Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 3, 2007 issue
Story by Kathleen McFadden
In a special meeting Tuesday night, the Boone Board of Adjustment denied Phil Templeton’s application for a special use permit to develop a former church on State Farm Road into a medical clinic.
The motion to approve Templeton’s application failed in a vote of 3-5. The Boone Unified Development Ordinance requires that four-fifths of the board members concur on special use permit application approvals.
Templeton initially presented his plan for the property in January and subsequently presented a new plan in April that addressed concerns raised by property owners on VFW Drive regarding the size of the clinic, vehicular access to VFW Drive, lighting and trash receptacle placement. After five hours of procedural issues and testimony at the April meeting, the Board of Adjustment adjourned without deliberating the case, instructing Development Services staff to schedule a special follow-up meeting.
Voting against the motion to approve were Richard Crepeau, Denise Lockett and Fred Hay. Crepeau commented that the proposed medical center was not in harmony with the area and not in conformity with the town’s comprehensive plan. Hay agreed with Crepeau and added that he had concerns about traffic. Lockett said she was concerned about traffic issues and safety.
Phil Templeton is in Arizona and did not attend Tuesday night’s meeting, but his son Jeff Templeton was there and issued the following statement: “The decision not to grant a special use permit for a medical clinic on State Farm Road is further evidence of the anti-growth attitude of the Town of Boone. Phil Templeton made unprecedented concessions to address the valid concerns of the adjoining property owners, including a 30 percent reduction in the size of the proposed new structure, the removal of any parking access off VFW Drive, provisions to address garbage removal, the addition of a turning lane on State Farm Road, the condition that the hours of operation be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and the condition that the facility not be primarily used for mental, drug or alcohol rehabilitation. The Town's Development Services Department found the project to be complete and in compliance with the Town of Boone's Unified Development Ordinance. The staff report states, ‘This is the area where near-term growth and development is to be especially encouraged.’ Members of the Board of Adjustment are appointed by the Town Council and therefore reflect their policies of anti-growth.”