Public hearing held on Old Yanawasee Road closure; commissioners schedule follow-up to secure access language for Highland Games and emergency vehicles

The Avery County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on May 14 regarding a petition to close a portion of Old Yanawasee Road (NCSR 1510). County staff described the statutory test required for a road closure and cited North Carolina General Statute NCGS 153A-241, which requires the board to find closing would not be detrimental to the public interest and would not deprive nearby property owners of reasonable ingress and egress.

Several residents and stakeholders spoke. Jana Avery, speaking for Linville Resorts, said the resort "fully intend[s] to allow the Highland Games use of Yanawasee Road and emergency vehicles when necessary" and that the closure is intended to protect bordering land and homeowners. Frank Wilson objected to closing the road to pedestrians, saying the area is "a nice place to walk" and asking that pedestrian access be preserved.

Steve Quill, president of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, said the games "have no objection to closing the road, provided the language that's currently in the document... is brought forward into this next step," and emphasized that roughly 80% of attendees reach the games via shuttle buses using that route. Sally Warburton, vice president of the Highland Games and a homeowner in Grandfather Lake Club, asked about gate placement and the access-code system used by workers.

County staff read the language from the prior resolution and explained that earlier recorded language included conditions that the Highland Games continue to have access and that the road remain accessible to emergency vehicles. Staff told the board the prior recorded agreement is in the Register of Deeds (Book 451, Page 1762) but that the current draft before the board did not include the same language.

After public comment, commissioners voted to table adopting a resolution at the May 14 meeting and to request negotiations between Linville Resorts and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games to secure written language protecting access for the games and ensuring emergency-vehicle access. The board directed staff to place the revised resolution on the agenda and to hold another public hearing in June; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The closure affects residents, homeowners, event organizers (the Highland Games) and emergency responder access. Stakeholders sought explicit, recorded protections for event access and for emergency vehicles; commissioners agreed to try to secure that wording before adopting a closure resolution.

The county attorney and staff noted the board may adopt a resolution at the same meeting as the public hearing if the board is satisfied that statute requirements are met, but the board chose to seek clearer written language from the affected stakeholders before making a final decision.