Most Logical Plan for Development

As of Thursday, November 8, 2012

Having just read the front page story “Smithson Criticizes Council” (Nov. 2), I find I am not completely surprised at Mr. Smithson’s diatribe.

Perhaps someone should inform him that when dealing with property this size, at this time, it is not possible to “set in stone” what might develop on the land.

It is a given that this property will not remain untouched forever; that something will come.

I can think of no better people to have charge of this than the Bell family.

They have a huge investment in Mid Pines and Pine Needles; this property adjoins these lovely courses and facilities. Can you imagine them wanting to downgrade adjacent areas?

The idea of incremental plans, as things develop, is only logical.

Unless the property is rezoned, why would anyone spend a fortune drawing up detailed plans showing exactly what will be built and what it will look like?

And the market will have a direct effect on the development. It appears the council, whoever they may be, will still have plenty of control.

Unfortunately, Mr. Smithson has a history of scolding not only the present council, but previous ones. He seems to feel it is “his way or the highway.” This is not the way democracy works.

When I was on the council, we did not always agree, but we didn’t publicly deride others who had differing opinions. I miss those days.

Marquita Daniels

Southern Pines

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njc17 6 months, 2 weeks ago

MSs Daniels; Mr Smithson is allowed to have his say, is he not? or has the complexion of this nation, the complexion of the State of North Carolina and the village of Southern pines changed to disallow any dialog that disagrees with the popular thought. Has the freedoms been lost? Mr Smithson has concerns about certain things in instituting growth without looking at the down the road impact. This is something many in the local planning groups are not inclined to do.There is a growth problem across all of Moore County that needs to be checked. Is there enough water , enough sewer capacity for all of it? with the direction of the business atmosphere in the nation as a whole is it prident to add hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail and industry space that sits idle with how much now sitting idle?