Fresh from planning and goal setting at its annual retreat, the Town Board is back in town tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 22) for its monthly work session. The meeting, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, includes two possible votes: one that would allow the town to apply for a state grant for a new park at the end of South Street and another to authorize the town to advertise the sale of a house it owns on Pine Road. Also planned are presentations on the proposed downtown farmer’s market and the Davidson Walks program.
The South Street park proposal had been on the agenda at the regular Town Board meeting Jan. 8, but was deferred at the request of two new board members. They suggested that the board take a closer look at the project and overall town priorities during the retreat. Now, the item is back up for a discussion and vote tonight.
The town-owned house is at 107 Pine Road, at the southeast corner of the Pine Road and Concord Road intersection. The town has considered various uses for the building over the past couple of years, including renovating it for affordable housing. The one-story house is 2,350 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths.
FARMER’S MARKET
A group of residents has proposed a farmer’s market beginning this spring in downtown Davidson. The group recently announced it is working with Downtown Davidson Inc. and plans to operate the market Saturday mornings from May to October.
The market would sell locally grown and organic produce. Some area farmers are already lined up to sell and others are being sought.
Also on tonight’s agenda is a closed session to discuss an undisclosed property purchase.
The full agenda is on the town website.
ANNUAL RETREAT
At last week’s retreat in Southern Pines, the Town Board and staff spent 2 1/2 days discussing a variety of issues including facilitative leadership, the MI-Connection cable system, results of the 2007 Citizen Survey, and planning.
It was the first retreat for new board members Laurie Venzon, Bill Johnson and Brian Jenest, and for John Woods as mayor.
Mr. Woods said Thursday in a phone call from Southern Pines that the board was reviewing strategic goals set at the 2007 retreat and developing goals for the year.
Town Manager Leamon Brice said the board and staff looked at areas where it made progress last year – such as revenues, economic development and affordable housing – and looked ahead to priorities it will pursue this year.
In 2008, Mr. Brice said, Davidson officials will focus on transportation, roads and sidewalks and traffic calming, as well as on on small-area planning.
Transportation is the focus of a four-town task force formed in December by mayors of Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville and Mooresville. Mr. Brice said, “We’re going to look at that in a more holistic way, the task force is going to.”
In addition, he said, “We’ll also look at sidewalk priorities, which we haven’t visited since 2004, and street maintenance, which we also haven’t visited since 2004. We’ll also look at traffic calming and how we might finance those and over what period of time.”
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
Jan. 22, 2007, “At retreat, town board discusses growth, traffic, economic development”
