Why I Voted to Annex Queen’s Farm
Chuck Dickson.
On April 14, the Waynesville Town Council voted 4-1 to annex the Queen’s Farm/Valleywood Farms Phase 2 property into the town limits. As part of the Town of Waynesville, an annexed property receives services, is subject to zoning and other town regulations and pays property taxes.
I voted to annex Phase 2 of Valleywood Farms, and I want to tell you why.
In 2020, over 500 Waynesville citizens participated in the visioning process and weighed in on the creation of a comprehensive development plan for the future of our town called the ‘2035 Plan.’ They told us that Waynesville must limit growth to the areas that can be served with water and sewer. Participants said they supported a plan to limit the town’s growth to a small area around the town limits. They knew while growth was necessary for the survival of the town, they wanted to preserve our “small town feel” and beautiful views. The area where the Queen’s Farm is located was designated for single-family homes in that plan.
Every current Town Council member (Gary Caldwell, Jon Feichter, Julia Freeman, Anthony Sutton and I) trusted their foresight and listened to their instructions when we voted unanimously to approve the 2035 Plan. When I voted to annex the Queen’s Farm/Valleywood property, I was following the comprehensive development plan to which we had all agreed.
I voted to annex because I believe that Valleywood Farms Phase 2 will be a thriving, friendly neighborhood and a welcome addition to our Town. The development will have wide streets, tree plantings and sidewalks. It will be a walkable neighborhood with recreation spaces and a public greenway along Ratcliff Cove and Racoon Roads. These improvements will be paid for by the developer and cost the town nothing. In addition, the town negotiated with the developer for changes that will lessen traffic on Sunnyside Road. Since it is inside town limits, our inspectors will strictly enforce the North Carolina Building Code, our stormwater runoff rules and flood ordinance.
I voted to annex because there is a shortage of housing in Waynesville. Valleywood Farms currently provides housing that is affordable for a two-income earner household. Residents have told me that the developer offered lower than market interest rates and paid thousands in closing costs. Residents I spoke with are happy living in Valleywood Farms. A couple can own a three-bedroom, two-bath home with a yard and garage for a little more than they would pay to rent a similar apartment in Waynesville. In addition, their house payment will not increase as rent does.
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I voted to annex because I do not want to vote to raise taxes on Waynesville residents. The town provides excellent police and fire protection; water, sewer and electrical services; street and stormwater maintenance and garbage collection. But because of inflation, increases in health insurance costs, rising fuel prices and unfunded mandates from the state, the town board has three choices:
We can cut services.
We can raise taxes.
We can find more property to tax (through annexation or new construction).
No one wants to cut services. This leaves two choices: to grow or to raise taxes. If our town does not grow, we will not have enough taxable property to pay for even the current level of services. If we do not grow, we will be forced to raise taxes.
I voted to annex to protect the wallets and pocketbooks of Waynesville taxpayers. My duty is to the people of the Town of Waynesville, and my vote was for them.
(Chuck Dickson is the Mayor Pro Tem of the Town of Waynesville. He has served on the Town Council for over six years.)
