Haywood County commissioners are getting out of downtown Waynesville, voting Monday to build a new justice center and jail in Hazelwood.

The move is being hailed by many for saving money and, perhaps, providing a catalyst for the revitalization of a community that was a thriving industrial center 50 years ago.

“Somehow, this just seems right,” said Mary Ann Enloe, a county commissioner and former Hazelwood mayor who oversaw its merger with Waynesville in 1995.

Commissioners have taken an option on a 13.5-acre tract of land at the site of the old A.C. Lawrence Tannery in Hazelwood that will cost $617,500. If the site is deemed OK by engineers and architects, the county will build its new justice center and jail at the site.

The Monday vote did not come as a complete surprise. Privately, some who have been watching the commissioners take heavy criticism for their downtown justice center and parking deck plans have said that the site in Hazelwood was under consideration. County commissioners have gone into closed session at several recent meetings to discuss property acquisition.

County board Chairman Jim Stevens said Monday commissioners have been looking at the site “for a couple of months.”

“We originally went out and looked at it for the jail,” said Stevens.

“We hope this can bring the project in at under $30 million,” said Stevens.

The downtown project would have included a $4.2 million renovation of the existing courthouse, a $4.2 million parking garage, and the $17.2 million courthouse. Along with a new jail, the total package was expected to cost $36.6 million. With the move to Hazelwood, there will be no need for the parking deck and the major renovation to the historic courthouse.

County Commissioner Wade Francis is one of those who has been arguing for a less expensive facility. However, he was still not pleased with the Hazelwood purchase.

“I’m not happy with the site we selected. I think we ought to have selected five or six options and then let the public have input,” said Francis.

However, he voted with the board to purchase the site because he thinks it could save the county as much as $10 million.

Francis was also upset that the county will move the tax office, register of deeds and clerk of court to the new justice center. He advocates leaving county offices in the historic courthouse and only moving the clerk of court to the new justice center. He said having the employees in downtown helps businesses in the area, and that he did not want to hurt downtown.

“The historic courthouse is just going to be a skeleton. They are going to lock the doors until we move something in,” he said.

County Manager Jack Horton, however, said a decision on what offices might remain in the historic courthouse has not been made.

“It’s way too early to determine that. We’ve got two-and-a-half years to decide,” said Horton.
Enloe said the county is committed to keeping offices and people in the courthouse.

“We have learned from Henderson County and Jackson County that we don’t want an empty building. We have property in several other areas, and we’ll probably consolidate some of those to the downtown courthouse. It will remain a viable courthouse and there will be people there,” she said.

Tax Collector David Francis said moving the clerk of court, tax offices and register of deeds to the consolidated justice center will better serve citizens.

“Sometimes local government doesn’t do things to make it easy for citizens from a usage standpoint. This makes sense,” he said.

David Francis also said security measures that can be built into the new justice center would provide a peace of mind and better working environment for many county employees.

The commissioners also voted Monday to construct only five courtrooms instead of the seven recommended in the study conducted by GSA consultants. That decision comes on the heels of a Sept. 17 report by Assistant County Manager that defended the methodology used to derive at the seven-courtroom figure.

County commissioners had been facing criticism on several fronts since deciding to build downtown. Some had argued that the commissioners had not included the public in the decision-making process.
Austin Swanger, one of those critics, echoed that sentiment after hearing about the decision.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction, but it’s still the same old thing — there was nothing on the agenda, there was no public input,” said Swanger.

Many said the downtown project had become too expensive because Waynesville zoning requirements mandated a certain number of parking places per square foot. To meet that requirement, the $4.2 million parking deck was added to the plan. Enloe said the savings from putting the building in Hazelwood will make up for the money spent to buy $600,000 in land around the courthouse and for new designs.

Others said the actual size of the project was too grand, criticizing the GSA study. Another problem with the proposed height of the building was that it violated downtown height limits.

Just two weeks ago town officials had said they did not know if a variance would be granted for the proposed four-story justice center. Waynesville Mayor Henry Foy said there was a very good chance the town would not have relented on the size issue.

“Buildings in the downtown area need to be designed properly, according to the lay of the land. That wasn’t being done. I don’t think the appearance commission or planning board would have OK’d that,” said Foy.

Hazelwood rising
As long as the downtown courthouse remains an office building, Foy said the more important aspect of the decision Monday is the impact it could have on Hazelwood.

“This is an opportunity,” said Foy. “One of our big problems in the land-use plan was Hazelwood and how to revitalize it.”

Foy said Waynesville officials have been trying to devise plans to reinvigorate the Frog Level area and Hazelwood. Frog Level business owners have recently embarked on an effort to spruce up that area and turn it into a historic district. That, along with this news about Hazelwood, are good for Waynesville, said Foy.

“I think a lot of good can come of this,” said Foy.

Enloe said the decision to build in Hazelwood could end up being a godsend to her hometown.

“For me, this is a good economic development decision as well. If we had not merged, then we wouldn’t have been in the town of Waynesville and this could not have occurred,” she said, referring to the fact that the justice center and court facilities must be in the county seat.

Enloe said she was glad Waynesville officials were adamant about their zoning requirements, both for Waynesville and Hazelwood’s future.

“This will put Hazelwood back like it was 50 years ago, when it was a thriving town. Many of the old homes will make great offices for lawyers. I’m excited that we will now have a western entrance to the city,” she said.

 

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