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- 2023 Minutes
-
03-11-2025
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by board President Chris Pelly. In addition, board members Christina Maggi, Steve Scholl, Shelley McKechnie, Liz Polfus, Debbie Francis, Leslie Morris, Barber Melton, Renate Rikers and Bruce Black were in attendance. Board members Doug Baughman and Michelle Decker were absent.
Special guest Dustin Clemens, Capital Projects Division Manager for the City of Asheville, presented a thorough report on the in-progress sidewalk construction designed for Beverly Road to Bell Road. The project is presently in tree removal phase, to be followed by excavation for retaining walls, utility line relocation, installation of the sidewalk and roadway repaving. Mr. Clemens also commented on hours restrictions due to proximity of schools, which basically restricts work to about 5 hours per day. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete. Mr. Clemens also fielded questions about traffic back-ups as well as pedestrian crossings, and how they may change during the course of the project.
Special guest Officer Carrie Lee of the Asheville Police Department explained community resources available through the APD. Officer Lee is the designated Community Resource Officer for East Asheville and serves as a liaison between APD and the East Asheville Community. To assist the community, she distributed helpful written contact information.
Special guest Timothy Rhodes of the Western North Carolina Youth Sports Association reported that post Helene reparation work on the ball fields will take place over the next several months, with an eye toward resuming baseball games for the 2026 season. NCYSA has appreciated co-hosting special events with HCCA and anticipates more such collaboration in the future. NCYSA has also agreed to a walking trail through its property which will connect the city sidewalk now under construction with the greenspace trail that will span the width of the 767 development. The NCYSA trail will run near the outfield of the ballfields. NCYSA has recently updated its ownership records to further protect the property as being exclusively reserved for youth activities.
Board member Shelley McKechnie reported on the book Stronger Than The Storm: Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, which she recently edited and published. The published work is a series of essays, poems and visual art by local residents impacted by Helene. Ms. McKechnie stated that she hopes the book will assist readers in a healing process following the storm, similar to how her work on the book itself aided in her own personal healing. The book is available locally at Malaprops Bookstore and online through Amazon.com. All proceeds will be donated to recovery efforts.
Upon motion by board member Debbie Francis and seconded by board member Bruce Black, the minutes of the January 15, 2025 HCCA Board meeting were unanimously approved.
Board member Bruce Black presented the treasurer’s report:
HCCA opened the year with a balance of $9,507.00
HCCA’s General Fund income for last year was $ 32,526.00, including an anonymous donation of $10,000.00 in restricted funds dedicated to a traffic study concerning the 767 development. Other income sources included membership dues and other donations, along with fundraising events like the yard sales.
The Greenway Project fund, which is restricted to that purpose, totals $10,993.36.
Expenses for the year, all from the General Fund, totaled $33,249.00, leaving a cash balance of $8,784.00 at the beginning of 2025. No funds were expended on the greenway project.
Anticipated expense budget for 2024 is $23,000.00, which includes mailing newsletters, membership management software, website hosting, and funds for new projects.
Board member Steve Scholl reported on status of the 767 Development Project, the general parameters of which were approved by City Council, with conditions, in July 2024. In February 2025 the developer submitted an extensive set of drawings intending to address the July 2024 conditions together with technical requirements needed for approval to move forward, including: access road; water, sewer and storm water systems; grading; fire prevention; tree canopy protection; landscaping; curb and gutter detail and the like. The public is invited to view by Zoom the TRC meeting scheduled for March 17, 2025 to review the latest submission.
Board member Shelley McKechnie reported on status of the Haw Creek Park Greenway grant proposal, final approval of which was deferred following Helene. The project is subject to a re-approval process along the same lines of the previous application and Ms. McKechnie was optimistic that it will pass muster, with construction to commence following final approval of the grant.
President Chris Pelly explained other year 2024 Highlights:
HCCA held six community meetings and special events including: 767 project meetings, game day, City Council candidates Forum, guided hikes, the Haw Creek Hustle 5K race, living with bears, community yard sale, holiday cookie exchange and chili cookoff.
HCCA was involved in Helene recovery and extended heartfelt thanks to Haw Creek Commons and Groce United Methodist Church for their leadership in recovery efforts benefitting the Haw Creek Valley.
Landscaping for the Welcome Haw Creek sign was completed at New Haw Creek Road and Crockett.
Plans for 2025
Community Association member Terry Latanich has agreed to monitor progress of the 767 development as it moves through the approval stages required following City Council approval of general parameters, with conditions, in July 2024. Board member Steve Scholl reported that he has assisted Mr. Latanich in reviewing the technical drawings submitted in February 2025 and in posing various questions to TRC and the developer in the lead up to the TRC meeting scheduled for March 17, 2025. They will continue to follow progress and raise pertinent questions.
Board member Shelley McKechnie reported that she will re-file the grant application for the Haw Creek Park Greenway project, with construction expected to follow final approvals.
Board member Steve Scholl reported that the Open Space Preservation Committee was formed in May 2024 for the purpose of identifying properties in the valley which may be at risk of dense future development, as well as exploring arrangements that could preserve those properties for community benefit and/or conservancy. A number of properties have been identified. Each plot exists under its own unique set of circumstances, such as elevation, slope, road access, ownership intentions, and the like. Mr. Scholl invited interested association members to sign up for the committee.
HCCA will continue its work to develop a Fire Wise community program involving protection of property, alert systems and emergency evacuation plans.
President Chris Pelly reported that the Haw Creek Hustle 5K race will be held again this year, with a date in May already secured.
