Friends of Haw River State Park

Future Park Plans

2008-07-08T20:22:00.002-04:00

When can we hike the new lands?

The newly acquired lands are not yet available for public use. There are no roads, parking areas, trails, or anything else. In some cases the prior tenant has not moved off the property and it would be trespassing to go on the property.

Limited hiking is available at the Summit Conference Center. Call ahead for availability for hours.

What are the future plans for the Park?

The State Parks Division will begin to develop a Master Plan for the current holdings. This will include facilities, trails, uses, roads, entrances, etc. Various inventories of the properties need to be made so that no unnecessary damage occurs during development.

Public meetings will be held to gather input from users and neighbors. Look for more information on this in the Fall of 2008 on the FriendsofHawRiverSP.org website.

Additional 140 Acres Will Likely Be Added to Haw River State Park

2008-03-01T13:35:00.006-05:00

More great news about the new expansion of the Haw River State Park. Taft Wireback's N&R article today explains the probable addition of the adjoining Haw River Plantation (Wallis property). This 140 acre tract has already had some clearing for housing. That cleared area may prove helpful for necessary restroom facilities and as a parking area for recreational vehicles. Other parts of this tract may also prove to be a possible area for camping.

The appraisal of this 140 acre tract took into consideration that it has significant infrastructure already installed including some roads, electricity, water, etc. This tract also includes two houses that may provide rental housing for park rangers or park staff.

Several other key land acquisitions are possible down the road to make this a dynamic state park. If this Wallis tract is added to the Haw River State Park that will bring the current total land to 1,167 acres. (Original Summit tract 335 acres, Bluegreen tract 692 acres and the Wallis tract 140 acres.)

How Does the State pay for the 692 acres?

2008-01-11T00:12:00.000-05:00

According to the State's Press Release posted now on our web site:

Financing the Acquisition

The acquisition will be financed by issuing certificates of participation through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

In its 2007 session, the N.C. General Assembly authorized the Parks and Recreation and Natural Heritage trust funds to each issue up to $50 million in certificates of participation for land conservation. The certificates are similar to bonds and will be repaid with future revenues into the trust funds over a 20-year indebtedness. In the recent past, such certificates have been issued for special projects of the state parks system, including a 3,000-acre acquisition at Lake James State Park, construction of visitor facilities at Lake James and land acquisition at Mayo River State Park in western Rockingham County and Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County.

Purchase of the approximately 300 acres at the existing Haw River State Park and its environmental education center was financed by regular revenues of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. Any future visitor facilities at the state park are likely to be financed through the trust fund, as well. The trust fund is supported by the state’s tax on real estate deed transfers and is the principal funding source for state park land acquisition and capital projects.
________________

Also from NCDENR magazine The Steward , Dec. 2007

Parks Gain From '07 Trust Funds

More than 3,500 acres of land will likely be brought under conservation by the state parks system as a result of grants this fall from the Natural Heritage and Clean Water Management trust funds.

The parks system received $5.6 million in grants from the Natural Heritage Trust Fund in November and $5.46 million from the Clean Water Management Trust Funds in September and November.

Coupled with $9.89 million in allocations from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the grants will support land acquistions at 10 state park units ....

