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A Large Hotel in Montreat?
The Montreat Conference Center (MRA) has proposed building a large, modern 40 room hotel with an underground parking garage, directly across from Robert Lake Playground. We are strongly opposed to this hotel. A permit was initially granted to the MRA by the Montreat Board of Adjustment, and then revoked by the Superior Court on appeal. The MRA is now appealing the decision, but the Town of Montreat is not joining the appeal.
Why Do We Oppose the Proposed Hotel?
The Facts
Pollution to Flat Creek
Discharge from the stormwater system of the proposed hotel will be directly into the Robert Lake Park where children play.
Testimony by Dr. Barrett Kays to the Board of Adjustment:
Barrett Kays, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized expert with 45 years of experience in stormwater management & soil science. He assisted in designing the StormTech technology that the MRA has proposed to use for the hotel site and was a commissioner of the North Carolina Public Health Commission for four years. Dr. Kays made the following statements, under oath, in the Board of Adjustment hearing:
“Flat Creek is a Class III stream: the water quality of it is classified as high-quality.”
“At the proposed hotel site where the stormwater system will be placed, the rock is very shallow and, in some cases, the actual soil is shallow. This means there will be a shallow depth to seasonal high-water table.”
“The stormwater system is undersized by between 159 to 235 percent.”
Dr. Kays was asked: ”Given that it's undersized, …what's the probability that the MRA's proposed StormTech System will work and function as intended, in your opinion?” Answer: “I believe it will fail and it will surface and it will contaminate Flat Creek, simple as that.”
“There will be discharge of polluted stormwater to Flat Creek.”
The MRA's proposed hotel “would be detrimental to or endanger the public health and safety if located where proposed and developed according to the plan as submitted and approved.”
“It would contaminate surface waters and groundwaters in and around the site by discharge of untreated stormwater to Flat Creek.”
“The biggest threat in terms of contamination is fecal contact with humans” with an expected “very high fecal coliform count.”
“This causes a tremendous amount of digestive diseases (diarrhea) from the bacteria getting into people.”
Clear-Cutting Trees on a Large Plot in the Middle of Montreat
The hotel construction would cut down 59 mature trees, many older than Montreat’s founding (1897).
Trees to be removed include dogwood, maple, sugar maple, white pine, hemlock, poplar, oak, sycamore, and birch.
Assessment of an arborist:
The sugar maple trees “are some of the biggest and oldest I’ve seen in North Carolina.”
“If 59 dominant trees are removed from a concentrated area, the daily average temperature in the surrounding area will most likely increase. Soils will become saturated, and flooding will be more of a risk than before.”
Scott Abla, MS, ESA Certified Ecologist, ISA Certified Master Arborist
Loss of Three Historic Homes
The proposed demolition of three homes, include two of the oldest homes in Montreat:
The Lord House (now known as the Chester Lord Apartments), is the original home built by Chester Lord, the first permanent resident of Montreat, in 1897. This home, located at 312 Georgia Terrace, is where the Presbyterian Church first held services in Montreat.
Chestnut Lodge, built by Chester Lord in 1902, just east of the Chester Lord Apartments. It includes three levels of sweeping balconies on the south side.
The Galax House, built in 1947, is located on Assembly Drive across from the playground.
This is a historic neighborhood. 90% of the homes in the immediate area are of historic significance, including 28 built before 1920. The proposed modern hotel would change the character of the area.
For more information about these three homes, see also Elizabeth Maxwell, A Flowing Stream
Opposition to the Hotel
Petition Results as of 9/15/24
1361
Signatures
203
Montreat homes opposed
(approx 1/3 of homes in Montreat)
Those opposed to the construction of a large modern hotel have consistently and repeatedly voiced a desire to work with the MRA to find a win-win solution. We support the MRA constructing new accommodation for its conferences, as needed, and we see many possible ways of achieving this. It does not require an extremely large, modern hotel.
The mission of the Town of Montreat:
To seek ways to maintain and improve the quality of life, preserve the natural beauty and promote responsible growth while maintaining our community image, heritage and traditions.
Montreat Stewards
is a group of Montreat residents and friends dedicated to preserving and protecting the beauty, history and peace of Montreat, North Carolina.
On this website you can find information on
The legal process of the Special Use Permit hearing before the Board of Adjustment and appeals to Superior Court and NC Board of Appeals.
Details of the proposed hotel, including the Conference Center's application for a Special Use Permit, compared with current views of the site
Key concerns, including the historical preservation of the oldest buildings in Montreat and environmental issues around wildlife and the local watershed
The "village concept" — an alternate plan proposed by neighbors to preserve and restore the historic lodges while adding smaller new construction
Voices so far, including letters from the community and articles in the Black Mountain News and Asheville Citizen Times
What you can do to make your voice heard, including by donating or putting up yard signs and ribbons
If you want to join an email list to stay updated on the hotel project, please contact us.
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