Opposition to Carter Lumber Expansion Update - Petition 2021-264
Patricia Oliver spoke with Rudy from the HOA on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. Rudy informed Patricia that notices were mailed to the community regarding Carter Lumber’s petition and several meetings were held. He confirmed that the community was not present during the meetings, but the plan still progressed. Patricia asked Rudy why the HOA and Carter Lumber didn’t reassess their communication plan since it was evident by attendance that it ineffective. He stated that he mentioned something to the board. Patricia informed Rudy that community members are going door-to-door to inform the residents of the expansion and that there is a petition circulating. Patricia explained to Rudy that all residents expressed opposition to the expansion. Rudy could not tell Patricia how the expansion benefits the community. Patricia asked Rudy why the HOA didn’t protect the community’s best interest regarding health, curb appeal, and investment. There was no response. Rudy confirmed that Carter Lumber will maintain (provide landscaping services) the property on the company’s side of the street but did not explain where the proceeds from maintaining half the amount of land would go. Rudy also stated that the Board president is ok with the expansion. He said that he will have Mario French email me, but I requested a phone call instead. He also stated that she was the only person to call and express opposition to the expansion. He had no recollection of the news reporter’s inquiry, Patricia’s email went to an account that another person manages, and he will let the person know to respond, and he is not aware of anyone else in the HOA being contacted regarding the expansion.
We need to organize and get a new HOA once we stop the Carter Lumber expansion. More details will follow.
Members from the Oakbrooke community started a petition and created flyers. They began canvassing the community, door-to-door, on Tuesday, August 23, 2022. There are plans to visit every house in the community to inform them of the proposed expansion and the petition. We need as many signatures as possible and we believe that anyone should be able to sign it, whether they live in the community or not.
City Councilman Malcolm Graham visited the Oakbrooke Community at 1830 on Thursday, August 25, 2022. A few community members and Queen City News were present for the meeting.
All community members present opposed the proposed expansion. Mr. Graham has concerns about the expansion of Carter Lumber. Mr. Graham will review August 15, 2022, City Council meeting video to hear Patricia Oliver’s opposition statement and Carter Lumber’s rebuttal. He will also review staff recommendations and contact Carter Lumber.
Mr. Graham informed us that he is one of eleven votes and that six are needed for the majority vote. Mr. Graham suggested that we contact all City Council Members and ask them to vote against the Carter Lumber Expansion and inform them that Malcolm Graham has concerns with the expansion. They are expected to vote during the next City Council meeting which takes place at 1700 on Monday, September 19, 2022. The vote could take place in October at the latest. We can attend the meetings, but we cannot comment or ask questions during the meeting. We can send the City Council members our comments to consider when voting.
PEOPLE TO CALL
The City Council members’ contact information is below. Please note, that four new members will be sworn in on September 6, 2022. I will provide their names and contact details once it is available.
Vi Alexander Lyles, Mayor
mayor@charlottenc.gov
704.336.2241
Braxton Winston, At-large representative
Braxton.Winston@charlottenc.gov
704.336.3185
Dimple Tansen Ajmera, At-large representative
dimple.ajmera@charlottenc.gov
704.336.2777
Malcolm Graham, District 2 representative
Malcolm.Graham@ci.charlotte.nc.us
704.336.6105
Victoria Watlington, District 3 representative
Victoria.watlington@charlottenc.gov
704.336.3435
Renee’ Johnson, District 4 representative
Renee.Johnson@charlottenc.gov
704.336.3436
Tariq Bokhari, District 6 representative
Tariq.Bokhari@charlottenc.gov
704.336.3431
Edmund H. Driggs, District 7 representative
edriggs@charlottenc.gov
704.432.7077
Alma S. Adams, US House of Representatives
https://adamsforms.house.gov/contact/
(Fill out the contact request form)
(704) 344-9950 and (202) 225-1510
Pat Cotham, County Commissioner At-Large
pat.cotham@mecklenburgcountync.gov
980-314-2874
Leigh Altman, County Commissioner At-Large
leigh.altman@mecklenburgcountync.gov
980-314-2871
George Dunlap, County Commissioner Chairman, District 3
George.Dunlap@mecklenburgcountync.gov
980-314-2873
Oakbrooke Community’s HOA
board@oakbrookpoa.com
(704) 875-7299
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!