Belmont could annex Seven Oaks Farm for residential development

An effort to allow the city of Belmont to annex the Seven Oaks Farm in southeastern Gaston County moved a step closer to becoming law on Monday night.

[nugeme]

Sad sad sad - more raping of beautiful land. More run-off in the river....more traffic....more noise. LESS quality of life. Pitiful.

[Thurber]

Isn't this area part of the Voluntary Agricultural District? What a shame.

[nugeme]

Tax-hungry Belmont! So what's new?

[The Enquirer]

letting seven oaks being turned into a subdivision is a travesty. the cost to run services this far from the city, astronomical!

voluntary annexation translates to please give us services so our property will sell for more money, financed courtesy of the taxpayers.

what about history? what about saving this important part of gaston county history? how is this crap allowed to continue to happen. i think we all the mo by now.

[DR KNOW]

Are you serious? More housing developments? Who? Who is going to buy the houses? Who?

[BardDeBelmont]

NOW here is my point>

Please all readers reference the above comments.

WHAT do they really say? nothing.

And that is thy Bard's point and his fans comments. Thy Bard actually says something.

They can't do that!

There are very specific rules regarding annexing or extending the corporate limits. In other words, there is a whole process the city officials must go through before they annex a speck of dirt.

SO FAR, they have not done these things.

NOW, getting the State Legislature to try to ram something down the citizens votes will cause a huge problem and potential legal action upon the City.

Representative Neumann finally showed his colors and tried to side-wind a bill? political suicide. He must not intend to run again, obviously.

[Irl Dixon]

The Enquirer wrote:

letting seven oaks being turned into a subdivision is a travesty. the cost to run services this far from the city, astronomical!
voluntary annexation translates to please give us services so our property will sell for more money, financed courtesy of the taxpayers.
what about history? what about saving this important part of gaston county history? how is this crap allowed to continue to happen. i think we all the mo by now.

You are completely wrong. The services will be run at the cost of the developer, not the city. We never pay to put in these services. They have already been extended to the Hwy 273 Armstong bridge, almost within sight of the Seven Oaks property, at the expense of Pearson Properties who is developing the neighborhood near there on the right. The City will, when necessary, pay to increase the pipe sizes to allow for future expansion. That cost is miniscule. The Seven Oaks property is going to be developed. It will either be a part of Belmont or a part of Gastonia. Those are our 2 choices. Given that, I'd rather see it a part of Belmont. Now that I've stirred the pot, let the games begin.

[naysayer]

BardDeBelmont wrote:

NOW here is my point>
Please all readers reference the above comments.
WHAT do they really say? nothing.
And that is thy Bard's point and his fans comments. Thy Bard actually says something.
They can't do that!
There are very specific rules regarding annexing or extending the corporate limits. In other words, there is a whole process the city officials must go through before they annex a speck of dirt.
SO FAR, they have not done these things.
NOW, getting the State Legislature to try to ram something down the citizens votes will cause a huge problem and potential legal action upon the City.
Representative Neumann finally showed his colors and tried to side-wind a bill? political suicide. He must not intend to run again, obviously.

pure drivel

[BardDeBelmont]

He must have introduced it before the city does their thing. This has been planned for awhile and waiting on roads and funds but now?

Doesn't make sense with the information available.

Somebody has got a secret. Hmmm?

So do I. So do I.

Oh please, Jesus, tell me there are more congressmen than that who KNOW the Procedures for Annexation. PLEASE> tell me there are more than 5!!!!!!!!!!

[BardDeBelmont]

In order for them to "VOTE" or "introduce" on said bill then some indication of citizen's wishes should have been heard per the LAW.

They have initiated no such procedures.

IT IS THE LAW> You cannot just not pay heed to thy Law. Not even if you are the Congress.

[BardDeBelmont]

NCGS Chapter 160.

The City will be sued without following the Law. I promise.

And the Congressman needs to look for opportunities outside of politics.

Rule #1 Never ever screw thy people and let them find out.

[justayin]

Not being from around here....was that farm private property before it was sold to the developers?

[Irl Dixon]

justayin wrote:

Not being from around here....was that farm private property before it was sold to the developers?

Yes. It was owned by the late Dan Stowe or his foundation. Most of the money from the sale will go to the Stowe Foundation and will be used to support the Botanical Gardens.

[BardDeBelmont]

Stowes own it and surrounding land along with Crescent/Duke Power in that area.

This is the cart before the horse. City Council has a lot of work to do before anybody gets annexed. THey screwed the last one up and this one will be done correctly if done at all.

But the numbers are gonna add up. Period. NO MORE subsidizing Development. NO more. And no more poor mouthing Water usage and corporate customers without breaking down the numbers of loss.

No more shady-ass financing deals.

[BardDeBelmont]

Belmont does not OWE anybody, anything!

[BardDeBelmont]

Now, we all know the reason for the LATEST ASSAULT on thy Bard.

Yeah, Boys had a big one trying to sneak through.

Sneaky Snakes. Sneaky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[Richard Turner]

Irl Dixon wrote:

<quoted text>
You are completely wrong. The services will be run at the cost of the developer, not the city. We never pay to put in these services. They have already been extended to the Hwy 273 Armstong bridge, almost within sight of the Seven Oaks property, at the expense of Pearson Properties who is developing the neighborhood near there on the right. The City will, when necessary, pay to increase the pipe sizes to allow for future expansion. That cost is miniscule. The Seven Oaks property is going to be developed. It will either be a part of Belmont or a part of Gastonia. Those are our 2 choices. Given that, I'd rather see it a part of Belmont. Now that I've stirred the pot, let the games begin.

Irl glad to read your comments on this topic. Do you know if Pearson Properties is the same developer who is building Eagle Park?
One issue with cherry-picking tracts of land via non-contiguous annexation is not so much the water and sewer element but the police and fire coverage,as well as other services (trash collection)etc... becoming somewhat stretched. If it is just a matter of us (Belmont) incorporating it before someone else does is that a reasoned approach?

[BardDeBelmont]

COme on Irl, you and me know all about them satellite laws don't we? We KNOW the intention of them laws too don't we? We also know this is an attempt to circumvent the law for personal profit of individuals don't we?

THIS IS Xactly why thy Bard is here.

No more subsidizing development or industry through taxpayer's profits. Thy People know the deal. We cannot afford it, we have children to think of and educate.

Now, I know We have our numbers ready for the Utilities Commission. I know we have solid hard numbers.

[Biker]

Vote against anyone locally who votes to annex this property into the city. It is not good for the average citizen. It is only good for developers, tax coffers, and real estate agents.

[Belmont Connoisseur]

Biker wrote:

Vote against anyone locally who votes to annex this property into the city. It is not good for the average citizen. It is only good for developers, tax coffers, and real estate agents.

What a stupid, irrelevant comment.