Summary of the Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan - August 24, 2026

Thank you to those who attended the Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan held on August 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

The meeting was held at The Landings at 920 Buffalo Creek Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746. 

The public was invited to attend the meeting. 

The following is a high level summary of meeting with additional information and resources for those who could not attend.  Note that these are not formal minutes which will be included in the following month's Town Council Meeting Packet. 

Please see the link to the Lake Lure Comprehensive Plan. 

I. Call to Order

Mayor Carol Pritchett called meeting to order.

II. Agenda Adoption

The agenda was adopted as posted. 

III. Public Hearing on Proposed Town of Lake Lure Comprehensive Plan

A. Introduction: Mayor Pritchett introduced Alan Toney, AICP, Community & Economic Development Director from the Foothills Regional Commission.

• Mr. Toney provided a brief overview of the Town’s current Comprehensive Plan for review.
• The plan was shared online prior to the meeting.
• Mr. Toney advised that the plan incorporates public feedback, charts, maps, and future conceptual plans for the Town of Lake Lure.
• He noted that the plan has been under development for the past year and is intended to provide a detailed framework for the Town’s future.
• An interactive map is also available as a companion resource to the plan.

B. Public Hearing Comment

Mayor Pritchett explained that this meeting was a special meeting specifically for discussion about the Comprehensive Plan.  She advised that individuals were welcome to provide comments on the Comprehensive Plan, but any other topics would need to be addressed during Public Comment at a future Town Council Meeting.  These meetings are scheduled twice a month with the next one being held on 8/26/26 at 8:30 a.m.

The following is a synopsis of the comments during the meeting.

• Jennifer Gregg (396 Piney Creek Dr.) Ms. Gregg advised that in the Comprehensive Plan there is currently one pickleball court at Morse Park and three at the Green Space.  She expressed concern that the recommendations that were made for a pickleball complex were not adequately considered and that the current configuration with a separation of the courts is not optimal for tournament play. She expressed disappointment in this portion of the plan. She also expressed that grant opportunities for pickleball courts had not been applied for and stated that the courts could have already been built by this time.

  • Note that the Town has not been able to move forward with restoration/renovations on the largest portion of Morse Park, pending FEMA work and approvals, and more recently Department of Environmental Quality permit approvals. Restoration of Morse Park will begin as soon as this permit is approved.  

  • Next steps as they relate to Pickleball Courts and other sporting amenities will be discussed in the Parks and Recreation Board Meetings and in Town Council Meetings. 

• Nancy McNary (189 Sunset Cove) Ms. McNary commented on the nature of revenue for the Town with commercial property which is equivalent to the $6 million in tax value. She also expressed concern that she was not aware of the Comprehensive Planning Public Input Survey. 

  • Mr. Toney stated that he was sorry that she had not seen the survey and explained that it had been shared many times online, on the website, on email to website subscribers, and in multiple Town Council and Public Input Sessions in past months.

  • Other attendees noted that they had noted the Town's efforts to encourage participation in the survey.   

  • If Ms. McNary or other community members have any input regarding the plan or their ideas and recommendations, they many communicate that input to the respective Advisory Board, or send the input to //Communications@townoflakelure.com">Communications@townoflakelure.com. 

• Hillary Yoxall (177 Ridgeview Circle) Ms. Yoxall acknowledged the Council and advised that she had not reviewed the Comprehensive Plan.  She expressed dissatisfaction with the newly unoccupied building, and asked what the future plans were for the former ABC store since the previous tenant is being evicted.

  • Mayor Pritchett advised again that this was a Public Hearing Comment period was specifically for the Comprehensive Plan and any other comments could be heard at the next Town Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 8:30am.  

• Town Hall: A question was then raised about the plans for Town Hall. Note that the Town has been unable to proceed with renovations for Town Hall, pending FEMA review/approvals. Town Manager Olivia Stewman advised that the Town had just received a letter of deliberation from FEMA earlier in the day.  This means that the Town will have to appeal this decision as the funds offered by FEMA do not cover the cost of renovating this building with all the flood damage from Hurricane Helene. The plan will be to utilize other FEMA funds to begin rehabilitating the building so Town Hall staff will be able to return there as soon as possible.  The current Town Hall location at The Landings is time limited though there is no firm date for moving at this time.

