Politics

Hatfield's 'vested interest' rant draws return fire at planning board

‘Because I make my living as a grading contractor, don’t insinuate that I have a vested interest,’ Jim Miller said as he pointed at Bruce Hatfield.

By Bill Moss, Published: February 26, 2025

Three Henderson County Planning Board members strongly objected when one board member condemned the county’s growth and blamed planning board members with “a vested interest” for allowing it.

“If that’s what you want, that’s fine, but not on my vote,” Bruce Hatfield, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and president of the local Republican Men’s Club. “We need to get people on these boards that have no vested interest.

“I like these guys, but you ask what their jobs are,” he said. “Jim just recused himself. He’s a grader. Hunter’s a land planner. Jared is a surveyor.”

Besides Hatfield, the advisory board is made up of Hatfield, surveyor Jared Ownbey, grading contractor Jim Miller; Jason Davis, a Mills River farmer; Linda Pittillo Bradley, co-owner of Turf Mountain Sod; contractor Trey Ford; Rick Livingston, former Mills River fire chief; and Hunter Marks, a landscape architect.

Hatfield exhorted audience members to seek appointments to advisory boards so they could become part of the development review process. His comments came as the board reviewed a proposed 45-home subdivision at Tracy Grove and Duncan roads, which has drawn opposition from neighboring homeowners who expressed concern about septic tanks and increased traffic.

“When are we going to stop? This is a great place to live. I’ve raised my kids here. I’m proud of that,” Hatfield said. “But I wouldn’t raise my grandson in this county right now, and y’all ought to think about that. Get on the boards, get representation, stand up for Henderson County.”

Miller returns fire

Miller, who had recused himself from the Tracy Grove subdivision review because he had spoken to the developer about doing the site prep work, fired back at Hatfield’s implication that a “vested interest” influenced planning board members’ votes.

“I’ll take issue with that,” he said. “My grandkids are ninth generation in this town, and my grandfather settled here as a result of the Revolutionary War. Because I make my living as a grading contractor, don’t insinuate that the fact that I have contacts in the industry of building houses and roads — where you live and benefit from — that I have a vested interest.”

Miller had voluntarily disclosed the contact he had with the developer, Christopher Smith.

“I never met Mr. Smith. Couldn’t pick him out of the audience,” he said. “But I got a phone call and he said he liked the Miller brothers and their reputation. So based on that one phone call, Bruce, I thought it prudent to ask the chairman that I sit back and not participate because I may have an opportunity to work with this gentleman.”

“I had no problem with you recusing yourself,” Hatfield said.

“I understand that,” Miller responded. “But you attacked me and every other gentleman in here or lady that works in this county or has a job in the industry of construction — you did that, and I take offense to that.”

‘How dare we’ deny project allowed by right?

When Ford asked whether the current zoning allows the single-family homes “by right,” the county planning director confirmed that it does.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell him he can’t do with that property what he’s allowed to do by right,” said Ford, vice president of Cooper Construction. “Who the heck do we think we are? I can’t help but feel attacked by what Bruce said earlier. I’m a general contractor. I don’t build housing projects, I build commercial projects.

“I think we’re treading on dangerous waters if we start telling people they can’t do with their property what they’re allowed to do by right,” he added. “That’s ridiculous. How dare we?”

‘When a subdivision comes to us and it meets the requirements of that (adopted zoning) ordinance, it’s our job to honor that,’ Planning Board Chair Hunter Marks said.Board Chair Hunter Marks also defended the board, saying it did not have the prerogative to block development proposals that otherwise meet regulatory requirements.

“I can understand Bruce. We all live here because it’s a great place to live,” Marks said. “Lots of us are natives, some of us came here because it’s a great place to live. We don’t want to see things that make Hendersonville special change over time.

“But the people of Henderson County have decided how they want to control growth, and that’s through the county commissioners and land development ordinance that has been developed. They’re telling us — the people as a whole, maybe not the majority of people in this room — how they want us to deal with this. And when a subdivision comes to us and it meets the requirements of that ordinance, it’s our job to honor that. It may not be the answer folks want to hear but that’s our job.”