Community vision lacking in current plan
To the Editor:
In light of the shortcomings in the Town of Waynesville Development Plan surfaced by Queen’s Farm phases 1 and 2, it might be a good time to look back to the 1990s when the Old Asheville Highway was slated for improvement — from where Lowe’s is now to Downtown Waynesville.
That windy two-lane road into town was scheduled to be straightened and widened. NCDOT spent an enormous amount of time and effort to engage the community in order to learn of concerns and needs before drawing up a plan.
And as you might imagine, there were all sorts of opinions — from a five-lane highway to just straightening the two lanes — and everything in between. Some favored roundabouts; others preferred stop lights at intersections.
Henry Foy, the Waynesville mayor at the time, advocated for a pleasing entrance into downtown, as it would serve as an important entryway. He was also concerned about safety — how a four- or five-lane road would safely integrate into the two-lane downtown. Mayor Foy had a vision of what an aesthetically pleasing road into downtown would mean for development and growth. In the end, a compromise was crafted to best reflect all the opinions and concerns.
I believe Mayor Foy is rolling over in his grave at the prospect of where development not only in Waynesville but in the entire county is going. Despite a well-intentioned effort to draft a development plan that worked for the community and developers, it seems what’s evolved reflects an imbalance between the desires and needs of developers and the desires and needs of the community. The current plan has a vision. However, what we have are rules and a process that have fallen far short of delivering on that vision.
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I understand that the town does have the ability to amend the current plan. I hope the Town Board will invest the time and energy to work with the planning board, developers and the community to revisit the current plan, confirm a vision for growth and development, and craft a better balance that is so badly needed and would avoid the contentious nature of planning board and town meetings that merely reflect the failure of the current plan.
Mark Jaben
Waynesville