• Old ABC Store: Council addressed the question regarding the Old ABC Store.  They advised that there were no plans for the property at this time and this was not part of the Comprehensive Plan and there was no expectation that the building would be vacant when the plan was drafted.

• Debra Gardner (137 Firefly Cove) Ms. Gardner asked if the draft Comprehensive Plan was purposely long. She mentioned there were several supplemental documents referenced which she could not locate, including the dredging plan and the transportation plan. She stated that these documents need to be put on the website. She noted on page 14 there was a reference to Morse Park and asked about if tennis and pickleball courts would be put back into Morse Park. She said she was thankful the results from the public input survey were included and she hoped that the themes that were identified would be addressed.  She stated that the findings showed that the zoning regulations are too restrictive and inconsistent and shared that she had experienced this herself.  She noted that tourism was essential, but year round focus was needed. She added that the plan outlined improvements would be made in the next 3-5 years in the downtown area to support businesses.  She noted that she did not want tax payer dollars spent on lawsuits.    

  • Commissioner Doster responded that the Zoning and Planning Board had been working to update regulations which have been in place for many years.

  • This is the link to the latest Dredging Plan.

  • The following is a link to the Foothills Regional Commission Transportation Plan which has been added to the website following the meeting.

• Sandy Hamel (147 Sugarbush Point) Ms. Hamel noted that the plan had a 2040 date and asked what we can expect in terms of education about the plan. She stated that the assessment was thorough, but expressed a desire for more information regarding implementation and the path forward. She requested a timeline, identified funding sources, and plans for securing and allocating those resources. 

  • Town Manager Stewman provided information regarding funding towards some larger infrastructure projects including the FEMA High Hazard Potential Dam Grants that had been received for the design of the replacement dam.  She noted that these grants were not related to Hurricane Helene. She highlighted the ARPA Funding and other funding sources that had been received.   
  • Commissioner Dave DiOrio shared a summary of the efforts that Town had been making in the past several years to prepare for replacement dam.  He stated that the dam was vital for flood control and was a crucial safety mechanism for the State. He stated that he and the mayor have worked to ensure that state and national leaders know the importance of replacing the Lake Lure Dam that is approaching 100 years of service. He shared that the Town has been working to prepare the design for the replacement dam so that when funding was available, we would be shovel ready.  He also shared that our sewer system is extremely unique, perhaps one of a kind in the nation and it is approaching 100 years of age.  The Town has partnered with the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to ensure this system continues to serve our community.  The Town has worked diligently to find funding sources to support these major projects.  
• Ms. Hamel noted that the Lake Lure Inn had a significant presence in town and she asked if they had been involved in the comprehensive planning process. 
  • Mayor Pritchett advised that one of the principles from Ridgeline Investment Partners served on the steering committee and was actively engaged in the process. Mayor Pritchett provided a brief overview of the renovation plans that had recently been approved for the existing lodge/motel, spa, and the former Japan House. 
  • Mayor Pritchett also advised that the Town had been working with Odom Engineering to develop a plan for Town Center streets in preparation for a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) applications through the Renewed North Carolina Community Infrastructure Program.
  • Mayor Pritchett advised that the Town is continuing to pursue completion of the Lago Vista road behind the Lake Lure Inn to connect the Town with Chimney Rock State Park as the Lake Lure Fire Department provides coverage to the park and an Emergency Entrance is needed to ensure safety.
  • Additionally, Mayor Pritchett advised that the Town was continuing to work with the NC Department of Transportation to pursue a multi-model path between Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. The plan was in line for funding prior to the hurricane and funds had to be reallocated for other projects due to the impacts of the hurricane. 
  • Note that the Comprehensive Plan will continue to be discussed in upcoming Town Council Meetings and participation is encouraged to stay updated on progress. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 pm.  A Work Session and Action Meeting is held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 8:30 am.  All Town Council Meetings and Board Meetings are posted on the Town Calendar on the Website and are open to the public. 

