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By Jim Buice
For the Clemmons Courier

The Clemmons Village Council took the next step in the process for a 360-unit, multi-family development on Lewisville-Clemmons Road in its Nov. 23 meeting by calling for a public hearing on the Lake at Belmont project.

Planner Nasser Rahimzadeh reported that the Planning Board voted unanimously in favor for the zoning and site plan adoption in its meeting on Nov. 17, which was continued on Nov. 19.

In the previous council meeting on Nov. 9, the council approved a resolution directing the clerk to investigate a voluntary annexation petition for a 38.48-acre development at 1930 Lewisville-Clemmons Road.

Village Manager Scott Buffkin said that Lisa Shortt, town clerk, and attorney Elliot Fus had worked together to certify the petition after correcting one technical glitch for the voluntary annexation at the request of The Lake of Belmont – Parr Investments.

The other action in Monday night’s meeting on the matter was to adopt Resolution 2020-R-11 of fixing the date of the public hearing for the next council meeting on Monday, Dec. 14, for the annexation request, which will coincide with the rezoning request.

The call for the public hearing followed and was approved for Zoning Map Amendment – Zoning Docket C-237 – of Hendrix Commercial and Industrial Enterprise Inc. from RS-40 to RM-18-S (Residential Multifamily – Special) for the property described by the Forsyth Tax Offices as PIN number 5884-81-0709.

The breakdown of apartments for the proposed development details 140 one-bedroom units, 184 two-bedroom units and 36 three-bedroom units on the horse farm with plans for the existing lake to remain.

Rahimzadeh said that during the planning board meetings recommendations were made to change some units at the front at the end to include that the second and third floors for the two structures facing Lewisville-Clemmons Road have their patio porches removed and just have a sunroom while the first floor would continue to have a patio porch.

In another stormwater matter, a discussion involving the Greenbrook CIP project, which is on the village’s Capital Improvement Program list, was on the agenda. That was preceded by public comments from Brian Creasy, who lives on Breckingridge Lane and was asking about a possible improvement for his property that would help his neighbors.

Wes Kimbrell, stormwater engineer, said that the Greenbrook Drive CIP had put out for bids and was in the process of acquiring easements with the last one to be acquired being for the Creasy property.

Creasy said that when he built his house, he put in a private system to make the lot from being substandard but noted all the changes with the weather, more rain and development over the years.

“I have no problems currently, but my neighbors are having a rough time with it,” said Creasy, who added that he lives on the downside of the problem. “I’m trying to help my neighbors out. I put a lot of money into that system to give me a nice backyard.”

Extending the pipe would require an additional 24 feet, and Creasy said he was willing “to go halfway” with the village. Kimbrell said that a price estimate on adding 12 feet would be close to $20,000 but that would not include $5,000 to $12,000 in revised construction documents, re-permitting and anything else.

Public Works Director Mike Gunnell said that “in order for the property owner to sign the agreement and give us the easement, then he wants the pipe extended.”

The council chose to take no action and give the matter time for more consideration.

In another matter, the council chose to form a subcommittee to get more detailed information from the sheriff’s office in breaking down specifics on monthly reports provided to the village.

Mayor John Wait and councilwoman Michelle Barson agreed to serve on the new subcommittee.

“The real driving force is being able to effectively see year over year trend lines for multiple years,” Wait said. “Are we short officers or not? Same thing with crimes being committed. Are we having more crimes compared to last year or not? That information is not being provided to us in any of these reports.”

Wait said that he considers this to be perhaps “the most important information we need as a town for the safety of our residents.”

Prior to the regular council, there was a fall retreat/work session that included specific items of stormwater and village hall along with other general items and updates.

In other highlights from Monday night’s meeting, the council:

• Heard in the marketing/communications report that the 2020 Clemmons Farmers Market season ended on Sunday, Nov. 22, with a record attendance of 671 customers and 25 vendors for the holiday pop-up market outside at the Jerry Long Family YMCA. Also, the virtual Clemmons cleanup is being extended until Dec. 13. To date, 13 groups have participated and 80 bags of trash have been collected. And the Clemmons annual tree lighting will take place on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. and will be livestreamed to the village’s YouTube channel.

• Approved Ordinance 2020-10 for the dissolution of the Stormwater Advisory Board.

• Heard from Wait, who announced that Patty Fife, senior administrative assistant, is retiring, effective Nov. 30.

• Went into closed session to discuss a personnel matter and property acquisition.