State will buy disputed land for Haw River State Park

2008-01-10T20:01:00.001-05:00

Article by Taft Wireback with the Greensboro News & Record

A Florida development company is dropping its plan to build a golf-course community next to Haw River State Park and will sell the land to North Carolina's state park system for $14 million.
The company notified Guilford County officials by letter Thursday that, "Bluegreen communities has reached an agreement with the state of North Carolina regarding the 690 acres adjoining Haw River State Park that our company had hoped to develop into a housing community."
"As a result of our agreement with the state, we intend to withdraw our rezoning request for this property," Bluegreen vice president Tom Powers stated in the letter to Kirk Perkins, chairman of the Guilford Board of County Commissioners. "The property will be sold to the state for use as a state park."
The letter was delivered mid-afternoon by Greensboro lawyer Henry Isaacson, who had represented Bluegreen in its rezoning request.
The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources later announced the land agreement, which is subject to approval by the governor and the Council of State.
Under the agreement, the state will purchase three tracts held by Bluegreen for $14 million. The acquisition will be financed through certificates of participation to be repaid with future revenues into the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
The state parks system expects to complete the purchase by the end of February.
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to hear an appeal next week of an August decision by the county planning board, which rezoned the land to allow the golf-course development. The appeal was filed by park supporters, including the nonprofit Citizens for Haw River State Park.
Haw River State Park was authorized by the General Assembly in 2003 and now covers about 300 acres, including the Summit Conference Center that the state bought from the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina two years ago.
State officials had hoped to buy the golf-course acreage all along, but Bluegreen got there first to forge agreements with several property owners to buy the land.
Perkins said public sentiment was overwhelmingly against Bluegreen's proposal and it was good to see the project conclude in a way that appeared to be good for all sides.
"There are certain places that just need to be protected and his definitely is one of them," he said of the acreage in Northern Guilford and southern Rockingham counties that will now be added to the park.
Contact Taft Wireback at 373-7100 or taft.wireback@news-record.com

Haw River upland scene from a few years back. It could happen again.

2008-01-06T21:39:00.000-05:00

Now That It's 2008 the Property Owners and the State Should Deal Directly With Each Other

2008-01-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

If Bluegreen's contract/option with the three property owners has expired then we can look forward in 2008 to the property owners and NCDENR reaching a fair agreement so that the Haw River State Park can expand and also protect this important section of the Haw River. While the state probably dropped the ball initially in discussions with the three property owners the time is now right for far better communications.

2008 is a time for a new beginning. Our hope is that the three property owners will all agree that their beautiful land can best be utilized by the Haw River State Park. NCDENR must also understand that these property owners have, by working with Bluegreen, significantly determined the value of their property.

I hope we can soon say to the property owners -- Thanks for selling your property for the Haw River State Park!!

Our Holiday Wish!!

2007-12-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

Many of us hope that the developer, Bluegreen sells its option/contract on the 692 acres to NCDENR for the expansion of the Haw River State Park and protection of this section of the Haw River corridor. If the state and Bluegreen cannot reach an agreement, and Bluegreen's option/contract with the land owners expires in Jan. 2008, the state should then purchase the 692 acres directly from the three property owners at the fair market appraised value significantly determined by Bluegreen's proposed development.

The land owners must be wooed and courted by the state once Bluegreen is out of the picture. It is good for the property owners that they have a second eager buyer (the state) since it appears doubtful that Bluegreen will receive their necessary rezoning, special permits to draw water from the Haw River and permits to build a community septic system near the banks of the Haw River.

This purchase by the state can be accomplished by using special wetland and land preservation trust funds designed just for such a state park/land preservation purchase.

It should be noted that distant, outlying sprawl developments, like the proposed Patriot's Landing, remain a drain on us Guilford County tax payers. Such developments seldom replenish the significant taxes they consume. Patriot's Landing would have required the use of tax money for significant school expansion at all grade levels, road expansion and road corridor entry additions, a new fire department location and new sheriff department services, etc.

Haw River a little East of Hwy 29

2007-12-15T18:23:00.000-05:00

Another Postponement

2007-12-06T22:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight the Guilford County Commissioners did postpone again their rezoning hearing for Bluegreen's development of 692 acres of land crucial to the growth of the Haw River State Park. It appears that this request for postponement until Jan. 17, 2008 was simply routine and customary. The last postponement was at the request of Bluegreen. This new postponement of the Dec. 13th meeting was at the request of attorney Charles Winfree on behalf of Mrs. Cox and other property owners.

Charles Winfree did say that Mrs. Cox and the other property owners thought that more time should be given to insure an agreement between the state and Bluegreen. The property owners do also have a concern that a firm vote by the commissioners to refuse rezoning could devalue their property. Several commissioners, even some who said they were supporters of the expansion of the Haw River State Park, thought that the request of the property owners for a delay was necessary and proper procedure.

The new scheduled time for the county commissioners to decide this rezoning issue is Jan. 17th at 5:30 p.m. No one needs to show up on Dec. 13th for this issue.

In no way is this a step forward nor backward but another delay. Most everyone now seems to hope that the Haw River State Park can expand on this beautiful 692 acres and preserve this section of the Haw River corridor. And most seem to think that NCDENR and Bluegreen will resolve all of their differences before 2008. If this happens the state will purchase Bluegreen's option on the property. The property owners would be fully compensated, possibly some funds would flow to Bluegreen to help them offset some of their expenses and the 692 acres will become part of the HRSP.

Another possible scenario just around the corner that may have support among the property owners is -- Bluegreen's option/contract on their property runs out in Jan. 2008 and the property owners don't extend Bluegreen's option and then sell their land directly to NCDENR. This option may prove to actually put slightly more money into the hands of the property owners because Bluegreen is out of the picture.

Take a deep breath! Bottom line, it seems likely that Guilford and Rockingham County will have a greatly expanded Haw River State Park in 2008. Remember, we may all have to pack the commissioner's Jan. 17th meeting to help insure that happens.

Greensboro Partnership supports an expanding Haw River State Park

2007-12-03T17:12:00.000-05:00

November 29, 2007
The Honorable William G. Ross, Jr. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601

Dear Secretary Ross:

It has come to our attention that Bluegreen Corporation of Florida is planning to develop a 692 acre golf community (Patriots Landing Private Golf Course and Gated Community) on land proposed for the expansion of the Haw River State Park. The planned location of this development will be detrimental to the full development of the state park and therefore the economic growth and development of Greensboro and Guilford County.

Greensboro Partnership serves as the principal economic and community development organization in Greensboro. Our mission is to strategically develop a vibrant community that creates, expands and attracts business while advancing the quality of life for all. As part of our function we frequently assess what attracts residents and businesses to our community and what compels them to stay. We know from community polling and surveys that the inclusion of open space and green areas which support an active life style for residents is an important aspect of our community’s development. Additionally, in 2000, the citizens of Guilford County authorized a $10 million bond issue to acquire open space in Guilford County. This initiative, along with the authorization of the Haw River State Park in 2003, shows the widespread interest in preserving land for the creation of recreational opportunities for all citizens to enjoy. This confirms for us that the planned Haw River State Park is an essential component of the growth and development of our region.

In addition we are concerned about the impact the proposed development will have on our water supply, both the availability of water and the water quality. The project requires 100,000 gallons of water to be extracted daily from the Haw River which serves as a periodic emergency source of water supply for the City of Greensboro. Consistent depletion of this resource is a dangerous prospect for the City’s water and sewer department to manage. The golf community will also add run-off to the Haw River threatening its water quality and that of the bodies of waters to which the river connects. This adds further to the unattractive nature of the proposed development in this location.

The full development of the Haw River State Park is important to the economic growth of Greensboro and Guilford County. It is because of this reason we oppose the proposed location of the residential golf community by Bluegreen Corporation. We ask that the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources does everything in its power to preserve this land.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Pat Danahy
President/CEO
cc: Lewis Ledford, Director, N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation

Bluegreen Needs to Accept the State's Generous Offer Now!!

2007-12-02T18:52:00.000-05:00

It is way past time for Bluegreen to accept the generous offer from NCDENR to purchase Bluegreen's option on the approximately 700 acres that adjoin the current Haw River State Park. The fledgling HRSP needs your help and especially the help of our County Commissioners to make sure it can expand and become a dynamic state park. Bluegreen can build another development elsewhere in Guilford County. The state's current offer allows Bluegreen to go ahead and fulfill their full offer to all three of the property owners plus put a little money in their pocket to help cover expenses they have incurred. Bluegreen has had sufficient time to study and sign this agreement.

Taft Wireback did have one mistake in his recent N&R piece on 11/29/07. He said that the "commissioner's hearing has been delayed before at the request of state government." That previous delay had been requested by Bluegreen -- not by the state.

In the written request to Paul Gibson from Charles Winfree dated 11/27/07 asking for another delay is an important paragraph: "Mrs. Cox and other property owners are concerned that if this matter is heard before the parties have fully explored the possibilities of settlement that the value of their property would be unnecessarily impaired. Furthermore, successful completion of the negotiations would eliminate the need for a hearing of any kind."

It appears that all the property owners also want Bluegreen to accept the state's generous offer so that the property owners can finally get their money based on Bluegreen's current offer, that the state will fully honor.

Another delay over the issue of rezoning is not necessary and a waste of everyone's time and energy. What is essential is that Bluegreen does need to accept the state's generous offer and sell the state their option on this property. Once that is done the property owners can be fully compensated, the HRSP can begin a healthy expansion and another important section of the Haw River's wildlife and wetland habitat will be protected and preserved.

Citizens for Haw River State Park Invites YOU to join us at a Rally for Haw River State Park

2007-11-25T14:01:00.000-05:00

Saturday, December 1, 2007
From 1:00 p.m . to 4:00 p.m.

At the Summit Environmental Education Center at Haw River State Park
Gymnasium and Recreation Field
339 Conference Center Drive
Brown Summit, NC 27214

(Directions on HRSP website)

The Rally will include:
Food, Music, and Guided Tours of the Haw River Wetlands

Donations to support Haw River State Park will be gratefully accepted prior to the day of the event,
as solicitation is not allowed in North Carolina's State Parks.

Donations can be mailed to our treasurer:Kyle Klimek
6112 Church Street
Greensboro , NC 27455

Every little bit helps so even if you can only send $10 it will be greatly appreciated!

Please RSVP to HawRiverSP@gmail.com
By November 30, 2007

Special Thanks to the Following Service Providers:
Brunswick Stew By Citizens for Haw River State Park
Bread by Simple Kneads Bakery
Music by the Alley Rabbits
And Jim Ritchey

This is a Citizens for Haw River State Park Event. All park rules and regulations regarding facility rental have been followed. Please note that State Parks do not allow alcohol or solicitation on park property.
Any Media Outlets wishing to cover this event are asked to contact the park's superintendent, Sue McBean, for permission at least 24 hours prior to this, or any, event on park property.

Response from letter to Gov. Easley from Sherri Forrester with the T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Society

2007-11-09T23:17:00.000-05:00

Ms. Forrester:

Thank you for sharing your support for the new Haw River State Park and your concerns about the proposed Patriot's Landing development adjacent to the park. Your letter to Gov. Mike Easley was referred to me for a response.

Gov. Easley is familiar with this matter and has directed Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ross to coordinate the state's efforts. In response to this directive, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and the State Property Office are working closely to find a way to negotiate an agreement with Bluegreen Corp. As you may be aware, the State Property Office in the Department of Administration is the state agency charged with negotiating land acquisition terms with property owners. An appraisal of the property has been completed and the State Property Office is in discussions with Bluegreen representatives. You may also know that Guilford County Board of Commissioners' consideration of the re-zoning appeal has been postponed until December.

The state parks system is on record in opposing the re-zoning and has ongoing interest in acquiring the land for addition to Haw River State Park.

The department agrees that the Haw River State Park has the potential to draw thousands of visitors to your area and will greatly enhance the quality of life in the community.

Thank you once again for your support in this important matter.

Sincerely,

Diana L. Kees, Communications Director
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(Please note: A specific offer by the NCDENR has already been made in a generous manner so that all of the property owners will be able to receive their full Bluegreen/developer price for their property. That means that the state is now willing to pay for the land as though the property was rezoned for Bluegreen's Patriot Landing development. Bluegreen also has an opportunity to get out from under this project in a softening housing market.)

Brooks Bridge Rd. pumping station and dam on the Haw River

2007-11-05T19:09:00.001-05:00

Hoping Bluegreen's slow response is all bark

2007-11-04T21:29:00.000-05:00

Just a slight ripple on the banks of the Haw River as we wait for Bluegreen to give us a clear answer

2007-11-04T21:08:00.000-05:00

Lichens Waiting on OK from Bluegreen

2007-11-04T21:04:00.000-05:00

The State Makes Bluegreen A Very Generous Offer.

2007-10-26T22:12:00.000-04:00

The very generous offer for the approximate 692 acres made to Bluegreen by the N.C. Depart. of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation has not yet been accepted. We understand the parties are still in discussion.

The offer by the NCDENR was made in a generous manner so that all of the property owners would be able to receive their full Bluegreen/developer price for their property. That means that the state is willing to pay for the land as though the property was rezoned for Bluegreen's Patriot Landing development. Bluegreen also has an opportunity to get out from under this project in a softening housing market.

It appears at this time Bluegreen still thinks that it has a chance to have both the Guilford County Commissioners and the Rockingham County Commissioners approve their rezoning request.

Keep those phone calls, emails and letters coming! We cannot let down our guard!

Bluegreen wants us to ignore: 1. problems with edge of county sprawl, 2. the need for tax payers to build additional school classrooms at every level, 3. the need to widen and add roads at tax payers expense, 4. the need at taxpayers expense to provide an additional fire station and sheriff department, 5. the concerns of drawing significant water from the Haw River when that water is needed downstream, as a back-up reserve for Greensboro's Lake Townsend, also for significant, required and regulated flow for Reidsville's waste water treatment discharge, etc., 6. the problem with nitrogen rich discharge into the Haw River from Bluegreen's proposed community waste water treatment plant on the banks of the Haw, 7. protection of wetlands and wildlife habitat along the Haw River corridor from an invasive development on the banks of the Haw River, 8. most importantly the need to grow and expand the Haw River State Park for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

Haw River wetlands doing their job of storing and cleaning water

2007-10-25T00:22:00.000-04:00

Great Blue Heron Rookery on the Haw River

2007-10-25T00:15:00.000-04:00

Haw River in late October

2007-10-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

David Wharton Takes Us to the Haw River

2007-10-18T10:38:00.000-04:00

Excellent post over at A Little Urbanity by David Wharton. Thanks David!

David visits some old memories along the Haw River and concludes:

"Wouldn't if be a terrible waste if a place such as this were clearcut for a gated suburb? Don't you think places like this should be preserved for generations to enjoy?"

"I do. That's why I support Citizens for Haw River State Park."

Complete Biz Journal Article

2007-10-15T11:52:00.000-04:00

State makes offer to buy contested Haw River land

The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area - by Justin Catanoso The Business Journal Serving the Greater Triad Area

The ongoing debate over 690 acres of private land in northeast Guilford County -- whether it will become an upscale golf course community or instead more than double the size of the Haw River State Park -- could soon be resolved.

Or not.

Just last week, the state made an offer to Bluegreen Corp., of Boca Raton, Fla., which holds the options on the acreage, to purchase the tract for an amount appraised at commercial value -- even though the land is currently zoned for agriculture.

"The state has made what I consider a very reasonable offer for the entire property," says Lewis Ledford, director of the Parks and Recreation Division of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Ledford confirmed that the reported amount of $18,000 per acre was "reasonable to assume, and the state can afford to make that kind of offer."

In other words, the deal -- which is being negotiated by the state Property Office -- is worth a total of $12.4 million, or equal to what Bluegreen is believed to have offered to acquire the options to develop a 775-home golf course community on the Haw River.

Jill Lucas, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Administration, which oversees the Property Office, declines to comment, other than to say, "We hope to have a resolution by the end of the month."

If the state's offer were being made directly to the three property owners whose wooded and open land makes up the 690-acre tract, it's likely that the next step would have been scheduling a closing date. For reasons we'll explain later, that opportunity was lost three years ago.

Instead, the ball is squarely in Bluegreen's court. The development firm, through it's attorney Steve Levitas in Raleigh, declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.

But Bluegreen would seem to have these options:
It can accept the state's offer and then turn around and satisfy the purchase agreement it signed with the property owners earlier this year. Paul Milam, a Guilford County real estate agent, brokered the deal.

(Milam says he has not seen the offer and is concerned that there may be terms or conditions attached to the state offer that might reduce the amount of money the three property owners actually receive; answers to those concerns were not immediately available).

