Fletcher Council assigns small park-development reserve, commits $185,300 for sidewalks and greenways

Fletcher — The Fletcher Town Council closed out fiscal year 2024 by approving several fund-balance designations and committing money for sidewalks and greenways.

Assistant manager presented the town’s year-end fund-balance items and said there were no budget amendments. She reported the prior-year ending balance for the Future Park Development fund as $25,200 and described recent receipts to be assigned to that fund, including proceeds from the town’s golf tournament and a $200 donation. The assistant manager stated a total assignment to the Future Park Development fund for FY24 of $3,264; council then moved and voted to approve the assignment.

The presentation also noted a planning-board-approved fee in lieu of sidewalks related to a developer’s proposed project at the intersection of Asheville Highway and Naples Road. According to staff, the planning board approved the developer’s fee-in-lieu payment of $165,400 and the payment was recorded as received on May 8. The assistant manager said the town had the developer’s engineering firm calculate the construction cost and hired a staff reviewer, identified in the record as “Migel,” to check those figures as a check and balance.

Council members asked how a fee in lieu would translate into a later sidewalk or greenway connection if the nearby apartment project is annexed or if frontage is outside the town’s jurisdiction. Members discussed using such funds to connect the Town Center area, to provide sidewalks toward nearby businesses referenced in the meeting record (Sheets and Duncan), and to link to other development such as a north-side parcel held by BSC Holdings.

After discussion, a council member moved to commit $185,300 for sidewalks and greenways for FY24; another member seconded the motion and the council voted in favor. The meeting then recessed and adjourned following a motion to do so.

Numbers in the transcript show inconsistencies: the assistant manager referenced both a golf-tournament figure variously as $4,973 and as $477 and reported a total assignment of $3,264 to the park fund. The transcript also distinguishes the developer’s fee-in-lieu of $165,400 (planning-board record) from the council’s subsequent commitment of $185,300 for sidewalks and greenways; the record does not explain the $19,900 difference. Town finance documentation or staff follow-up was not provided in the meeting record to reconcile these amounts.

The council did not take other formal actions during the session. The meeting adjourned following a final motion and vote.

Next steps: town staff indicated these fund designations will appear in the town’s financial statements; council did not set an additional public hearing or further vote on the sidewalk projects during this session.