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The Holding Village plan is tripping –
nay, racing – along the fast track to
approval by the town.
Yes, the plan’s concept of
the new urbanism, intensive development
in a thoroughly planned and scaled
environment of multiple uses, may be the
best way to use 256 acres. We all knew
somebody, sometime, was going to pluck
this plum, going to use all those acres
tucked in just below the town center.
Maybe this is the right way.
But I would like to see
someone ask the question: What is in it
for the town?
There will be 1,231 homes,
and there will probably be at least
1,000 children even if there are single
people and childless couples in the
apartments. Where will they play? Will
there be public parks for all of us to
use? Will there be a school site?
The designs seem to be fine,
but we are talking about 1,231 homes, at
2,700 people if we estimate a low figure
of 2.2 people per household. Is that too
dense? What are the impacts of nearly
3,000 people in terms of town services?
How many more policemen, firemen,
electric linemen, street sweepers,
street crews, meter readers, finance
clerks, planners and engineers will the
town need? (Even though the fire
department is independent, we pay 80
percent of the cost for the needed
firemen through the contract.)
Will fire and garbage trucks
be able to get through the small streets
laid out in a maze?
Do we want Franklin Street
to be split through the village with two
lanes here and two lanes over there?
Do we want Friendship Chapel
Road to come to a T in the village, then
mosey around to the south before heading
east?
Will there be a direct
connection to South Main Street by
Friendship Chapel Road or will CSX and
the state require the grade crossing be
closed? Of course, with enough friends
in high places it might remain open,
leading to a question of safety if and
when the high-speed rail system is born.
Is it in the town’s interest to have the
crossing open or closed?
What about parking for the
amphitheater by the lake or the,
presumably, upscale grocery stores,
boutiques and restaurants? The lack of
parking might keep us outlanders from
intruding.
Entrust Holdings has not
unveiled the changes it wants in the
town’s zoning ordinances. It appears
they should be carefully reviewed before
passage.
As I say, I am not opposing
the plan. I just believe the town needs
to give it careful consideration. That’s
a lot of folks, folks. |
