The Macon county Planning Board met last night to discuss ten properties that are being considered for sale as surplus, some of them are listed on the county website. The board made two motions during the meeting, the first was to check with the neighboring landowners of a 3.25 acre landlocked parcel on Middle Creek to see if any of them were interested in purchasing it. The second motion was to donate a 0.68 acre parcel next to the Macon County Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (known locally as the Co-op) since the property is so small and part of it being used by that group.
The general consensus of the board was to shop the other eight properties to the various departments of Macon County government to see if there was need to keep a particular parcel for their use.
The discussion also touched on communicating with the Macon County Economic Development Commission to see if there was a potential for a duplication of efforts on one or more of the properties and to review the Macon County Comprehensive Plan to see if any of the properties would have potential use according to that document.
The list of the ten properties (click on the Parcel ID for more information from the county GIS website) the board discussed are:
6584369478 The old County Garage on West Old Murphy Road. The property has been assessed at $301,380 with the buildings at $101,380 and the land at $200,000.
During the discussion of this property, members noted that it is in an ideal location for a commercial property or even a Farmer's Market and could serve to help revitalize that section of town.
7514015877 This is the old Cullasaja Elementary School property. It is situated on 8 acres and has been assessed at $1,631,140 with the building at $1,231,140 and the land at $400,000.
During the discussion on this parcel, there was some uncertainty if the Macon County Board of Education had deeded the property over to the county or not and one of the possible uses for it included a training area for law enforcement and fire personnel. Board members also noted that it was outside the city limits, so not subject to zoning. There was a question regarding whether or not the Town of Franklin would be willing to extend services to this site for a new owner.
6499611525 This is a 3.25 acre landlocked and undeveloped parcel assessed at $30,030 on Middle Creek.
Board members decided to see if any of the neighboring property owners were willing to buy it from the county. The assessed value of the parcel is $30,030. There are no buildings on this wooded lot.
6579719828 This is a 0.57 acre undeveloped parcel (Lot #13 in the Copeland Subdivision) off Bradley Creek Road assessed at $15,120.
6579718376 This is a 1.01 acre undeveloped parcel (Lot #7 in the Copeland Subdivision) off Bradley Creek Road assessed at $17,170.
Board members were unsure of any county use of these properties.
6576456654 This is a 3.25 acre undeveloped parcel on Barnard Road assessed at $63,810.
The board members discussed shopping the property to the owners of neighboring parcels, but took no specific action.
7504484670 This is a 3.76 acre undeveloped parcel assessed at $81,210 that the county originally purchased for use as a recycling center, but decided to locate it elsewhere.
Board members talked about shopping this property among the various departments to see if any of them had a use for it, but took no specific action.
6585635293 This is a 0.86 acre that is next to the Co-op Building that has been assessed at $22,580.
Board members noted that most of it was already being utilized by the Macon County Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and they probably thought they already owned it. The board voted to donate the property to this group.
6594489400 This is a 5.25 acre undeveloped parcel assessed at $85,000 that was part of the old Macon County Airport. The county planner described is a wetland and mostly in the floodplain.
The general consensus of the board was to consider offering it to the Greenway. There was also a discussion about using it for a Farmer's Market. No specific action was taken on this property.
6586466705 This is a 2.56 acre lot that is assessed at $86,020 (the building that is on it was not assessed) on the Iotla Church Road that is next to the North Carolina Forest Service property and has a shed on it that is used by the NC Forest Service.
There was a lengthy discussion about this parcel that included who was maintaining it and the trees that had been cut because they were in the flightpath for aircraft landing and taking off at the Macon County Airport, which led to discussions about possible FAA restrictions on the height of structures that could be built on the property. Board members discussed asking the NC Forest Service if they were interested in the property, as well as asking the Macon County Airport Authority if they wanted it. No specific action was taken by the board on this parcel.
