Valdese council to discuss Pineburr Avenue property, set hearing for Berrytown project at Tuesday's meeting

A discussion about updates surrounding a $149,000 bid to buy Valdese’s Pineburr Avenue property and build a 20-unit housing development remains on the council’s September agenda after Councilman Glenn Harvey pushed to keep the item Monday night.

Mayor Charlie Watts initially proposed taking the item off the Sept. 2 agenda after the council offered no response when he raised the issue.

Harvey asserted that Monday’s meeting was a preliminary meeting and asked if there was new information on the topic. Harvey said if there was nothing new that evening, there might be new information by the regular meeting.

“We have a bid offer for $149,000 for this property on Pineburr Avenue. We had a hearing scheduled at the last meeting that we canceled, and citizens and council members — at least one council member — are wondering what’s going on,” Harvey said.

Harvey added: “These things shouldn’t have to go on forever.”

Board attorney Tim Swanson said there are updates, but because they involve contract matters, they will be discussed in closed session to maintain confidentiality. He added that any updates that can be shared publicly will be presented during open session.

Potential buyer, East McDowell Street Properties, LLC, wants to build a 20-unit housing development on a small portion of the 14.9-acre area.

A hearing for the buyer’s special permit request was scheduled for Aug. 4. The hearing was abruptly canceled because, before it began, Valdese officials received an objection from resident Steven Demiter.

Town Manager Todd Herms said the decision to postpone the meeting came from an abundance of caution, because it would allow town staff more time to “fully vet the process.”

The Town of Valdese purchased the Pineburr Avenue property in May 2021 for $98,122. It was a potential location to build a new public safety facility — a project the town has been working on since 2018 — to give the police and fire departments permanent, structurally sound buildings.

The police and fire departments once shared a building at 121 Faet St. SW. Both were relocated in 2024 due to the poor condition of the building.

OTHER AGENDA ITEMS

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Town Council will set a date for a public hearing regarding the additional $200,000 it received in Community Development Block Grant funds for the Berrytown Water project. Among other needs, the grant would be used to replace aging and undersized lines along several Valdese streets.

The council also shuffled around, added to, and subtracted from the regular meeting agenda.

Early in the meeting, Watts asked to add an ordinance declaring a road closure to the consent agenda. Main Street will close from Hoyle Street to Eldred Street on Oct. 7 for the Draughn High School homecoming parade between 5:30 and 7 p.m.

A capital project ordinance amendment regarding the Valdese Bluffs sewer project was moved from New Business to Consent Agenda, meaning there will be no council discussion on it at the Sept. 2 meeting.

The amendment only adjusts “the project fund to match what we’re going to be doing,” said Assistant Town Manager and CFO Bo Weichel. The town approved a contract with Iron Mountain Construction for a partial buildout of the sewer system at the August meeting. Construction of the full system has been postponed because of its cost.

A similar ordinance amendment for the Public Safety Building project was slated for the consent agenda, but Councilman Harvey asked that it remain under New Business.

The Valdese Town Council typically meets on the first Monday of the month. Because that date falls on Labor Day, the council will meet Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. Town Hall is at 102 Massel Ave. SW.