BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Troutman Town Council heard presentations about Habitat for Humanity’s upcoming work in the area, Kimley-Horne’s on-call transportation services, and Design Associates’ renderings for the south side of Wagner Street and ESC Park upgrades during the council’s Monday afternoon agenda briefing.
Council member Eddie Nau was absent and Mayor Teross Young attended remotely.
Habitat for Humanity Presentation
Laura Belcher, president and CEO of the Charlotte region Habitat for Humanity, told the council that the organization’s goals were to provide community members with decent places to live as they build community and hope.
Home ownership is life-changing, said Belcher, because it brings a 40 times greater net worth than lifetime renters experience. This economic mobility is an important part of breaking generational poverty and resolving housing disparities. Ninety percent of those served by the Charlotte Habitat in 2023 were families of color.
The organization, which formed following a merger between the Charlotte group and Our Town Habitat in 2020 to cover both Mecklenburg and Iredell counties, served its 4,000th family this year.
Habitat offers the opportunity for qualified applicants to buy new, rehabilitated, or affordable market homes homes, teaches financial literacy classes, and performs critical home repair (mainly for low-income seniors in older homes).
The organization, now in its 40th year, has big plans for 2024. It will serve 450 families next year, 86 through providing new homes, 130 with critical home repair, and 234 with financial literacy training.
In Troutman, Habitat will perform one critical repair project next year. It has purchased three lots for new home builds in the next few years.
The organization is currently not taking homeowner applications as it clears a two-year backlog because of the pandemic, but critical repair applications are open to those earning 40 percent or less of an area’s annual average median income.
To qualify for Habitat home purchase, potential applicants must earn 80 percent or less of the area’s annual average median income, perform 200 to 300 hours of work to earn sweat equity, and take financial literacy training.
Mortgages are approximately 30 percent of the homeowner’s income, with Habitat subsidizing the purchase to that level if necessary in return for a deed restriction giving Habitat the first right of refusal if the house is ever sold to keep the home in the affordable housing category.
Mayor Young indicated, through a text to Town Manager Ron Wyatt, that seniors aging in place was important to the Troutman community, and anything Habitat can do to aid that is welcome and appreciated.
Kimley Horn Presentation
The Troutman Council and Planning Director Lynne Hair have been discussing ways to take more control over traffic impact analyses (TIAs), and obtaining “on-call” transportation services is one of the options.
In a presentation by Kimley-Horn, Laura Reid said her firm offers TIAs, transportation studies, staff support, information for grants or other funding, design services, public engagement sessions, environmental studies, and planning assistance with transportation, land use, and bike and pedestrian uses.
With “on-call’ assistance, Reid said the TIA process would change because the traffic study team would be working for the town instead of the developer, though services are still paid by the developer.
This change would put more emphasis on ensuring town ordinances and interests (greenway, future land use map, bike/ped plans) are considered that NCDOT does not require.
After the town, developer, and Kimley-Horn determine a TIA’s scope, a contract is signed and the TIA is prepared. The TIA is then reviewed by NCDOT and the town before developers get input, and traffic mitigation measures are then determined in conjunction with the developer, followed by a formal written agreement for the developer to perform them.
Reid said this revised process gives the town a stronger role in the TIA process, provides consistency and efficiency between multiple TIAs in the same area, upholds town ordinances, and serves as an extension of town staff.
Reid cautioned that developers may have a learning curve with this new process, which may cost more and be more enhanced than NCDOT requirements.
Kimbley-Horn’s Steve Blakely noted that many municipalities are moving toward this model.
In response to Town Attorney Gary Thomas’s inquiry, Blakely said that if Kimley-Horn is performing civil engineering or other services for a developer, the town would be immediately notified and the two teams would be kept separated to avoid a conflict of interest.
Blakely also noted that accepting payments in lieu of performing required traffic mitigations in overlapping TIA areas could actually be combined to help fund larger and more impactful projects in an area.
Wyatt said the council would need to also pass an ordinance to require TIAs be conducted through this new process.
Council member Jerry Oxsher was enthusiastic about the new proposed “on-call” traffic consultant process, saying it would streamline and better organize transportation projects and ensure that all TIA traffic mitigations are interacting properly and accurately.
The council will continue discussions about proposed TIA process changes.
Design Associates Presentation
Nathan Morgan of Design Associates presented design renderings for proposed changes to the southern side of Wagner Street to address sidewalk issues and to add beautification.
