Josh Lance addresses Hayesville Town Council on “social district” idea.
By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
Were the Town of Hayesville to permit downtown to become a “social district,” residents and guests could take an alcoholic beverage — a beer or glass of wine — and stroll around the square, visit local shops or just sit with a drink near the historic courthouse.
Historic Hayesville Inc. board member Josh Lance told the Hayesville Town Council at Monday’s meeting that the town of Sylva has adopted such an approach.
“Sylva tried a six-month probationary period and it was quite successful, so they made it permanent,” he said.
Georgia, he said, allows municipalities to govern a social district.
“You could take an alcoholic beverage from a bar and take it throughout the district. You could enjoy a glass of wine or beer while you walk around town,” he said.
“My concern is how would you control or limit it since we have no police department,” Mayor Joe Slaton said. “It would be a burden on the sheriff.”
Only a few years ago, Clay was a dry county, Slaton noted.
Lance said the town could define the area allowed, the times permitted, the day or days of the week when it would be acceptable.
“It’s something to think about,” Lance told the council, which took no action but merely listened for informational purposes.
HHI’s Sandy Zimmerman said the N.C. Department of Commerce and the Small Town Main Street program, of which Hayesville is a member, is encouraging towns to get involved in such an approach for tourism purposes.
Lance also briefed the council on what’s needed to install an ATM in the downtown square area – including start-up costs, security, staff and other requirements. The town might partner with a local business or non-profit to install an ATM, he said. Many visitors to the town would find it convenient to have an ATM available.
At Monday’s meeting the town also heard from Franklin Shook, director of the Nantahala Regional Library System, who introduced Griffin Anderson, new director of Hayesville’s Moss Memorial Library.
Griffin said he is just getting acclimated to his new position and is looking for input from the local community on what it expects from the library.
Council members also briefly addressed a continuing problem in the downtown area — feral cats and what to do about them. The mayor would like to see them trapped, neutered and vaccinated against rabies, then adopted.
“They’re trying that all over Hiawassee,” Councilwoman Lauren Tiger said. The Towns County Commission gave money to help with the problem, she added.
The mayor said the town of Hayesville is looking into the cost of catching the cats. He said he will be talking to county officials and also a local veterinarian.
Zoning Administrator Ron Wallace relayed developments of an issue recently before the Hayesville Board of Adjustment.
The owner of a business dealing in firearms, guns described as collectors’ items, recently moved into a building he thought was in a commercial district. A review of local zoning found the location was actually in a residential area.
Wallace said by a 4-1 vote the Board of Adjustment allowed a special use permit.
“They were really collectibles,” Wallace said of the guns. “No firing (of the guns) will be done,” Wallace said.
Zimmerman encouraged the town to review the zoning restrictions to avoid “another scenario like this.”
In the mayor’s report, Slaton said the new restaurant Laughing Waters has opened next door to Town Hall and has enjoyed “a crush of customers.”
He noted that Mountain Mac, the Apple computer service shop, is moving to the strip center across from Signs Fast, probably by April.
He also briefed the council on the county commission’s authorization to seek grants for a local arena, a farmers’ market and the purchase of property for an annex to the Department of Social Services.