Critics of a recent vote to keep the proposed $25 million Haywood County administration building and courthouse downtown told commissioners Monday they objected to the process as much as the decision.

“We’re not for taking it out of downtown, but we’re not in favor of leaving it here at a much higher price,” said Tom Boyd.

“What we are asking for is a total plan drawn up from the other side, and let’s look at it. We’ve never seen another plan to know if there could be a cost savings,” Boyd said.

Former school board member and past county commission candidate Austin Swanger of Fines Creek said a vote two weeks ago when the issue was not even on the agenda was a mistake.

“I think it shows a loss of leadership to vote on something that is not even on the agenda,” Swanger said. “It creates apathy among voters. I’m saying on major issues we need to listen to the people before the fact, not after.”

The site for the courthouse has been the subject of debate for a couple of months. The county is going to build a new courthouse and administration building in addition to a new jail. Together, the projects are estimated to cost about $35 million. Commissioner Wade Francis has argued that it would save money to go against the recommendation of the task force and move the facility somewhere out of the Main Street area. He has proposed Howell Mill Road or perhaps the Old Asheville Highway area, but has been unable to provide specific information about cost savings or potential sites.

Because of the need to continue moving the project forward, commissioners voted 4-1 two weeks ago to keep the building downtown adjacent to the current courthouse. That vote is what attracted about 40 people to Monday’s meeting.

County Board Chairman Jim Stevens told those at the meeting that the choice of the downtown Waynesville location was not made in an attempt to provide downtown businesses with patrons.

“I was on the original committee, and I can’t remember anyone in the group saying we need this downtown so Main Street can remain viable. That was not a consideration,” Stevens said. “What was said was that we did not want to abandon the beautiful courthouse.”

Stevens’ remarks followed those of Bethel resident Dave Curphey, who said some viewed the courthouse as merely a way of helping downtown merchants.

“Each speaker from downtown has justified my statements. They think the courthouse is a downtown support system,” Curphey said.

Curphey said the best way to make the decision was to have an analysis from an independent group like the Urban Land Institute. He said it would cost little and would not take much time.

Ron Huelster, the executive director of the Downtown Waynesville Association, agreed that using a group like the Urban Land Institute to weigh in on the debate was a good idea.

Huelster also said that the supposed cost savings for locating the new justice center out of the downtown area were not supported by the facts.

“You will end up with a lot of excavation costs that have not been considered,” he said.

Huelster also argued several other points: locating the justice center outside of town meant the loss of one of the few large, flat land parcels close to town that could be used for industry, a commercial venture, or open space; parking for 391 cars would require about 7.9 acres of impervious surface which will lead to increased runoff into Richland Creek; and if downtown businesses are negatively affected by the move, they will locate out of the downtown area and prompt sprawl and traffic congestion.

Dale Howell, owner of Whitman’s Bakery, compared the courthouse to Blue Ridge Paper.

“We estimate a full 10 percent of our business is directly from the courthouse and its patrons. It would all be lost if another site is chosen. I would say it rivals the importance of Blue Ridge Paper to Canton,” Howell said.

Howell also said that sometimes political officials are swayed by vocal minorities, and he asked the commissioners to stand by the silent majority.

Waynesville Mayor Henry Foy said keeping the courthouse downtown could help revitalize the Branner Avenue area and Frog Level. Foy, a retired architect, also said the projected cost savings of moving out of town would not materialize.

“In my professional opinion, you won’t save a dime by moving the courthouse,” Foy said.

 

Home
The Smoky Mountain News