FROM MARK & PATTE at Southsiders! 

This is terrific! We have 1,034 signatures and 134 petition forms in circulation throughout the town of Waxhaw. Our goal is to have 1,886 signatures in by the 3^rd week in July. The magic date is July 27^th. Mark that down, July 27^th is the date I’ve got to bring our petitions into the Union County Board of Elections With over 134 petitions out, if everyone comes back completely signed, we’ll have more than enough signatures to see this on the ballot in November.

There are petition forms available to be signed at Southsiders and at the following Waxhaw merchants, Main Street Grill, Mamma Lena’s, Rendini’s, Big Dog Café, Ice Cream and Pizza Works, Marino’s, Waxhaw Tack Exchange, El Vallarta, The Village Gallery, Burch Studio’s, Fuzion Hair Salon and Southport Gift Store.

If you’d like to pass petitions or fliers around your neighborhood stop by Southsiders and I’ll be happy to set you up with flyers, petitions or voter registration forms. Or if you just want to come in and sign the petition we have at the counter, every little bit is going to help.

There are only 2 qualifications for a person to sign them. First they have to be a Waxhaw town resident and second they need to be a registered voter. If they need to register, I have forms at the store or they can go to the following web site:

http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=48

The target number of valid signatures is 1,886 - We do have a few signatures that are from out of the city limits and we’ll need to make up for it but there are only a few.

As well, there is a small group of people who are going door to door to gather signatures. Help is needed in this effort as well. If you can spend a few hours on a Saturday even if it’s working to canvas your own neighborhood – well many hands make light work! Please contact Donna @:

EngGarden1@aol.com

Remember, this is not a done deal, the vote taken back in March was not binding and there is no guarantee that the future vote scheduled for July 14^th will pass. If it doesn’t pass, there won’t be enough time to gather signatures and still make the 60 -120 day window required by state law to make the November 3rd ballot.

The people helping with this project have been great! As well, the support from both residents and non-residents has been nothing short of phenomenal. I only wish our town council members and mayor could hear what we hear I think they’d be tripping over themselves to see this referendum on the ballot in November. 

Let’s keep those signatures coming in!  Please bring in any full sheets you may have and thank you again!

Regards,

Mark & Patte Kennedy

--
Southsiders
113 E. North Main Street
Waxhaw, NC 28173
704-243-1325

SO MUCH GOING ON THIS WEEKEND MAY 16th & 17th, 2009 !

Waxhaw at it's Tipping Point?

I can't help but see the signs of change in Waxhaw.  We all do.  So many things attempted or started, but not yet completed... leaving Waxhaw teetering on the brink of much positive or negative.

With the recent foreclosure of many lots and land in and around Waxhaw as of late, along with uncompleted commercial projects such as Jackson Station and Prescot, it leaves me wondering what is in Waxhaw's future.  And now BL Patch & Associates and Blue Ribbon Realty have jointly proposed another Mixed Use project for the Historic Downtown area.   It's a beautiful project that I truly hope does well, but in my opinion, we need to consider the other ones first...

I am not against any or all of these projects, but we really need to take a good hard look at the ones which are at a standstill and determine what the problem is.  One could blame the recent downturn in the economy, but that would not explain Jackson Station, which has sat empty for years other than a lone CVS and now a few mostly empty office spaces. The developement certainly would not have supported a Walmart facility with the current road structure, but what can be done with this parcel to benefit the community?

Then there are several other projects like the Moser Group one near Bojangles, and the Prescot one, near the bridge on Providence.  Did they damage their ability to complete these due to the extensive bull-dozing and tree removal, prior to even having tenants pre-sign agreements? Perhaps the bad publicity when the large number of huge Oak and other trees where removed (even from the exterior borders) prevented tenants from wanting to move there.  But why is no one (including those developers) at least replacing trees, or other concerned citizens donating some, to be growing there now? Seems like these eyesores will never get better unless we force someone to do something about it, or for us to be able to take action & beautify these areas ourselves if we have to.

Rather than work against these projects, I hope the citizens of Waxhaw will see the need to be involved and help these succeed and add character to the community.  I too, abhor, the "strip mall," mentality of much commercial development in a town which has so much history and quaintness to it, but feel that if done right, that we NEED to have commercial projects to broaden our tax base, and provide services for our citizens. I know I am tired of driving all the way to Blakeney & Ballantyne for many of my shopping needs (esp clothing). 

I also do feel that Liquor by the drink is an issue we definitely need to consider to allow. I do think it will require much research, and I also empathize with those who don't want the big chain restaurants flooding our town.  I don't either but I know our local "Mom & Pop" restaurants that we have grown to love, would do much better if they had this ability too.

However, I think even if they do come to town, by controlling architectural restrictions, that we can retain our quaintness.  Example Charleston, who has the oldest and one of the most reveered (& feared I might add! LOL!) Architectural Control Boards in the country.  BUT, they have allowed and promoted growth WHILE controlling the esthetic integrity of that most lovely city.

I love "my Waxhaw." I want to see it succeed and prosper, but I also want to see it retain it's character. What do you think?  And if you live in a different town, that has been at this stage, what helped?  What didn't?  We all know that you either go forwards or backwards with progress, but I for one, want Waxhaw to go forward and do it right!