By ELENA MARSH
Staff Writer
The Taylortown Council, concluding a tumultuous six-month process that spurred at least one lawsuit and special state legislation, has approved two new hotel projects planned to rise across the highway from Pinehurst.
Parks Hospitality Group, a Raleigh-based hotel development and management company, has proposed building a four-story Residence Inn by Marriott at 4224 Murdocksville Road. Separately, the Summit Hospitality Group, a hotel management and consulting firm also based in Raleigh, submitted plans to build a 150-room AC Hotel by Marriott with an outdoor pavilion space behind the Homewood Suites on Central Park Avenue.
In a public hearing this past week that stretched five hours, the town first heard from Parks Hospitality. That hotel is proposed to have 128 rooms designed for extended stays. It would take about 14 months to build and employ between 40 and 50 people.
In the site plan review, Parks representatives said there were some wetlands on the property, but the state Department of Environmental Quality said the plans were in compliance with the topography.
The town’s greatest concern for the project was whether the hotel could be supported by the water and sewer infrastructure present in and around the town.
“ When I met Mr. Patel (Parks Hospitality president) months ago, when they first came here, I did ask you all then, had you talked to anybody at the county about this water?” said Taylortown Mayor Pro Tem Nadine Moody. “My main concern now is the water and the stormwater.”
During heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Chantal in July, Taylortown, like most of the county, experienced flooding. Damage to a private 4-acre farm pond outside Taylortown was caused by significant erosion around the spillway. The small pond dam suffered heavy damage due to overtopping and trees falling on the downstream slope of the dam.
When DEQ staff examined the dam, the water had receded and it did not appear that Main Street — located approximately 3,000 feet downstream — would flood.
The town’s Public Works department has been working for the past 18 months on assessing the current infrastructure with regard to the somewhat aged system. Since then, copper pipes have been serviced for leaks, and Public Works Director Darnell Price has mapped some of the existing system.
The Parks hotel plans to connect to the Moore County sewer and water system present around Taylortown.
“ Moore County has confirmed that they have sufficient treatment, not just at (the Lincoln Avenue) pump station, but also at their treatment facility,” said Seth Mason, the development manager for Parks Hospitality Group. “Wetlands and water quality certifications have been issued from both the state and federal level, which covers the wetlands on the west and also the small pond.”
According to Mason, there is an 8-inch gravity sewer line on the west side of the property the developer plans to connect to, as well as a 12-inch watermain on Murdocksville Road east of the property.
“ We’ve spoken to Moore County,” said Mason. “We’ve actually got a flow test completed and confirmed that we have a very good flow.”
However, town officials still expressed concern about the availability of water and sewer to handle the growth, and asked developers to work with engineers to assess their impacts.
“ I’d like to say that your project is good, and I understand that you’re in the right zone in accordance with our ordinance,” said council member Andria Parker. “ Our duty today is to take care of the people of Taylortown and the businesses who have entrusted themselves to our town.
“ I’m very concerned about our sewer and storm water issues in Taylortown. We are all aware of what almost happened here a little while ago, due to a pond having been dug and expanded with no state permit.”
The conditions included that the sewer system on this project passes all current testing along federal and state standards, and that the hotel provide evidence to the town that it can tap onto the lines they intend to tap onto.
Other conditions included an investigation of the historic structures on the property before they are torn down, including archaeological input to see if there are artifacts on the property. Finally, the town asked that a job fair be held for Taylortown residents in connection with construction and the operation of the hotel.
The second hearing, for the Summit Hospitality Group project, ran much shorter, at around half an hour. Taylortown officials made many of the same points as in the Parks hearing and gave Summit the approval for its project, with the same conditions.
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