The downside to Bluegreen accepting the state's offer is that it has already invested several hundred thousand dollars in planning for what's being called Patriot's Landing. Bluegreen hopes to make millions in profits on a completed project; accepting the state's offer would leave them breaking even at best, or perhaps even losing some money.

Or Bluegreen can reject the state's offer and try to convince Guilford County commissioners to rezone the property to enable Patriot's Landing to go forward, which appears risky. This high-profile project has yet to draw the public endorsement of even one commissioner, and four commissioners (of the six votes needed) told us last month that they would likely oppose the rezoning.

Meanwhile, commissioners are being inundated with calls, letters and e-mail to reject the rezoning request in a highly organized, well-financed campaign by the Citizens for Haw River State Park.

Apparently rattled by the rising public sentiment against the project with virtually no one speaking in favor of it, Bluegreen recently requested that this month's rezoning hearing be delayed until December.

The deal grows more complicated still for the developer.

If the rezoning fails, Bluegreen could let its purchase options expire, thus enabling the state to deal directly with the three property owners (and locking in its losses). Or it could come up with a different development plan for the property that might be more palatable to the commissioners for rezoning.

Even if the rezoning passes, Bluegreen isn't in the clear. It must still obtain permission from Rockingham County to build a sewage treatment facility there. And there are a variety of state water-quality permits that Bluegreen must obtain because of the impact the project might have on the Haw River, which feeds downstream into Jordan Lake, a major Triangle water source.

If you're wondering where the state would get $12 million to buy parkland in Guilford County, you need to look to the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which was established by the General Assembly in 1994 and is supported by a tax on real estate transfer deeds.

Since its creation, the fund has provided more than $111 million in land acquisition for state parks and state natural areas. The fund is administered by an 11-member board that meets quarterly and authorizes all trust fund projects.

Members are appointed by the governor and leaders of the state House and Senate. Neither Guilford nor Rockingham has an appointee. A $12 million deal would be among the higher prices the state has paid for parkland, but given the state's rising land prices, not unprecedented.

Dropping the ball

It's possible that none of this wrangling or controversy would have been necessary if state officials had been more diplomatic three years ago when first informing property owners in the area that they wanted to purchase their land to expand the new Haw River State Park.

Thaxton Richardson, who has used his 550 acres in the contested parcel for some 40 years to raise beef cattle, says the state got off on the wrong foot with him. The first time Richardson and many other property owners knew of the state's interest in buying their land was when they were invited to a meeting in early 2004 with state officials.

"They laid out what they wanted, and it looked like a done deal," Richardson recalls. "The impression they left was one of arrogance, as if they were entitled to our land. No one ever came to us before that meeting and asked what we would like to do."

Now on guard and not trusting the state's intentions, Richardson told a state official in mid-2004 that his land wasn't for sale. He gave that same answer when contacted a year later. But when he heard the state was seeking to acquire land all around him, he began to reconsider.

"If you asked me 10 years ago when I would make my land available for sale, I would've said 2040," says Richardson, who is 78, and whose mother lived to be 107. "I planned to live out my old age there."

But with the state's interest in his land, and all the other residential development nearby, Richardson realized he didn't have the luxury of waiting to sell, particularly because his land doesn't have main-road frontage.

In the fall of 2005, Richardson heard from a state official again, and was asked to give permission to have his property appraised. The state cannot make an offer on private land without an appraisal, and it cannot pay more than that amount.

When Richardson learned from the official that the state had paid about $8,000 per acre to buy 300 acres to establish the Haw River State Park, he responded: "That's not going to get my property." The official promised to call back in about a week.

"It was four or five months before I got another call, but in that time I decided I needed to do something else," Richardson says, noting that he and two other property owners signed with Paul Milam to broker their property for development as a single parcel.

"As far as I am concerned, the state dropped the ball," Richardson says.

Other nearby property owners, even some eager to see their land go for parkland, complain of difficulties and delays in dealing with state officials -- all of which leads them to suspect that the state is angling to pay them less than their land is worth.

