County Board Approves Pine Forest Rezoning Request

As of Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Pine Forest developers cleared a major hurdle Tuesday night when the Moore County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve their rezoning request.

However, Board Chairman Nick Picerno cautioned the public that the vote does not mean that MHK Ventures Inc. can immediately begin clearing land or selling lots. In a brief statement later in the meeting, Picerno said the developers must leap other major hurdles, including a satisfactory water source and state permits for the on-site sewage treatment plant.

MHK asked the county to rezone about 1,600 acres on a 1,800-acre tract from various residential-agriculture districts to Planned Unit Development-Hamlet. The Florida-based company wants to develop Pine Forest into two communities, one a gated residential community with an 18-hole golf course, the other a resort with another 18-hole golf course open to the public. The plan also calls for a nine-hole golf course, a hotel, miscellaneous resort amenities and a small neighborhood shopping center.

The site is southeast of West End on N.C. 211. It runs almost to N.C. 73 near Dormie Club, also developed by MHK Ventures.

After the vote and before taking a recess, Picerno asked the public to remain in the meeting room long enough to allow each commissioner to explain his vote.

“In the long term this zoning is much more stringent than what is in place now,” said Commissioner Craig Kennedy.

Kennedy thanked the people who had turned out for the prolonged hearing held earlier in the year and for attending other meetings about the rezoning issue. He said their presence contributed much to the board’s consideration of the request.

“The process really works,” Kennedy said. “You really brought a lot to the table and that means a great deal to the process.”

Commissioner Jimmy Melton and Picerno delivered similar remarks.

Commissioner Tim Lea, who cast the dissenting vote, said his major concern lies with the water situation. He said water is a scarce resource in Moore County and he was not sure the precautions built into the rezoning will be sufficient.

“I just didn’t think the risk was worth the development,” Lea said.

The fifth commissioner, Larry Caddell, was recused because of issues related to his long-time service as mayor of Carthage. The town draws its water supply from Nicks Creek, which has headwaters on the Pine Forest tract.

To take the vote the board adopted an unusual method, using written ballots, rather than a voice vote, which is the traditional voting method. When the ballots were collected, Picerno read the results aloud, declaring how each member had voted.

Lea made a motion to deny the request, and Picerno made the second in order to move the matter to a vote. When the vote was taken, Lea cast the only vote to deny the request and the other three voted against the motion.

Kennedy then made a motion to approve the request. The vote this time was a reversal of the first motion with Lea again casting the single no vote.

The motion that won approval does not, in fact, give the developer a go-ahead. It merely approved “this request in accordance with the evidence and testimony presented, findings of fact, and all applicable policies and laws.” The motion further directs the planning staff to prepare an order to bring back to the board for approval once more.

Attached to the action are 21 conditions, including water availability and all permits required by such state agencies as the Utilities Commission, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation. This is in addition to county permits and oversight by the planning staff and other local agencies.

A key condition is the provision that Pine Forest not draw water from Nicks Creek, a prohibition that is to be built into individual deeds as a covenant or restriction.

The Carthage Town Board helped MHK along on Monday night by agreeing not to oppose the development provided water is not removed from Nicks Creek and sufficient buffering and setbacks are provided to protect the town from irrigation runoff.

In other business Tuesday, the commissioners accepted the annual tax settlement from Tax Administrator Wayne Vest, who reported that the collection for the 2010 year again exceeded 99 percent, a 20-year achievement.

The board also awarded a $21.5 million contract to Wharton-Smith Inc. of Sanford, Fla. to upgrade and expand the wastewater treatment plant. The bid, lowest of eight, came in lower than expected, resulting in a saving of about $4 million.

More details about these actions and other business will appear in the print version of The Pilot.

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walter68 10 months, 1 week ago

we should all vote to remove picerno, kennedy, and melton in the next election. i know i will!! thanks lea for standing up again for the people!!!

