Prior to the Public Hearing, two additional public information sessions were held and additional public input obtained. In fact, I specifically made the motion for modifications to address concerns raised both prior to and at the Public Hearing. The proposed modifications addressed community concerns raised during public information sessions, from phone calls, letters, e-mails, recommendations from the Committee for Responsible Environmental Regulations and comments at the Public Hearing. The proposed modifications represented a compromise as I truly believe that the best decisions must be about balance and must benefit the common good of the community.

We all must remember that the Town had two recent wakeup calls (White Laurel and the Village of Meadowview) not to mention many other landslide events in Watauga County over the past 50 years. Ironically the state released information days after the steep slope regulations were passed which noted that Watauga County led the state in the number of landslide events. I will add that I had obtained and used this information when I made my decision to adopt steep slope regulations. It would have been irresponsible for the Town Council to do nothing. The proposed modifications represented a compromise while still addressing health and safety issues and preserving our environment, economic vitality and heritage for generations to come. Future generations depend on the choices we make today. I truly believe that the best decisions must be about balance and must benefit the common good of the community.

The regulations do not prevent development on steep slopes nor are they meant to discourage building. Rather, the regulations are an attempt to identify geologic hazards such that they can be remediated and to encourage development that does not compromise our Viewshed. And what I proposed in my compromise protects single family home development and if they have any effect at all on new single family homes, it is minimal.

I considered myself to be very blessed to live in this community. I strive each day to make this community a better place and to be a good steward of all that God has entrusted all of us with. I would never do anything to hurt this community which I love and call home. And I will stand by my statement that I brought no hidden motives, I represented no special interests nor did I have anything to gain from the passage of steep slope regulations other than a safer, greener and cleaner community for all of us.

Sometimes doing the right thing is not the easy thing to do. I believe that the Boone Town Council adopted reasonable steep slope regulations that were based on community involvment and input and that will serve the common good of our great community for generations to come.