After  a lengthy debate, Moore County’s Board of Commissioners called for an April 16 public hearing on a proposed subdivision moratorium in Small Area A — but the Commissioners clearly want to dig more deeply into the idea before slowing the pace of development in the 100-square mile southwest corner of the county.

    In other action, they added a possible bypass of Pinehurst back into a list of road projects the County is recommending to the North Carolina Department of Transportation [NCDOT].

Moratorium 

    Commissioners took up the idea of a moratorium — proposed by the Small Area A Steering Committee and endorsed by both the Moore County Planning Board and Subdivision Review Board — at the regular Commissioners meeting on Monday, April 2.
    Planning Director Andrea Surratt opened the discussion. “Where should growth occur in Area A, and where should in be limited or restricted?”
     “The trend we’re seeing is that Moore County will grow and Area A will see the most drastic growth for the next few years. This growth will put pressures on roads, schools, and water.”
    The moratorium, which by law cannot exceed six months, is strongly supported by the Small Area A Steering Committee and its Chairman, Southsider Dave Kinney.
    Kinney and Surratt reported that, in recent weeks, nine developers have proposed subdivisions within the eastern section of Area A which collectively total 2,700 residential units on approximately 4,500 acres. This future growth could increase the Area A population by 6,300 – a 75 percent increase.
    County Commissioner Tim Lea asked, “Should we impose a moratorium on all of the county for the same period to be fair to all developers and people, and not just penalize the Area A proposals?”
    Citing water shortage concerns, Commissioners’Chairman Colin McKenzie said, “The water situation disallows any major subdivision. There is insufficient water.”
    Presently there are 3,661 platted lots in the Seven Lakes area with 1,516 of those vacant. At the current growth rate, the community will be built out in ten to eleven years. The water system that serves Seven Lakes can currently produced a maximum of 803,520 gallons per day. In the next month, the new NC Highway 211 water main will be brought on line and increase the daily water availability to 947,520 gallons. In addition, a new booster station is slated for completion in February 2008, bringing the total supply to 1,278,720 gallons.
    However, even with these improvements, capacity could be exhausted in ten years.
    After much discussion, the Board decided  to continue discussion of the moratorium and Area A growth concerns in a special work session, scheduled for Wednesday, April 11 at 3:00 pm at the Moore County Public Works Buidling.
    
    Pinehurst bypass
    Also on Monday’s agenda was a feasibility study for the proposed “Western Connector,” or “Pinehurst Bypass” — a new highway designed to carry traffic from NC Highway 211 to US 1 and US 15-501 and long sought by the Pinehurst Village Council as a solution to growing traffic on NC Highway 5. At their March 19 meeting, Commissioners had dropped the Connector from a list of road projects recommended to the North Carolina Department of Transportation [NCDOT] for their long-term planning process, the State transportation Improvement Plan [STIP].
    The Village of Pinehurst currently has a consulting firm working on a feasibility study for the Connector.
    Opponents of the proposed bypass  addressing the Board included David Wilkes. Citing a 2000 survey, he said, “Seventy-eight percent of the traffic along Rt. 211 and Rt. 5 is going into Pinehurst.” Wilkes continued, “Highway 5 traffic is not through traffic, it is in fact Village traffic.”
     The proposed Western Connector will ease traffic congestion in Pinehurst by diverting through traffic around the village, say its supporters — Commissioners’ Chairman Colin McKenzie. No definite route for the bypass has been determined — that is one objective of the current feasibility study. But past proposals have included both the use of existing roadways — Hoffman and Roseland Roads, for example — and constructing between one and three miles of new roads. The new roads are a major bone of contention, as they will traverse large tracts of family farmland, forest, and wetland areas. In addition, the Village of Foxfire has expressed little interest in seeing increased traffic — particularly truck traffic — on Hoffman Road, which passes through the heart of the Village.
    Dick Bisby, speaking in support of the plan, said residential development and increased population growth around Pinehurst make it a necessary step. “Due consideration need be given to environmental concerns, but much could be accomplished using existing roads and there would be minimal disturbance of farms and forest,” said Bisby.
    County Commissioner Tim Lea offered a resolution to build the Western Connector using only existing roads.
    “We have not taken into consideration all people impacted. As Commissioners we need to represent all people – those in municipalities and those in rural areas,” said Lea.
    Lea’s motion was supported by Commissioner Cindy Morgan, but failed in a 2-3 vote.
    “This is the least destructive road that can possibly be made. It is not a political decision favoring Pinehurst,” said County Commissioner Jimmy Melton, who chairs an ad hoc County transportation Committee that had initially included the Pinehurst Bypass on its list of projects for the STIP.
    He continued, “We must have proper roads for the County and keep traffic and water needs prepared for growth.”
    Melton’s resolution, approved in a 3-2 vote by Melton, McKenzie, and Commissioner Larry Caddell, will use existing roads “whenever possible,” but will allow for new road construction.