It turned out to be a de facto forum on Midland Green, a proposed commercial development on Midland Road. Most oppose the proposed development.
“Stand firm against Argus (Charlotte developer Tom Cluderay’s company),” said Jack Naylor, a retired attorney and former president of the Pinehurst Civic Club. “You have a very strong legal position.”
The Pinehurst Village Council adjourned after more than two hours of commentary. The council went into closed session after the public hearing to discuss various options with attorney Robin Taut, who was hired by the village to provide advice on the Midland Green development.
The council took no action Thursday. The council could vote on the amendments at its Feb. 24.
The parade of speakers included several people who hadn’t had a chance to speak at the previous hearing, which started Feb. 10 and had to be continued because of time constraints. Most said they oppose any type of shopping center, no matter how attractive, on Midland Road.
The village has proposed several changes to the Neighborhood Commercial zoning regulations on such things as restricting the size of buildings. Many residents think the zoning changes were designed specifically for Midland Green to make it more palatable to the public.
Cluderay has an option to buy the 21-acre site, which is next to Carolina Eye, from Dr. Robert Martin.
Several speakers suggested further reducing the proposed maximum size of buildings.
Naylor urged the council to impose a moratorium on new commercial development for 90 to 180 days to allow time for a further study of the village’s Planned Development Ordinance.
Walter Bennett, president of the Pinehurst Civic Group, said the organization’s 12-member board had voted unanimously to oppose the project and the current amendments.
“The PCG has trouble with the idea that 30,000 square feet and neighborhood belong in the same sentence,” Bennett said. “We feel the proposed PDO changes to be an invitation to proliferation.”
Peggy Kirk Bell, who owns Pine Needles and Mid Pines on Midland Road, also opposes the development.
“This is known as the Golf Capital of the World,” she said. “I feel Midland Road is special. We have guests who come off U.S. 15-501 and U.S. 1 and say, ‘I smell the pines. I’m ready to play.’ They feel they are in another world.”
She said “a lot of progress has been made here,” agreeing with Martin’s earlier statements about the significance of his eye clinic and surgery center.
“I just feel you could do wonderful things with your property.” Bell said. “Let them go out on the highway to buy their groceries.”
Kelly Miller, president and CEO of Pine Needles and Mid Pines, quoted Pat Corso, former CEO and president of Pinehurst Resort, in a recent speech to the Pinehurst Civic Group.
“This is a very emotional issue because it has to do with something we all care about,” Miller said. “We have no oceans, we have no mountains. All we have is our natural beauty. I beg you to protect Midland Road to the maximum degree.”
Opponents Barbara and Robert Klug circulated a petition that was signed by more than 1,000 people in less than two weeks, they said. Barbara Klug said people from all over the area signed the petition, not just people living near the Midland Green site.
Klug is a Realtor associated with Pinehurst Area Realty on Midland Road just north of the proposed development. The Klugs live at the Country Club of North Carolina. She said she is opposed to the project as a Pinehurst resident.
“I’ve seen some of Dr. Martin’s plans and thought they were good,” Robert Klug said. “He has made sincere and good efforts for good developments in the past, but we don’t agree with the proposed plan now for Midland Green.”
Richard Bisbe of Pinehurst suggested that area planners analyze the impact of not only Midland Green but also other potential developments in Southern Pines farther south. Douglas Middaugh advocated requiring environmental impact studies.
Some speakers suggested that the village try to buy the property to prevent it from being developed, or to use eminent domain. A previous council did that when it bought the Harness Track property.
Martin, Cluderay, his Raleigh attorney Clyde Holt III, and traffic engineering consultant Mike Horn went over the history of attempts to develop the property and difficulties working within village requirements.
“We want this to be a destination place where people will want to go, like a little village,” Martin told the audience. He envisioned walkways, fountains and other attractive features. The Midland Crafters building is in very bad shape and needs to be torn down, he said.
The small business owners adjoining his property on Midland favor changes, he said. Midland Crafters is in line for first choice of new quarters in Midland Green.
“Do I want to make that road safe? You bet,” Martin said. “Do I want to keep it pretty? You bet. “Bernice (his wife) and I are here to do what’s right. We are here. We’re part of this community, we’re here to stay.”
The audience applauded.
Cluderay is appealing a decision by the village last year rejecting his original plan for Midland Green on grounds that a shopping center is not a permitted use in the Neighborhood Commercial district. The appeal will be heard by the village Board of Adjustment. The hearing is set for March 18 at 4 p.m. If the Board of Adjustment denies the appeal, the next step is Superior Court.
Cluderay’s original development plan for the Midland Green Center has more retail space and larger building sizes than would be allowed under the proposed changes to the Neighborhood Commercial zoning district.
Tatum said that even if the Village Council approves the ordinance amendments, Cluderay would still have to submit another plan for Midland Green to the village planning staff and council.
Mayor Steven Smith cautioned the audience that the council was looking for “input.” After hearing from speaker after speaker opposing the center, he finally asked for specific comments on the text amendments that were the subject of the hearing.
The text amendments would affect Neighborhood Commercial zoning districts, of which there are three in Pinehurst. The Midland Road site, however, is the only one in a residential area, one speaker pointed out. The other two are at Pinehurst South off N.C. 5 and in the village service district behind Community Road.
Two employees of Carolina Eye spoke in favor of Midland Green. One said she would like to be able to stop by a grocery store and pick up something before heading home to Cameron from the Midland Road clinic. Several in the audience booed her comments.
Smith admonished the audience to allow her to complete her statement.
The other speaker said that the traffic light required in the approved driveway permit would help patients to get in and out of the clinic safely.
“We worked closely with the DOT and the village to come up with the least obtrusive and safe design for Midland Road,” Cluderay said. “We also understand the question of scale is at issue. We continue to evaluate that.”
The trees to be cut to comply with DOT safety measures, a compromise that allowed the village and DOT to agree there will be no “net” loss of trees. New trees in equal number will replace some larger ones.
There will be no curb and gutter that would have required removal of older trees. Seven existing driveway entrances to Midland will be reduced to three under the driveway permit requirements. Five median openings that also pose a danger to drivers will be reduced to two, according to the approved plan for the driveway permit.