• Steven Tomaszewksi (311 Holmes Rd) Mr. Tomaszewski discussed the value of both tourists and permanent residents and noted that he plans to retire in the area. He identified access to healthcare as a significant concern and asked what could be done to provide residents with a closer urgent care facility or medical clinic.  

  • Mayor Pritchett advised that this has been a priority but there are challenges.  She has worked on this with multiple organizations but the requirement is having 50,000 visits a year in order to build a new urgent care center in the area. It was noted that all Lake Lure Firefighters are certified as Advance Medical Technicians to provide emergent response when needed.  The Fire Department is often the first on the scene which patients await ambulance services. She noted that they have expanded their reach in Lake Lure with 24/7 coverage at Lake Lure Fire Station II at Rumbling Bald. (Formerly the Fairfield VFD) Mayor Pritchett advised that the Town will continue working to improve emergency medical services and support for the community. Mayor Pritchett noted that everyone was very pleased to have the new Dental Office in Town and stated that this may help attract other medical professions. 

• Melissa Price Stepp (110 Church St) Ms. Stepp stated that her father was formerly on Town Council and said that they have lived in the area for 66 years.  She asked whether the Town is still setting aside the $10,000 annually for the dam as Council previously approved these funds for a future replacement dam. She asked whether this funding will continue going forward and where information regarding the fund and its use can be found online.

  • Council advised that the Town has collects and reserves $1.6 million from taxes in a Lake Lure Dam reserve fund.  This fund is reserved for expenses related to maintenance of the existing dam and the design and construction of a new dam.  The budget information is available through the monthly reports shared at each Town Council Meeting. The information is available in all monthly meeting packets. Residents may also request this information directly from the Town Clerk.

• Carrol Pennell (111 Jack London Ct.) Ms. Pennell noted the significant activity taking place on Jack London Drive near Lakeside Park and questioned what work is being done and whether the community should be kept informed. She also questioned the Town’s vision for the area and discussed the possibility of redeveloping the Town Center to include additional retail and dining options.  Ms. Pennell also asked how the public input survey was disseminated. 

  • The new trail that is being built is called Turtle Rock Trail.  Updates on the trail are discussed monthly at the Parks and Recreation Meeting which is open to the public. Rick Carpenter also serves as the Town's Trail Coordinator and would be happy to speak with community members regarding the status of the trail. 

• Paul Brock (2655 Memorial Hwy.) Addressed the Town and those present, thanking them for their support of Lured. He noted the upcoming meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., and stated that Lured organization has 35 full and part-time employees and that his goal has been to bring liveliness and good food to the community. As it relates to the comprehensive plan, he expressed concern that the goals and objectives outlined in the plan are vague and that many of the proposed initiatives appear to be projected five to ten years into the future and it is vague on specifics. He encouraged everyone to come back for the meeting on Wednesday, 8/26/26 at 8:30. He noted that everyone took a blow and we came together after the hurricane. He noted that Chimney Rock through the leadership of Peter O'Leary hired Destination by Design and they had a plan quickly after the storm and raised $12.5 million for a plan called Raise the Rock. He stated that the plan should be voted on after the election and expressed his opinion that new leadership was needed.

• Friedrich Jaeger (315 Bolt Rd) Addressed Council regarding Session Law 18B-901 and social districts, asking whether the Town would consider establishing a similar district. They noted that other nearby communities have implemented social districts successfully and expressed that, with clearly defined boundaries, such a program could be feasible for the Town. They asked whether Council would be open to considering the concept.

• Mallory Epson (uncertain of spelling) (Employee of Lured market) Initially addressed current litigation matters, but was advised that the meeting was focused on the Comprehensive Plan. He expressed concern that, after the challenges the Town has experienced, and then the return to a sense of normalcy - now the current issues are disrupting the community. He described the situation as disheartening and asked the Town to consider showing grace as it moves forward and hear the people of Lake Lure.

• With no other speakers, Town Council voted to close the Public Hearing.  

• The next step with the Comprehensive Plan is for the draft plan to be brought back to the Zoning and Planning Board for their review after having made recommendations regarding some of the maps that were included in the plan.  The Zoning and Planning Board will make their recommendations at their meeting on 9/15/26 and we will go from there.  

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned.