Two new businesses may be coming to the area if plans are approved. A veterinarian and an animal shelter were both briefly discussed during Monday's monthly meeting of the Hayesville Town Council.
Both businesses have several more steps to open their doors, but they were added to the agenda as priority action items so town council members could decide whether to move them ahead to hold a public hearing. Mayor Harry Baughn reminded council members they are only approving a public hearing, not the actual requests.
First, a veterinarian is purchasing the former Clay County Chamber of Commerce building on business 64, adjacent to Best Little Corner Ice Cream Parlor. It would have to be approved as permitted use in the C2 and C3 district and in accordance with Clay County animal control ordinances.
The owner of Creekside Plaza has applied for a special use permit to open an animal rescue shelter on land adjacent to the back of the plaza parking lot. If approved, it would be a special use permit in district C2 and C3, also in accordance with Clay County animal control ordinances. Town councilmen Joe Slaton, Will Penland and Austin Hedden, voted to move these requests to public hearing. Both public hearings will be held at 5:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14 prior to Hayesville Town Council’s monthly meeting.
During the finance report given by town clerk, Susan Morgan, there were few items to explain. Some beautification expenses included paying a portion of the Clay County Master Gardeners’ Bee City welcome to Hayesville signs, as well as LED Christmas lights. Some other expenses were liability insurance, dues and expenses for the North Carolina School of Government which the town refers to a lot and increased garbage disposal costs. Morgan added, “Garbage disposal always seems to increase during summer when there are more people in town.”
Two items of new business on the town’s agenda were appointments for the planning and zoning board, along with an appointment for the board of adjustment. Joe Slaton and Rachel Baughn were reappointed to serve on the voluntary planning and zoning board. Theresa Holbrook was appointed to be an alternate for the board of adjustment.
Sandy Zimmerman provided the annual report for Small Town Main Street. She, Harry and Rachel Baughn attended the annual conference held in New Bern in March. Showing the council copies of the conference flyer, she pointed out the Historic Hayesville Courthouse inside the cover.
“There was only one award for economic vitality given in the state. There are 14 towns in the Small Town Main Street program in North Carolina and Hayesville is the smallest town in the program, but we report some of the top numbers,” she explained. “Of all the private and public investments, between 28 and 29 percent come from Hayesville. Our former STMS coordinator, Sherry Adams, tells little towns all the time, ‘If Hayesville can do it with less than 400 people population, you can do it.’ She brags on us all the time. The investments show we have more people believing in us all the time.”
The value of volunteer hours for the town amounts to $161,226 for one year at the standard of $24.19 an hour value; more than $500,000 for the past three years. Many grants will honor the value of volunteer hours for matching funds. STMS has partnered with Clay County Historical & Arts Council and Clay County Communities Revitalization Association as partners. This will continue with Hayesville Heritage Park where the old Town Hall was moved.
Zoning Administrator George Schaaf’s report was next. Planning and zoning board has many revisions to make to some ordinances and will probably publish them all together after another meeting. The planning and zoning and board of adjustment boards are fully staffed. “There are no pending applications for planning and zoning or board of adjustment,” he said. “the town meeting will not allow the required 14 days. We may need a called meeting for the planning and zoning board.”
Baughn gave his report. “The proposed apartment complex beside the Clay County Courthouse was denied due to roof height,” Baughn said. “So they went back to the drawing board and the new design goes within height guidelines. Since it is now a normal construction proposal, no more proposals will have to go to our board.” The Grand Apartments plan to be built along Courthouse Drive.
It included:
• Some citations have been issued for things such as grass height.
• Baughn thanked Slaton for designing and planning the Bee City signs and for leading the committee.
The only public comment was by Zimmerman who said the annual Trash to Treasure sale will be held soon. The group has acquired the site of the former Matthew’s Mexican Store on Highway 69 from August until September 30. “We will use proper social distancing measures to hold the sale safely,” she said.
Hayesville Town Council meets at Hayesville Town Hall at 5:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month. To enforce social distancing, all meetings held at Hayesville Town Hall only allow ten people to attend. This includes town council, the planning and zoning committee and the board of adjustment meetings. Anyone who wants to attend one of these meetings should notify Hayesville Town Hall prior to the meeting so a virtual connection may be arranged.