Last Updated on September 22, 2026 10:45 am
BOONE — The Boone Town Council meets Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Town Council Chambers at 1500 Blowing Rock Road, with a work session at 5 p.m. followed by regular business and public comment at 6 p.m.
The agenda includes consideration of the Walk at Boone conditional district rezoning, an update on the town manager search, an amendment to the town's water and sewer extension rules for state-owned property, a janitorial services contract, a proclamation declaring Dolly Parton Day and an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission.
5 P.M. WORK SESSION: TOWN-OWNED PROPERTY AND OFFICE SPACE
Interim Town Manager Hank Perkins will lead a discussion of the current and potential use of town-owned properties, including the WYN property, and opportunities to use available space to meet office and workspace needs for town employees. Council will be asked for input and direction on potential uses of the properties.
6 P.M. REGULAR BUSINESS
The regular portion of the meeting includes announcements, adoption of the agenda and public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes. Council will consider minutes of the Aug. 26 and Sept. 9 regular meetings.
Dolly Parton Day. A proclamation submitted by Mayor Pro Tem Todd Carter would declare Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 — written 9/25, a nod to her song and film “9 to 5” — as Dolly Parton Day in the Town of Boone. The proclamation cites her Dollywood Foundation, Imagination Library and My People Fund, and her giving toward causes including Hurricane Helene recovery. It asks residents to do at least “One Good Deed for Dolly.”
PLANNING MATTERS: THE WALK AT BOONE
Council will consider Case A26-0357, the Walk at Boone conditional district zoning map amendment. The case was heard at the July 27 public hearing and tabled at the applicant's request to this meeting.
According to the revised staff report, LCD Acquisitions, LLC is requesting to rezone property at the corner of N.C. 105 Extension and Beverly Heights Avenue from B3 General Business, R3 Multiple-Family Residential and R1 Single Family Residential, with Corridor District and Viewshed Protection District overlays, to Conditional District R3 Multiple-Family Residential with the same overlays. The request includes a site-specific development plan for a 179-unit, 618-bedroom residential community, along with a retail store of up to 5,000 square feet and a parking structure.
The applicant's narrative describes a combined site of about 23.3 acres, currently a golf driving range and vacant lots. The largest parcel, at 115 Beverly Heights Ave., is owned by GH Winkler Family LP.
The plan has been revised since the July public hearing. According to the applicant's list of updates:
— Units reduced from 185 to 179, and bedrooms from 642 to 618, with two buildings on the eastern side removed.
— Surface parking on the east side reduced from 225 to 200 spaces.
— A dedicated public green space added with tables, benches and hammocks.
— Three AppalCART pick-up and drop-off locations identified after consultation with AppalCART.
— A split leasing structure: units in the western “Flats” buildings leased by the bedroom, and cottages and row apartments on the east side leased by the unit.
— Gates at the two easternmost entrances, accessible to emergency vehicles and AppalCART, so residents would use the driveway closest to N.C. 105 Extension.
— Projected daily traffic reduced 18%, with morning peak trips down 22% and evening peak trips down 18%, compared with the earlier plan.
The applicant's proposed conditions include setting aside 10 “attainable units” for employees of the Town of Boone, Watauga County, Watauga County Schools, Watauga County-based 501(c)(3) organizations or similar employers, with household incomes at or below 120% of area median family income. Rates would be $1,500 a month for a one-bedroom, $1,900 for a two-bedroom and $2,200 for a three-bedroom, increasing 3% annually. The commitment would run 10 years from the last certificate of occupancy. If an attainable unit stays vacant for 90 consecutive days despite good-faith leasing efforts, it could be leased at market rate.
Other proposed conditions include bringing Beverly Heights Avenue up to town standards, working with the town and NCDOT on intersection changes at N.C. 105 and Beverly Heights Avenue, contributing $300,000 toward sidewalk connections along Horn Avenue to Appalachian State University, restoring a piped stream on the site, and restricting about 6.4 acres of buffer area through a conservation easement or other recorded restriction.
At the July 27 hearing, the Planning Commission voted 6-0 that the original proposal was inconsistent with the town's comprehensive plan and 6-0 to recommend denial. Council is not bound by the commission's recommendation. Under state law, council must adopt a statement on whether its action is consistent with the comprehensive plan, then vote to approve or deny.
COUNCIL MATTERS
Town manager hiring process. Dr. Patricia Mitchell will update council on the status of the town manager search, including recruitment and selection, discuss next steps and seek council's direction on how to proceed.
Rental payments and minimum housing codes. Mayor Dalton George has placed a discussion of rental payments and minimum housing codes on the agenda. No summary is included with the item.
Janitorial services agreement. Finance Director Guy Miller reports the town received four proposals for janitorial services at town facilities: Clean Break, $322,800; ServiceMaster, $202,020; Casa Bonita, $147,159.96; and Appalachian Innkeepers & Janitorial Supply, Inc., $135,200. Staff recommends awarding the agreement to Appalachian Innkeepers & Janitorial Supply.
Monthly financial update. Miller will present an update on the town's financial position. Going forward, the update will be a routine monthly report on the consent agenda.
NCLM agreement. Council will consider an addendum to the town's agreement with the N.C. League of Municipalities for Cherry Bekaert to provide additional technical accounting and GASB consulting services, including help preparing bank reconciliations for fiscal year 2025 and preparing for the fiscal year 2025 audit. Additional fees are not to exceed $50,000 without the town's written approval, and any NCLM funding approved for the project would be used before town funds.
Water and sewer extensions to state-owned property. Town Attorney Allison Meade has prepared an amendment to Town Code § 50.291, following council's Aug. 26 discussion. It would allow council, at its discretion, to authorize water or sewer extensions and connections to state-owned or managed projects without requiring annexation, where state law (N.C.G.S. § 160D-913) exempts those properties from town zoning and development regulations.
Staff and the town attorney recommend adoption. The agenda item states that allowing such connections would let the town receive double water and sewer rates, and that requiring annexation in these cases “results in only financial detriment to the town with no offsetting gains in either its tax base or zoning authority.” Under the draft, a connection would be disconnected with 30 days' notice if the site's use substantially changes or the property is sold to a non-governmental entity.
Historic Preservation Commission appointment. Town Clerk Nicole Harmon reports one vacancy on the commission and one application, from Adelia Daly.
CLOSED SESSION
The agenda lists a closed session under three provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11: subsection (a)(1), to review, approve and seal minutes from prior closed sessions; (a)(3), to consult with the town attorney concerning one or more potential legal claims; and (a)(6), to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness or conditions of appointment or initial employment of a public officer or employee.
Potential action following closed session is listed before adjournment.
The full agenda and packet are posted on the town's online agenda portal.
