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District honors Boy Scout for saving 5-year-old

Henderson County News

Despite traffic concerns, planners OK health-ed project

Despite concerns over traffic, the Hendersonville Planning Board on Monday unanimously recommended that the City Council approve development plans for the 98,000-square-foot Joint Health Education Center on Sixth Avenue at North Oak Street.The $32 million joint project of Henderson County, the city of Hendersonville, Wingate University, BRCC and Pardee Hospital will include classrooms, labs and offices for the community college and Wingate and the new Pardee Cancer Center on the ground floor.Although designers have added a second entrance into the property between Justice and Oak streets, they did not recommend widening Oak Street or installing traffic signals."The project's great but I just don't see this street handling all that additional traffic," Planning Board member Ben Pace said.Chad Roberson, the chief architect on the project, told the Planning Board that traffic engineers had recommended adjusting the traffic light timing on Sixth Avenue at Justice Street, aligning Seventh Avenue with the parking lot entrance on Oak Street and widening Oak Street by four feet. The last recommendation is not doable, he said, because designers are trying to create space between the street and the building.The engineers recommended against installing a traffic light at Oak Street or aligning the streets, which are offset at Sixth Avenue.Engineers have designed a new entrance into the Pardee campus east of the Medical Office Building made up of two 15-foot driveways separated by a 14-foot landscaped median. For now, there are no plans to install a stoplight."Anyone turning left out of there — it's going to be wicked," board member Jon Blatt said.City Planning Director Sue Anderson said the entire area is the subject of a comprehensive traffic study that will take into account the new health-education building, medical campus traffic, car trips generated by three schools and future growth. The city plans to build on the findings of a traffic impact study the health-ed building engineers have already completed. The new facility is projected to generate 2,992 car trips a day.Approval for the $32 million project technically came in two parts. The Planning Board voted to OK an amendment to the original Medical Office Building site plan then recommend approval of the project on 2.8 acres. With a new parking lot across Oak Street adding 67 spaces and other parking on the Pardee campus, the complex meets the parking requirement of 247 spaces, Anderson said. The Planning Board also OK'd a rear setback variance allowing the developer to site a dumpster, generator and chiller on a 21x93-foot pad on the rear property line.Construction on the three-story building is expected to begin by spring with an opening date in time for classes in the late summer of 2016.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

LIGHTNING PHOTOS: Grady Hawkins reads to children

Henderson County Commissioner Grady Hawkins read a children's book, Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree, during the 'I Love my Library Day' at the Henderson County Public Library last week.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

County seeks input on East Flat Rock plan

EAST FLAT ROCK — Henderson County planners are inviting residents, business owners and homeowners in East Flat Rock to participate in the community planning process for the area.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Corps decision delays Seven Falls work

ETOWAH — In the long term, a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could mean that Henderson County can get more work done at the failed Seven Falls development. In the short term, the decision means delay in roadwork that county officials hoped would start by summer.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Third affordable housing project proposed

A third developer has submitted plans for an affordable housing project in Hendersonville.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Man faces first-degree burglary charge

Detectives from the Henderson County Sheriff's Office have added a charge of first-degree burglary against Joshua Hugh Ellis, 25, of 126 Southbrook Road, after his arrest early Sunday for breaking into a motor vehicle.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning.

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

County health board honored as best in state

To the best climate, the best downtown, the best prep volleyball and the best World War II veteran honoring effort, citizens of Henderson County can add another reason to take pride: the best Board of Health.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Grant will help fight blight of hemlocks

Western North Carolina's ailing hemlock trees will get more help to return to long-term health, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced on Tuesday.   Read Story »

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