Southern Pines Town Council Holds Off on Tyler's Ridge Vote

Tyler's Ridge is located on land bordered by N.C. 22 (running to left) and Airport Road from the new roundabout near the Moore County Airport and Sandhills Community College, which is in the top right portion of the aerial photograph. Photo by Don McKenzie

As of Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Tyler's Ridge at Sandhills mixed-used development remains in a holding pattern.

The Southern Pines Town Council did not vote on the project during its work session this afternoon, deciding to seek legal clarification on a couple of issues surrounding the proposed development.

The Council debated for 90 minutes before postponing the vote until its April 12 meeting.

The property is zoned Planned Development (PD) and is on the west side of N.C. 22 between Airport Road and Aiken Road and across from Warrior Woods Road.

The council listened to almost seven hours of testimony at its monthly meeting, which adjourned at 2:30 a.m. on March 9 after more than 20 people had made their case for or against the project. Council indicated at that time that a vote would take place during today's work session.

Plans for the project include a commercial development on the north side, featuring small shops and a restaurant.

A multi-family development that would be located on the south side would include 232 one- and two-bedroom dwelling units on 34.95 acres.

Opposition to the project centers around safety concerns, aircraft noise, a glut of apartments in Southern Pines, current commercial space vacancies in Moore County and the project’s proximity to the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens.

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MonkeyJunction 2 years, 1 month ago

I don't understand what more the town council needs? The planning board has already given a thumbs down on this project. What are the village idiots waiting for? NC22 can not accept more traffic based on the lack of a traffic signal at rt 2 , not to mention the traffic that the round about would have to endure at the airport. There is a gluttony of unrented apartments and commercial space in Southern Pines already. Are the present members of the Town Council without care for present business and real estate owners in SP? Again I ask what are the Village Idiots doing? Turn down this project. Southern Pines does not need it, Whispering Pines does not need it. maybe we need a Town Council with better foresight!

OldPilot 2 years, 1 month ago

MonkeyJunction has it right! This project has no positives, many negatives and is the classic product of back room politics and private deals. If this project is approved the voters will remember if and when any member of the Town Council who votes to approve it runs for re-election.

truthmatterstome2 2 years, 1 month ago

How about some backbone? The issues are clear to everyone. There is a clear conflict of interest with Heyter being the spokesperson for the project and also incoming vice chair of the community college board. I do, however, think he honestly does not want to do anything to harm the school. Simple solution: Downsize the project to a level that makes some sense.....like maybe one or two apartments!

Steve 2 years, 1 month ago

If you now so much why don't you buy it and then and put your money up! Why do you think it is ok to tell some one else what to do with there money.

Matt_Woodruff 2 years, 1 month ago

That should be "know" and "their". Is this RadioNC?

Zoey 2 years, 1 month ago

The shell has two humps, but only one peanut?

OldPilot 2 years, 1 month ago

Steve: The project is a bad idea: 1) given the glut of space on the market/the forclosure crisis and 2) the simple fact that 230+ one and two bedroom apartments next to the airpoprt will generate endless noise complaints leading to demands to limit airport operations or demands to close/relocate the airport. If this permit is approved the proposed developer will flip the property in a New York minute. No matter what the community college, the airport and some members of the Southern Pines Council agree to behind closed doors, each for their own reasons, it's a bad idea. At some point the best interests of the greater community have to outweigh the selfish, self promoting political & pecuniary interests of the few.

MonkeyJunction 2 years, 1 month ago

Steve, It's not a case of money (except for the owner of the property). It's a case of what's best for the community as a whole. This project will create many problems now and further into the future. We as citizens can't just sit back (like our council members) with our heads in the sand. With the apartment and commercial vacancies as high as they already are there is no need for the project. On top of the lack of need, it will also hurt present taxpayers who are already paying for those vacancies. Also as a taxpayer living in close proximity it is so very difficult to get onto 22 now in the morning, just add an additional 1800 trips a day southbound and we are looking at having to do MAJOR road projects just to accommodate a development not needed. Besides as I've posted in the past I didn't move to Southern Pines to live in a continuous strip mall across Moore County