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Council seeks remaining easements, rights-of-way
for downtown improvements
By Frank Ruggiero
The Boone Town Council knows the price of progress, at least as
far as improvements to Howard Street in downtown Boone are concerned.
Howard Street in downtown
Boone will undergo improvements, if the town of Boone
can acquire the remaining easements and rights-of-way
necessary. File
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With an $180,000 design already approved, the only remaining roadblock
is the purchase of easements and rights-of-way along the downtown
street.
Toward the beginning of its regular meeting March 20, the council
entered closed session to discuss the project, which was listed
on the agenda as an action item. After 40 minutes, council members
emerged with only a statement.
Mayor pro tem Lynne Mason said the council wished to express appreciation
to all property owners who have donated rights of way and easements
for the cause, though four property owners are still holding their
easements, and five property owners are still holding their rights
of way.
Mason said these easements were needed for the project to proceed,
and, “It is our goal to address the design with the owners
and get right of way easements in the next 30 days. This is really
critical, because we’re getting to the point where we need
to put this project out to bid if we want to move forward.”
With a price tag of $4,229,630 estimated in June 2007, the cost
is likely to continue rising with inflation. In June 2006, the
estimate was $3.6 million, and in October that same year, it was
$3.9 million.
Town manager Greg Young said he’s spoken with the Local Government
Commission to discuss project financing, along with other city
needs like water. The commission recommended the town finance
the Howard Street project through an installment-purchase arrangement,
he said.
“So that was the route we’re looking at, but that still
necessitates the borrowing of money and paying back the debt,”
he said.
The other option was a general obligation bond, though both could
likely result in a tax increase for Boone citizens.
In 2006, the Downtown Boone Development Association was tasked
with approaching affected property owners to negotiate the donation
of land.
“Every property owner on the two blocks was going to have
to give some (land), some more than others, depending on the side
and how much was needed,” Young explained. “There were
probably one or two pieces that weren’t needed, but the rest
of it involved the donation of land to make the project work.”
If those easements and rights-of-way are acquired, the project
can go out to bid. If the town does not acquire the land, Young
said the council will have to decide on whether or not to move
forward or not.
Council member Stephen Phillips ruled out eminent domain as a
possibility, and said it seemed like the property owners in question
simply had a few concerns that needed addressing, whether it be
about parking or pedestrian flow, safety or storm water.
“If we could just get these concerns resolved, then I think
we’ll make some progress with Howard Street,” Phillips
said. “And the engineers are willing to work with them to
address these issues.”
Phillips has been meeting with the affected property owners and
said progress is looking good. “From what I can tell, most
of the people are cooperative – they just want their particular
issue looked at, and I can’t blame them.”
The design incorporates one-way and two-way streets to provide
additional parking and pedestrian access on the downtown roadway.
Howard Street would run one way from Depot Street to Water Street,
and two ways from Depot Street to Appalachian Street, providing
sidewalks on both sides of the road and allowing for safer pedestrian
traffic; site furniture, such as benches, bicycle racks and a
kiosk; underground utilities; 39 parking spaces on the street;
and 33 new trees with landscaping.
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