
•Other ideas ????
Final Words
I have a few general guidelines that I use to help me
sort through issues of Governance. I’ll pass them
along to you—you might find them useful.
1. Is the issue something that needs government
involvement?
2. Does it improve the quality of life for the residents?
3. Who benefits, who loses? Always take care of
those who have the least first--it creates
sustainability.
4. Are the beneficiaries looking for tax breaks and
threaten to go elsewhere if they don’t get them? Tell
them to hit the road.
5. Once you make a rule, everybody conforms--no
exceptions.
6. If the proposed solution is really an ideological
dictum, it’s probably not worth talking about.
Pragmatism is the only thing that works.
7. Keep everything transparent and tell the truth
even if people don’t want to hear it.
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