Guilford County Commissioners vote Kirk Perkins to be their new chairman.
Incidentally, it was Perkins who pushed for the delay in the Bluegreen-Haw River State Park hearing, scheduled for Dec. 13, in order to make sure property owners’ concerns were addressed. What a concept.
Commissioner Billy Yow summed up the situation:
It’s ironic to me that this is about the state and Bluegreen. For some reason, we keep forgetting about the property owner. If the property owners don’t sell the land, then the state can stay in Raleigh. What are you people thinking? It’s more than appropriate to give an extension to the property owner…..The reality is these property owners deserve every right to be heard, and if they need an extension, then they should be granted a two-month extension if that’s what they want, equal to what the other two parties have gotten.
Chuck Winfree, attorney for property owner Annie Cox said he believed a deal would be worked out between the state an Bluegreen and that the matter would not have to come before commissioners. But he also expressed concern on Mrs. Cox’s behalf that if the rezoning requset were turned down, “the state may have less incentive to negotiate for the property.”
The attorney for Citizens for Haw River State Park also appeared before county commissioners. Their reason for wanting to press ahead with the hearing? Well, they’ve had the Dec. 13 date on their calenders for quite some time now and it would be an inconvenience to postpone it again.
The delay was granted by a 9-1 vote, with Commissioner Linda Shaw as the lone ‘no’ vote.
Update: CHSP writes:
…..most seem to think that NCDENR and Bluegreen will resolve all of their differences before 2008. If this happens the state will purchase Bluegreen’s option on the property. The property owners would be fully compensated, possibly some funds would flow to Bluegreen to help them offset some of their expenses and the 692 acres will become part of the HRSP.
Another possible scenario just around the corner that may have support among the property owners is — Bluegreen’s option/contract on their property runs out in Jan. 2008 and the property owners don’t extend Bluegreen’s option and then sell their land directly to NCDENR. This option may prove to actually put slightly more money into the hands of the property owners because Bluegreen is out of the picture.
Either CHSP is privy to the negotiations (I’ve seen no indication of that, although I’m sure they’re keeping a very close eye) or they really believe property owners will make more money with Bluegreen out of the picture. Pardon us if Commissioner Yow and I are skeptical. And again, landowners’ actions don’t hold to that belief. Otherwise, they wouldn’t seek to delay a hearing that (many believe) would effectively eliminate Bluegreen’s interest in the land.
The fact that the attorney for a property owner expressed optimism that a deal favorable to all parties will be reached is a good sign, though. Let’s hope that’s how it plays out.