Changes included building up the walkway to the building entrance areas and adding iron railings, lamp posts, and streetscaping for a patio-like seating area. Ramps would provide access to the raised areas.
The ESC Park renderings and video included the addition of four fenced pickleball courts and a fenced basketball court next to the volleyball courts.
A covered picnic shelter, a concession stand/bathrooms with an additional covered seating area, and an adjoining patio with additional umbrella tables were situated between these new amenities and the existing baseball/softball fields.
Parks and Recreation Discussion
With approval of the 2024 Parks and Recreation Event Schedule on Thursday night’s agenda, Parks and Recreation Director Emily Watson sought council input on the continuation of the Independence Day fireworks show.
Watson proposed having the parade on Saturday, June 29, with the Independence Festival, hosted by one or more civic organizations and the fireworks display occurring on July 3, which is a normal staff work day.
She opposed having all three events on the same day because of the small staff working 18 hour days on Friday and Saturday, the strain of three events in one day on the police department, and the Saturday overtime costs.
Watson requested council’s thoughts on whether to reinstate the fireworks and to choose the date so she can reserve the time with the vendor.
The council supported the Saturday parade /Wednesday festival and fireworks options on the 2024 event schedule, with more discussion later on the Wednesday activities pending the cost of fireworks and obtaining a commitment from civic groups to organize and operate the festival events.
Wyatt noted that several county commissioners have indicated interest in partnering with the town to share fireworks costs. Watson said the town could also seek sponsors to fund the fireworks as well.
Strategic Planning Retreat Dates and Training
The proposed dates for the council’s Strategic Planning Retreat are February 26 and 27 at the council chambers, pending absent council members’ approval.
Wyatt also mentioned plans for a possible informal dinner between the Troutman and Mooresville town boards and mayors to foster future cooperation and communication.
Wyatt encouraged new and current council members to take an Essentials of Municipal Government for Elected Officials class, as well as keeping up with ethics training requirements, through several upcoming one- and two-day offerings by Centralina Council of Governments (CCOG).
THURSDAY NIGHT AGNEDA
Presentations
♦ Recognition of Cameron Jones as “Town of Troutman Employee of the Month.”
♦ Introduction of the Troutman Police Department K-9 Unit.
♦ Award presentation to TPD Sgt. Jamie Benge and Officer Michael Miller.
♦ Presentation of the Town of Troutman’s 2022-2023 budget year audit.
♦ Recognition in memory of Kenneth Reid, Planning and Zoning Board Member.
♦ Recognition of Patrick “Pat” Shannon for his Outstanding Service and Entertainment as WSIC radio host of the “Home Ad Show” and in honor of his retirement.
♦ Presentation in recognition of the Distinguished Service of George W. Harris to the Town of Troutman.
Other Business
The council will consider:
♦ An Infrastructure Reimbursement Agreement between the Town of Troutman and BBC Wakefield, LLC.
♦ An annexation and rezoning request from Iredell County residential agriculture to Town of Troutman conditional mixed residential on behalf of Sunbeam Estates, LLC for 36.86 acres at 116/140/165 Royal Oaks Drive.
♦ A rezoning request by Leon Bouwens, Jr. for 43 acres at 379/381 Murdock Road from the Town of Troutman suburban residential to light Industrial to further expand the nearly 90 acre Northfork Business Park. The Planning and Zoning Board denied recommendation of this request.
♦ Annexation request by Martin Ray Holdings for 1.19 acres on the corner of Maple Street and South Eastway Drive.
♦ Approval of an Incinerator Use Interlocal Agreement between the Town of Troutman, City of Statesville, and Town of Mooresville.
♦ Approval of a Fee-In Lieu of Sidewalk for the O’Reilly Auto Parts located at 165 Julian Place.
♦ Approval of the 2024 Council Meeting Schedule and the 2024 Parks and Recreation Event Schedule.
♦ Consider a hearing date for an annexation request by BBC Rocky Creek, LLC, for 19.511 acres located off Byers Road on January 11, 2024.
Swearing-In Ceremony
The newly re-elected Mayor Teross Young and council member Eddie Nau and newly elected council member Nicholas Jaroszynski will be sworn in by Mooresvile Mayor Chris Carney, followed by the selection of the Mayor Pro Tempore and council appointments to Centralina Council of Governments, Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, and Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission.