Musings from the Mountains

Happy Halloween!  As you welcome the little trick or treaters to your door tonight, you’ll feel a bit of a chill in the air.  After a couple of gorgeous Fall days in the 80’s, the weatherman is calling for a low of 21 degrees Wednesday morning and 22 degrees Thursday morning.  These two mornings will produce the coldest temps we have seen this Fall.  Don’t forget, it’s getting time to winterize those second homes, if you’re going away for the Winter.

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the new housing developments coming to the Jonathan Valley area.  3 new developments have been announced that could bring between 300 and 500 homes to the valley.  Some have asked “why all the new homes in one area?”   Two reasons: First, the Jonathan Creek valley has mostly flat land, which is hard to find here in the mountains.  Second, Maggie Valley water and sewer lines run all the way down the 6-mile-long valley.  The developments can survey smaller lots, hook up to Maggie Valley sewer and not have septic tanks, which would require larger lots.  Also, they can hook onto Maggie Valley city water and negate the need for wells.  Maggie Valley has excess capacity to supply both water and sewer to these developments.  To gain access to these utilities the developments will become satellite areas within the Maggie Valley city limits.  Which, undoubtedly, will increase town revenues from the property taxes on these homes.

Some residents are against developing this area, which has been pasture or crop land since it was first settled.  Other residents see the need for more homes, as it is becoming more difficult to find a home to purchase, particularly in lower to mid-price ranges.  It becomes a glass half full, or half empty question, with both sides making valid points.  Some residents cite traffic issues, but I don’t see that as much of a problem.   Jonathan Creek Road (Hwy 276) was widened to a divided 4 lane highway when it served as temporary Interstate 40.  The last section of I-40 through these mountains was between what is now Exit 27 and Exit 20.  I-40 at Exit 27 moved you to the Smoky Mountain Expressway, then by Lake Junaluska, and then out Jonathan Creek Road to rejoin I-40 at the present Exit 20.  That section of I-40 was opened in 1974 if I remember correctly.

Well, that’s the news from the mountains.  Remember, it’s only 3 weeks to Thanksgiving.  Time to start deciding the menu.