While a developer for a proposed double-wide mobile home park in the North Franklin Road area said it would be “a good addition to the community,” several citizens questioned the project at a public hearing.

One speaker expressed concern Thursday night about how the planned 110-lot development would affect the value of his nearby home, while another wanted city officials to ensure all the facts are presented and not just “rubber-stamp” the proposal.

The public hearing — on the question of whether land for the planned housing development should be annexed by Mount Airy — was conducted during a meeting of the city board of commissioners. Annexation would allow the site to receive municipal utility and other services.

A 31.7-acre site in the North Franklin Road-West Virginia Street vicinity, known as the Strickland Farm property, is targeted for the project. The land on Strickland Farm Road is now owned by Chris Dunbar, a former Surry County resident, and an entity known as North Franklin Development, LLC.

Dunbar is associated with Blue Ridge Companies, a High Point firm specializing in the development, construction and management of multi-family and commercial real estate projects throughout the Southeast. He appeared at Thursday night’s public hearing at City Hall along with other representatives of the firm.

The developer said the project, which earlier received approval from the Mount Airy Planning Board, would be undertaken in phases during a period of five to 10 years. Dunbar told the crowd in attendance that it would be a carefully planned community with landscaping, a pool, a clubhouse and other tasteful amenities.

He said it would not fit the stereotype of a trailer park with cars sitting on cinder blocks. “This will be a good addition to the community.” Dunbar added that it would not involve a “low-income” housing situation.

However, speakers such as Tim Herret weren’t so sure. Herret said he bought a home at 150 Grassy Knoll Road about three years ago, near the site targeted for annexation, under the impression that the adjoining property would be undisturbed.

“So I kinda got taken,” Herret said of the planned double-wide mobile home park that he believes would negatively impact his property. “What’s the value of my house going to be?”

Herret also questioned whether the present local economy and its high unemployment rate can support the 110-unit development that Dunbar described.

Ralph Mueller, another citizen who spoke, questioned the effect the housing development could have on Mount Airy’s fire department and other services and how it would impact the city overall. Mueller said that based on what he knew coming into the hearing, the project “doesn’t strike me as something I want in my community.”

Paul Eich, a former mayoral candidate, also offered comments.

“What this is really about is just money,” Eich said of the municipal water and sewer service availability linked to the annexation proposal.

Annexation would allow cheaper utility costs than those available to properties outside the city limits. Being annexed also would mean the development receives garbage and other services, though it would be taxed by Mount Airy as well.

“I’d like to know if this is a good deal for the city,” Eich added, “not how pretty or how ugly mobile homes are.”

City officials had no response to any of the comments and did not discuss the annexation proposal Thursday night. They will take action on the matter at an upcoming meeting, in keeping with their usual procedure on issues requiring public hearings.

Sewer-Meter Solution

Also Thursday night, Mount Airy officials discussed an issue that arose earlier concerning a local businessman’s request for an “evaporation credit” regarding his cleaning business.

Gene Rees sought the credit to prevent his Professional Rental Services company from being billed for sewer discharges for water that actually has evaporated during its cleaning processes.

Rees, a longtime member of Mount Airy’s business community who also owns downtown properties, has sought relief on this issue since 2007. That’s when an engineer found that 34 percent of Professional Rental Services’ water intake is lost through evaporation due to drying and other processes.

However, city billing procedures base sewer charges on water used, with no allowance for evaporation. Rees requested a 30-percent reduction in his monthly sewer bill, to result in a savings to the company of about $6,500 annually.

And while a solution was identified for the problem, the use of a sewer meter to gauge the exact wastewater discharge, one commissioner criticized the way the matter has been handled.

Jon Cawley said he was concerned that Rees brought up the concern two years ago, and only now is realizing a remedy. Cawley said the sewer-meter idea should have been suggested long before now — thus preventing thousands of dollars in extra charges to a local company weathering tough times.

“I think we have a habit of taking people who have been here a long time for granted,” Cawley said, his comment drawing loud applause from the audience.

“We’ve got to be more responsive to our citizens,” he said. “We need to be quicker.” Cawley said he believes the municipality also should pay for Rees’ meter.

Before Cawley spoke, City Manager Don Brookshire said he had researched the policies of other cities, and found that evaporation credits are rarely used. He said allowing such a break for Rees would be unfair to others with similar circumstances and that the meter concept is “the only fair way for all concerned.”

In discussing the overall impact of the meter idea, Brookshire said that only a “handful” of other customers in the city would potentially benefit significantly from the installation of sewer meters.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.