Lewis Ledford, with the state parks and rec department, responds: "I know we have been trying to get permission to appraise the land since 2004. When you look back, you can see that we could have done a better job of it. I do regret if Mr. Richardson feels as if he was treated badly.

"I do believe that Mr. Richardson retains the right to determine when, how and if to sell his land. I don't believe we have put any pressure on him, and I know it's important to have good relations with key sellers. We have tried to handle this honestly, but if you look back, there are things we could have done better."

Three years after the fact, the state may have the opportunity to make it up to Richardson and the other property owners involved. It all depends on what Bluegreen decides.

Reach Justin Catanoso at (336) 370-2896 or jcatanoso@bizjournals.com. His business reports can he heard Fridays on WFMY-News 2 at 6:35 a.m. and WFDD-88.5 FM at 7:35 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

State Makes Offer to Buy Contested Land

2007-10-12T18:25:00.000-04:00

The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area - by Justin Catanoso

"The ongoing debate over 690 acres of private land in northeast Guilford County -- whether it will become an upscale golf course community or instead more than double the size of the Haw River State Park -- could soon be resolved.

Or not.

Just last week, the state made an offer to Bluegreen Corp., of Boca Raton, Fla., which holds the options on the acreage, to purchase the tract for an amount appraised at commercial value -- even though the land is currently zoned for agriculture.

"The state has made what I consider a very reasonable offer for the entire property," says Lewis Ledford, director of the Parks and Recreation Division of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources."

Currently the complete article is behind the pay wall at The Biz Journal .
_________________

With the State making this offer all the property owners will receive their full property compensation even if the rezoning is turned down, which at the moment appears likely. This can then be a true win/win for the Haw River State Park, protection of the Haw River corridor and the property owners. Even Bluegreen can get some points for being a good citizen and listening to the residents of Guilford and Rockingham County. Other key land is certainly available for their Patriot's Landing project.

We Have A State Park -- Sort Of

2007-10-11T17:08:00.000-04:00

Driving north on Church St., just after crossing NC 150, one crosses a broad expanse of flat, wet land and a small bridge. This is the Haw River and its wetland flood-plain. Not a rushing white-water stream here in its headwater reaches, but rich in flora and fauna. Deer, turkey, bobcat, and fox are common. Even an occasional black bear has been seen. And the westernmost breeding pair of prothonotary warblers have been recorded along the wetlands. A look at aerial photos of the river corridor reveals that large expanses of woodlands still exist. Most Piedmont streams used to be this way, but the Haw is the last vestige of an unspoiled river corridor. This is what sold the NC Division of Parks and Recreation on agreeing to establish the Haw River State Park in 2003. Although about 400 acres have been purchased by the state, including the Summit, the former Episcopal Diocese conference center, land acquisition has been slow and difficult due to development pressure. Indeed, about 700 acres of land next to the Summit is under option to a company from Florida, Bluegreen, which intends to put a gated, golf-course community there. The state has said that it will buy the property at market value, and needs it for Park expansion. The decision by the Guilford County Planning Board to allow the rezoning of the land has been appealed to the County Commissioners, which have now put off hearing the appeal until early December. The proposed development has several environmental concerns, including withdrawing at least 100,000 gallons of water per day from the Haw River to irrigate the golf course; and spraying treated sewage effluent onto the course in later years for irrigation. The development will have only one entrance, onto Church Street, with as many as 8000 cars trips a day using it. The new northern schools (elementary, middle and high) are already at capacity, and so additional schools would be required if this project goes forward. But far beyond these concerns is this simple question. Do we want another exclusive development, or do we want a full-fledged state park?? It is really that simple. Public support for the Park has been surging in the last few weeks. Commissioners Chair Paul Gibson said that he has not gotten as much mail on any other issue in his seven years on the Board. This is what will win the day for OUR STATE PARK. Our County Commissioners must hear from us. All of us. Please help secure the future of the Haw River State Park by communicating with the Commissioners. Their e-mail addresses and phone numbers and lots more information about the issue can be found at the web site: CitizensForHawRiverSP.org . Thank you.

Jack Jezorek