MJI 10 months, 1 week ago

Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise. The mighty dollar has once again taken precedent over the desires and well-being of the residents. There are still a great many unanswered questions about this development, not the least of which is where are they going to get their water from now that their deal with Montgomery county is gone. I too applaud Tim Lea for listening to the people. It will be real interesting to see Picerno's membership with Dormie reinstated, as there was never any proof given that he had actually withdrawn. We should all keep an eye out to see if the three board members all receive thank-you memberships to both clubs in the future. Maybe they can use them when they are voted out at the next election, as they should be after this horrible decision!

Bflat 10 months, 1 week ago

I am not surprised. Will there be more water meters to be monitored by their equipment & software provided by SS, Picerno & Caddell? Their new JAIL project should be named the CPM building.

Zippy 10 months, 1 week ago

An appalling decision that bodes ill for the residents of this area. More overcrowding, traffic, waste of water to keep golf courses green, more need for new roads and improved infrastructure, etc.etc. Read Geoff Cutler's column this week for an accurate take on the problem of growth and development.

Zoey 10 months, 1 week ago

"Why should I care" rings loudly.......

jamjam 10 months, 1 week ago

what do you mean "and why should I care?"

jamjam 10 months, 1 week ago

what the heck Zoey? "why should I care" is such a poor attitude to have towards ones community. what if our county commissioners took such a pathetic attitude towards this area,

Bflat 10 months, 1 week ago

That's quoted from the Commissioner in a meeting. This, of course, shows that if you don't keep up with what is going on in politics the result is mindless straight party ticket voting, electing the same people over and over again. Don't forget that TP03 (Caddell, Picerno, & Melton) shoved through the JAIL/public safety project...multi millions being spent on a 3 story public safety building and a 4 story JAIL with federal sized cells. Drive by on McNeill St in Carthage and see the money pit for yourself. Meanwhile the #1 school in the county was closed due to a $500,000 budget shortfall. What is wrong with that picture???

SH59 10 months, 1 week ago

If you actually live here you SHOULD care. An attitude like that is what the problem is. Caring about the community you live in and getting involved is everyone's opportunity to make a difference.

jamjam 10 months, 1 week ago

isn't that something, "and why should I care?" bothers you. Do you think Zoey is wrong and selfish for that statement? guess what? there's more to the story and the truth is more shocking than Zoeys comment.

MJI 10 months, 1 week ago

I believe that Zoey was quoting directly from the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Isn't that the attitude we want from those representing our interests. There are too many pet projects, we need a new board!

jamjam 10 months, 1 week ago

the shocking truth is revealed. yes, it is a quote from one of the commissioners.

Arestorer 10 months, 1 week ago

Who would have guessed ???

SH59 10 months, 1 week ago

Sorry, I had no idea. What an idiot!

geoffcutler 10 months, 1 week ago

Hmm...Florida developers in Moore County...limited or no water available...1,600 acres...hotels, shopping centers, golf courses. What's wrong with this picture? If you want to find out, read Miami Herald columnist and author Carl Hiaasen's "Native Tongue" to see what happened with this type of growth in Florida. Not a pretty picture and it's apparently headed our way.

Anyone else notice that once the temperature has been above 90 degrees around here and we don't get daily afternoon thunderstorms, the towns put on water restrictions almost immediately? There's a reason we're called the "Sandhills."

jamjam 10 months, 1 week ago

why yes I did, and I suppose the water restrictions are the clue to our future.

SuzColeman 10 months, 1 week ago

Should anyone be inclined to register their approval / disapproval or run for Moore County Commission:

MOORE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS -- TERMS OF OFFICE [ ]

DISTRICT I Larry Caddell (Rep) [12/14] 396 Kim Ln., (POB 877) Carthage, NC 28327 947-3981

DISTRICT II Nick Picerno (Rep) [12/12] Chairman 233 Gails Rd., (POB 36) West End, NC 27376 673-5389

DISTRICT III Craig Kennedy (Rep) [12/14] 1792 Dan Rd Robbins, NC 27325 464-8859

DISTRICT IV Tim Lea (Rep) [12/12] 6534 US 15/501 Hwy (POB 1233) Pinehurst, NC 28370 295-2965

DISTRICT V Jimmy D. Melton (Rep) [12/14] Vice-Chairman 2141 Roseland Road Aberdeen, NC 28315 281-4371

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