As Hope Mills experiences significant growth, Mayor Jessie Bellflowers discussed the implications of ongoing development projects for the community.
With dozens of residential, commercial and industrial projects underway, including 12 housing developments set to add 2,900 new homes, Bellflowers recently told The Fayetteville Observer that the developments will create jobs and increase housing in the community. He said major projects from companies like Wawa, Frito Lay, Chipotle and Dollar Tree reflect the town’s commitment to modernization while maintaining its small-town charm.
As some in the community worry Hope Mill’s infrastructure can’t handle the rapid growth, Bellflowers addressed those issues in a Q&A last week with the Observer and spoke about the town’s vision of “smart growth.”
Previous coverage: Is Hope Mills growing too fast? Some residents say yes. Leadership calls it ‘smart growth’
What reassurance can you offer residents worried that rapid growth may compromise Hope Mills’ unique small-town character?
Bellflowers: Over the years, the growth in Hope Mills has been growing steady about every year as more and more people choose Hope Mills as a destination to live, work (and) raise a family. One of the initiatives that we’re doing now to look at growth, to maintain smart growth in Hope Mills, is that we are in the process of developing a comprehensive strategic plan. Now, this strategic plan is going to help our town leadership navigate challenges, just like the balance of smart growth, we need to keep our unique character and the culture of Hope Mills.
We need to deliver efficient services. We’ve got to foster smart growth as we elevate the quality of life to drive positive outcomes for our community.
Some have expressed concerns about the prevalence of chain stores and gas stations. What is your response and how can Hope Mills attract a more diverse range of businesses?
Bellflowers: I listen to residents every day, every week, and they all express pretty much the same thing, and I agree with them. I really do. It’s like, why are we continuing to have, it looks like, clusters of more gas stations? Now we have vape shops and then fast food. You see the increase of all three of those over the past years. And a lot of this is because of commercial zoning that was already approved and in place on a lot of the property. How does a gas station or a vape shop or a fast-food business build a building? Well, they acquire the property first, and then it’s zoned commercial, and then they put up one of these businesses.
I will say that the gas station — you know, we’ve had the Circle K come in — that’s really been a bonus down across from Carlie C’s. A lot of folks have really enjoyed that Circle K, but what they don’t like, and I agree with them, is gas stations embedded in neighborhoods or communities. I believe strongly in the integrity of communities, and I am opposed to any commercial development in any of our neighborhood communities. To address the question directly, it’s something that we’re looking at also in the comprehensive strategic plan. We’ve got to have a vision of where Hope Mills is going in the future. We know where we are today, we know where we were yesterday, but where are we going in the future of the community?
What are the most pressing needs for Hope Mills at this moment?
Bellflowers: Smart growth is one of the pressing needs for Hope Mills, but infrastructure is probably the top need in Hope Mills, and I say this because of all of the roadway issues that we have with the congested traffic. We’ve had congested traffic issues in Hope Mills for years. I sit in the very same traffic on Camden Road, Rockfish Road, Hope Mills Road, Legion Road, just like everyone else in Hope Mills. One of the issues that I see in Hope Mills, unlike other communities … you know, the Pinehurst area? I was out there some weeks ago to look at the new Target development that just recently opened in that area, and what the key part here was before that, the infrastructure piece that was put in on the front end of that development. That hasn’t happened here. Look at our roads. They haven’t been widened even though all of this growth has come in. Camden Road continues to be backed up all the way from Hope Mills Road past Rockfish Road now. So, the concern that I have is to widen the roads and get out in front of infrastructure road widening projects …
The other issue that I see also, with residential neighborhoods and commercial properties coming in, is how to control the flooding and stormwater management in Hope Mills. So that’s a concern as well and that’s something that we’re looking at in the comprehensive strategic plan. Every development has to go through our planning team process of all of our department heads in Hope Mills and we have a planning team review every week — it’s Thursday every week — of every property that’s planning to be built in Hope Mills. North Carolina Department of Transportation is part of that because they have to sign off on any of the traffic congestion issues that these developments will have on the town. In prior years, we really haven’t had the planning review team that we have right now in Hope Mills doing this every week. So, that has really been an opportunity for us to address residential (and) commercial development on the very, very front end and what the results will look like when they’re finished and built.
What improvements do you believe are essential for Hope Mills’ future?
Bellflowers: Well, I’m going to put smart growth and the way that I look at the development of it in Hope Mills and its three legs on the stool, as I call them. I look at economic development and jobs, I look at strong neighborhoods, and I look at healthy communities. Those are the three legs that I see when we’re talking about how and where should new development be accommodated in Hope Mills. It has to fit between these three.
A prime example is Culver’s that just opened this week. Culver’s could have went anywhere that they wanted to go but they chose to come to Hope Mills. Culver’s has given 100 employees — and these are high school employees — jobs to work at Culver’s and (for) a lot of these high school seniors, this may be their first job. They’re not going to be there forever, but this is their first job and opportunity in the workforce. And it’s businesses like Culver’s that bring that economic development, that bring jobs, create business opportunities and amenities to our Hope Mills community. But we also go look at the strong neighborhoods and I truly believe in a walkable community. I have long advocated for walkable communities. Sidewalks are a must and developments that are coming into Hope Mills now are required to do this.
What strategies are in place to ensure that growth benefits all residents, particularly those in underserved areas?
Bellflowers: That’s a really good question. I’ll include that question in our comprehensive strategic plan when we get into the discussion of it because I really think that when we look at the strategies one size does not fit all in any smart growth planning because not one neighborhood is the same, not one town is the same, not one street is the same. So, we have to look at the characteristics of what that neighborhood looks like and the planning part of the future residential neighborhoods that come to Hope Mills. I’m a very big proponent for affordable housing and I would really like to see more affordable housing be offered within our community because not everyone has $300-400,000 to buy a home in that price range.
So, it’s definitely something to look at, you know, where is that balance? How can we offer more affordable housing to different parts of the Hope Mills community? But we also have to keep in mind, and I will circle back every time and say we need to maintain and preserve the unique culture and character of Hope Mills. And one of those strategies is an event that’s happening (Oct.19) called Ole Mills Day in the main park.
How do you envision community engagement in the planning process as Hope Mills continues to develop?
Bellflowers: Here’s the way I want to answer it. I read your article that was just posted on Oct. 16, and so far, that’s generated over 70 comments from residents in the Hope Mills community. That’s a lot of traction: 70 comments of pro-growth, not-so-pro-growth, and different opinions. I believe the citizens of Hope Mills need to have the opportunity to weigh in on the comprehensive strategic plan and the smart growth plan for the town.
I will pose this question — we’re going to put up, in fact, we’re working on it now, a survey landing page on the town’s webpage and we call it Engage Hope Mills, and here’s the question that’s going to be put there — Hope Mills has enjoyed a proud past, but what does a bright future look like in the Hope Mills community going forward? I would like to encourage citizens to take the time and post a comment. We’re going to talk about this Monday night during our regular board meeting. That’s a question I’m going to ask citizens on Saturday during Ole Mills Days: What would they like to see in Hope Mills? Where is the future in Hope Mills? What does that bright future look like, in their opinion?
Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com