President Chris Pelly reported that the board intends to continue and expand upon the special events hosted in 2024 and mentioned above. He invited members to sign up for assistance with those events.
Board of Directors election. Outgoing board members Debbie Francis, Leslie Morris and Steve Scholl were recognized. The following HCCA members were nominated and elected by acclamation for two-year terms: Doug Baughman, Shelley McKechnie, Liz Polfus, Rick Fornoff and Christina Quetel. There were no nominations from the floor. One board position remains to be filled.
There was no new business.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m., with dessert social immediately following.
Following adjournment, the newly elected board met and elected the following officers by acclamation: President Chris Pelly, Vice President Christina Maggi, Secretary Bruce Black and Treasurer Christina Quetel.
01-15-2025
January 15, 2025 – 7:00 pm
In Attendance: Christina Maggi, Chris Pelly, Barber Melton, Renate Rikkers, Bruce Black, Shelley McKechnie, Liz Polfus, Steve Scholl and Doug Baughman Absent: Leslie Morris, Michelle Decker and Debbie Francis Guest: Christina Quetel
The meeting was called to order and chaired by President, Chris Pelly.
Doug Baughman was introduced as a candidate to fill the board position vacated by Storms Reback. Motion was made by Christina Maggi and seconded by Shelley McKechnie to accept Mr. Baughman as a board member to serve until the annual meeting scheduled for March 11, 2025. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Barber Melton moved to accept the minutes from the July 31, 2024 board meeting. Liz Polfus seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Tentative Repeat Events and Schedule for 2025
The board engaged in a robust discussion of the following events tentatively scheduled for 2025:
Feb 18: Chili Cook Off (postponed from 10/14/2024)
- March 11: Annual meeting and board election
- April: Wildflower hikes led by Bernie Arghiere
- May 17: Haw Creek Hustle 5k race with Glory Hound Events.* With Mr. Reback’s departure the board needs to find another member of the board or community to take the lead in organizing this event, groundwork for which needs to begin in January. Although the 2024 event was well received in the community, it suffered a revenue shortfall which the board needs to avoid if the event is held again in 2025. As an active runner, Christina Quetel observed that running events usually require a couple of years to become established and attract significant registrations.
- May: Spring yard sale*
- June: Creating a rain garden NEW*
- July: Block party barbecue NEW*
- August: Outdoor movie night NEW
- Sept: Fall yard sale*
- Sept: Haw Creek Heritage Festival, subject to verification of whether Haw Creek Commons may have taken over this event
- Oct: Living with Black Bears
- Nov: Chili cook off
- Nov: Community meeting
- Dec: Holiday cookie exchange
- *Fundraiser
Other Tentative New Events for 2025
Essay, speech or storytelling contest with prizes for students and adults. Chris Pelly agreed to further define a topic and speak with high school faculty members to further evaluate feasibility of such an event.
Hurricane Helene cleanup, replanting and community beautification. Clean and Green Committee agreed to work on this. The HCCA website will also be updated to show Helene cleanup information distributed by local agencies, FEMA, etc.
Blue Horizons Project presentation on emergency efficiency and tax saving measures for the individual homeowner, including programs offered by City of Asheville, Buncombe County, Duke Energy, State of North Carolina and the federal government.
Haw Creek Greenway Project
Shelley McKechnie reported that HCCA’s grant application to Buncombe County’s Open Space Recreation Bond for construction of the Haw Creek Park Greenway will need to be re-processed in light of possible new priorities necessitated by Helene. Shelley anticipates that the new approval process will be expedited given that the staff had previously reviewed and tentatively approved the grant.
767 Project
Bruce Black reported that surveyors have been present at the property in recent weeks. Public records indicate that the developer has not yet closed on the property. Construction has not yet been observed on the tract.
Open Spaces Preservation Committee
Steve Scholl reported that the Open Spaces Committee met last week to restart efforts relating to undeveloped land within the Haw Creek valley, after having been interrupted by the Helene recovery. The committee has identified several tracts in the 10-25 acre range and is in the process of gaining background information about the individual tracts prior to approaching owners about possible collaboration with HCCA to achieve nature conservancies and/or community use. It was pointed out that each tract is subject to unique circumstances.
Fundraising and Membership
Christina Maggi reported that HCCA has 331 members as of December 31, 2024, a net increase of 35 members for the year. Members of the community gave donations over and above yearly dues as follows: 23 members provided general donations; 19 donated to the Greenway project; and one member donated funds for the 767 traffic study and attorney consultations. Contacts grew from 652 to 943 at end of year, with 555 contacts having registered for one or more events. Fifty-nine mass emails were sent, with open rates in the range of 70%-80%. Funds generated for 2024 were as follows: membership dues $6,520; fundraising events $7,583; and donations $4,390.
Financial Report
Bruce Black reported that, as of December 31, 2024, HCCA has a bank balance for the operating account in the amount of $8,914.77, a separate Greenway Fund bank balance of $10,999.36 and a Masters Park fund balance of $421.85.
A preliminary 2025 budget was distributed for consideration and approval at a later date.
Annual Meeting
Chris Pelly reported that the annual meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2025 at the East Asheville Library. Agenda items will include: (1) an update on past/future activities; (2) financial report; (3) solicitation of community members to participate in various committees; (4) election of six board members to serve two-year terms.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.
Next board meeting will be scheduled for an available time prior to the March 11 annual meeting. Location to be announced.
Submitted by: Steve Scholl, Secretary
