By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
Taylortown, NC - Taylortown, the historically Black town in Moore County, which neighbors the world-class golf resort Pinehurst, continues to be pressured by developers eager to drive revenue by renting hotel rooms to tourists. Moore County is a top ten tourism county in North Carolina, so the urgency of Summit Hospitality Group, Ltd. and the Parks Hospitality Group is understood. These two developers are pushing hard for their hotel projects, and the town is equally as excited for the growth, yet cautious to ensure things are done correctly. Town leadership expressed a profound sense of being "bullied" and "disrespected" by the developers. The central point of contention in this challenging encounter was the path forward for infrastructure, specifically sewer capacity and ownership, which is critical to multiple projects.
Summit Hospitality Group, Ltd. is a full-service hotel management and consulting firm founded in 1989 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company builds and operates a diverse portfolio of award-winning hotels and restaurants across North Carolina, representing nearly $250 million in assets with over 700 employees. Parks Hospitality Group is a hotel development and management company dedicated to providing upscale accommodations and uniquely curated food and beverage experiences. Since 2008, Parks has partnered with Hilton and Marriott to develop a thriving portfolio of over 1700 rooms spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.
The developers shared that they have been awaiting the official issuance of a conditional special use permit (SUP) for their project. Their attorney, Thomas M. Van Camp, argued that the conditions had been met and requested that the formal approval letter be issued within ten days to prevent legal action. He maintained that the developers have a vested right in the unanimous vote they received in August, emphasizing the standard developer path of using the due diligence period for entitlement before finalizing property acquisition. Van Camp specifically asked for clarification on the precise issues preventing progress, arguing that neither the town's background check of the building nor legal challenges with the current owner should obstruct the permits. The attorney pressed for a way to proceed, emphasizing their commitment to being "good neighbors" but stating they cannot become "entangled" in unrelated disputes.
Taylortown officials vigorously pushed back on the assertion of silence, denying the accusation that there had been "crickets" on the issue. While acknowledging they have been extremely busy and that the final order had been delayed by an error in transcribing a legal assistant/paralegal note, they emphasized that coordination had been ongoing regarding other project elements, such as the driveway. The town maintained that the conditional permit remains just that, conditional, and that the required infrastructure evaluations must be completed to ensure a solid foundation.
At the heart of the delay are unresolved questions about the town’s sewer system, particularly the specific connection point and available capacity of the main line intended for the new developments. In light of a history of alleged deception and "misdiagnosed and plotted" data, Taylortown recently hired independent engineering firm JC Waller & Associates to conduct a comprehensive condition and capacity assessment. This evaluation is critical for identifying unknown sources of "illicit discharge" into the manholes, which significantly impacts the line's capacity. CEO and Principal at JC Waller & Associates, PC, Dr. Juhann Waller, D. Des. explained that while the system-wide evaluation would likely take until the end of summer, his team will prioritize the downstream analysis from the lift station back to the proposed connection point. This accelerated approach aims to provide the facts necessary to make an objective recommendation to the council regarding whether the existing eight-inch line has sufficient capacity for the new project.
Dr. Waller stated that the intent is not to slow things down, and if the work can be completed faster, it will be, adding that his "word is good" on prioritizing this segment. However, he emphasized that they cannot commit to a compressed timeframe without fully understanding the potential magnitude of required repairs, should any deficiencies be discovered during the evaluation.
The meeting’s tension reached its peak as the town's Mayor Bridget Cotton and other leaders detailed a deep-seated feeling of being marginalized by both outside entities in recent history. One official directly referenced former interactions with area developers and leaders as a form of bullying, accusing those with an interest in Raleigh of lacking respect for the town. Mayor Cotton strongly objected to the "nice, nasty memos" received from the developers. She argued that other local authorities, such as Moore County, also decided reconstruction and manhole locations without inviting the town, even though Taylortown has qualified and strong people to make those decisions in its own best interest. Mayor Cotton stated. "This feeling that Taylor Town has is real."
As the engineering study continues and the legal teams exchange documentation, the community remains in a holding pattern, hoping that the commitment to transparency and communication can bridge the significant gap between Taylortown’s autonomy and the desire for new development.
