Clifftop Drive residents raise late-night dumping, spotlighting and trespass concerns at May 13 public safety meeting

Angharad Phillips, a resident of 182 Clifftop Drive, told the Public Safety Meeting on May 13 that people have repeatedly come onto her street at odd hours and created safety and quality‑of‑life problems for neighbors and children. "At the end of the day, we need to do whatever possible to protect our children and our grandchildren," Phillips said, describing incidents she said she has witnessed over five years, including a dump truck that came down the street and "dumped" construction debris at about 3 a.m., repeated spotlighting of houses, thefts at a construction site, and a visitor who urinated outside an 84‑year‑old neighbor's home.

The concern prompted a discussion with Hendersonville police and city officials. Chief Jones, speaking for the police department, said the department has placed the neighborhood on its patrol "hot list" and increased evening and midnight shift patrols. "I would rather people call the police department a hundred times and it'd be nothing and call one then not call one time when it is something," Chief Jones said, urging residents to report suspicious activity immediately so officers can check and document it.

Phillips described additional problems including individuals she said counted deer with vehicle spotlights late at night, frequent traffic related to a nearby "famous" house that brings buses and tour vehicles down the dead‑end street, and thefts and burglaries at local construction sites. She said one person who took a Yeti cooler returned it after neighbors confronted him; she also said one construction contractor appears to have illegally dumped debris. Chief Jones said officers worked a dumping case and that warrants had been taken in at least one incident; he also said one arrest had been made and another suspect identified in the neighborhood's recent incidents.

Residents asked about potential deterrents such as signage and license‑plate readers (LPRs). Chief Jones said the city places LPRs selectively at major intersections and that the department receives data feeds from some HOA‑installed systems through vendors the city uses. "We have a limited number of license plate readers that we can put out in the city because of the cost of them," he said, and added that HOAs can purchase systems and the police department can work with vendors to receive data. A city official at the meeting noted that LPR vendors and residential plans exist and offered to provide contact information by email.

On signage, a member of the public works committee explained that signs placed within the public road right of way require approval from Public Works and would typically be discussed by the roads committee and could be forwarded to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for formal recognition. The member recommended starting with neighborhood watch signage. "You're really requesting permission to put something within the road right of way," the member said, describing the normal review pathway.

City staff and elected officials also addressed construction and drainage complaints raised by residents. Staff said the codes department can notify contractors about allowable construction start times and require cleanup when contractors leave dirt or debris on streets; public works will evaluate requests for repaving after construction finishes. Residents were told to email public works (contacts mentioned in the meeting included Martin Skidmore and Eddie Roberson) with locations and vendor questions so staff can follow up.

Officials also discussed limits on local authority. A public safety official said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers controls shoreline access at the nearby lake and that restricting access to the waterway can be difficult; Chief Jones noted that hunting and state wildlife rules fall under state regulation and referenced "TWRA state legislation" as superseding some local prohibitions when hunting is legal and performed within state rules.

Next steps recorded at the meeting include: residents forming or formalizing a neighborhood watch and the neighborhood considering pooled purchase of cameras or an LPR system; the police department offering vendor contact information to residents; and Public Works agreeing to review proposed sign locations and, if appropriate, forward recommendations through its committee process.

Votes and routine business: The meeting opened with a motion to accept the agenda and approve the minutes of the April 8 meeting; both motions were seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting adjourned by motion and voice vote. No ordinances or resolutions were discussed at this meeting.

Ending — Residents said they will continue to send specific details to staff so officials can pursue enforcement or permit requests and will revisit signage and equipment options after ongoing construction is complete.