Civic Group President Jane Deaton told The Pilot that her organization is making a concerted effort to get Aberdeen, Southern Pines and the village of Pinehurst to talk in an attempt to standardize development practices.
She cited the recent clearing of land adjacent to the Country Club of North Carolina for the soon to be completed Bi-Lo as an example of a case in which there should have been more communication among the communities in southern Moore County.
“A lot of folks in Southern Pines are affected by that development,” Deaton said. “We think there should be some standardization of development and design practices. I think we are seeing an example of how the communities can pull together with the county transportation committee, and we’d like to see that effort expanded on the subject of development.”
Deaton added that the civic group’s emphasis is on better cooperation and communication between Aberdeen, Southern Pines and the village, but adds that it would be “ideal” to include the municipalities from the northern part of the county in organized discussions.
“We’re all connected,” Deaton said.
Southern Pines Mayor Frank Quis agrees that there should be more communication between the northern and southern portions of the county. Economic development is the major tie that binds the two halves of the county together, Quis said.
“Economic development is one common interest between all of the county’s municipalities,” Quis said. “And I believe the northern part of the county is being brought more into the fold by the actions of the Sandhills Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Commission.”
Quis also said that he believes there is a “very good level” of communication between Aberdeen, Southern Pines, and the village, but that he would like to see even more.
Aberdeen Town Manager Tony Robertson told The Pilot that he plans to bring up the issue of more cooperation between the three municipalities with his Town Board in the near future.
“I think there should be more,” Robertson said. “I think it’s very important that we pull together or we will be pulled apart. And now that Aberdeen’s lengthy budget process is over, I plan to bring this before the commissioners.”
Robertson said there is already a good level of “informal” communication between the three communities taking place in the form of meetings “every two to three months” among the respective mayors and town managers of Aberdeen, Southern Pines and the village.
Pinehurst Mayor Pro Tem George Hillier echoed Robertson’s comments, praising the “ad hoc” meetings conducted between the municipalities.
“We have been communicating with Aberdeen and Southern Pines on an ad hoc basis,” Hillier said. “Steve (Pinehurst Mayor Steve Smith) and Andy (Pinehurst Village Manager Andy Wilkison) meet with their counterparts quite regularly. So that process started informally quite some time ago.
“I don’t know if it will become more formalized or if it really should become more formalized. The meetings are currently very informal, but helpful.”
