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After making significant improvements with traffic flow around Clemmons Elementary School to open the 2024-25 school year that included the implementation of new one-way movements, the Clemmons Village Council hopes a possible solution from NCDOT might have a similar impact at West Forsyth High School.

At last Tuesday night’s meeting, Mike Gunnell, the village manager, offered a project update after a meeting held with village staff, NCDOT and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools regarding a proposal for improving school traffic flow at West Forsyth that would be paid for by NCDOT.

“A cost estimate is being calculated, and we hope this will be on the Board of Transportation agenda in March, and if approved, construction would likely begin in June,” Gunnell said.

He provided a graphic design of what NCDOT had come up with to help with the stacking problem at West, which created no parking or stopping during pick-up/drop-off at the school in the spring along with warnings first and later citations for those in violation.

“If you recall, Ms. (Amy) Flyte asked DOT to look at it,”  Gunnell said. “They have a program to aid or assist schools that have a traffic problem and after some traffic impact analysis came up with this for West Forsyth. They presented it to us and the school and asked if the school system was in concurrence of it, and they did approve it.”

Gunnell added that “basically the only section that has to be built is the current section that runs between the front parking lot and the side. Regardless of where you pick up the students the exit is going to be back on Southwest School Road and back out to the light.”

With no other school projects currently in the pipeline in NCDOT Division 9, Gunnell said, “I don’t feel like the cost is going to be tremendous, so hopefully this will go through.”

As for how things are going this fall during the current school year, Gunnell got an update from Lt. Jody Chatman. “He said nothing has really changed as far as stacking on Lewisville-Clemmons Road. Deputies are issuing citations to drivers who stop and drop off students along Lewisville-Clemmons Road.”  

In another item on last Tuesday night’s agenda, the council received an update from Bobby Patterson regarding the Village Point Area Plan that was discussed in the January retreat and again in the September special meeting/follow-up retreat for a proposed building at the greenway at Village Point that would house the Forsyth County Sheriff’s office staff, village staff and storage.

The building, to be located on Lot 6 at Village Point, calls for 1,665 square feet on each floor with a grade-level porch and upper-level deck. After providing renderings at the September meeting, Patterson returned to present some minor changes but said every detail does not need to be pointed out at this point.

Council member Mary Cameron said that the design is straight forward and that she likes the outside, which will go along with anything else that may be added in that area. Council members Mike Combest and Randy Wooden agreed, and Bradley Taylor thanked Patterson for the changes made and expressed his appreciation for the direction the project is taking. 

Mayor Mike Rogers read a statement from council member Michelle Barson, who was not present for the meeting: “Looks lovely to me, no changes and has my full approval as council sees fit to make any minor adjustments or tweaks as needed.”

Gunnell said that this is just the first step in developing 12.42 acres of land acquired from Novant Health adjacent to the Village Point Greenway and Fishing Pier for $2,235,600 million in March after the village was awarded $4.8 million in funding in September 2023 from the House Bill 259 Appropriations Act.

Rogers announced in a council meeting at the time that the money had been awarded to use, for all intents and purposes, as the village best determined. Village officials said that the acquisition marked a significant milestone in a commitment to preserving open space and enhance community recreational opportunities while providing room for additional amenities.

At the time, it was stated that future plans could include the possible relocation of village hall, the Clemmons Community Policing Officers and the Clemmons Farmers Market, constructing an amphitheater or events structure, building picnic shelters and permanent restrooms, and promoting passive recreation.

“The biggest thing we need out there now is parking and restrooms,” Gunnell said. “Then by moving the Sheriff’s Department out there, we’ll have a police presence. And then at that time, we may look at the lights on the greenway and doing other things.”

In other highlights from last Tuesday night’s meeting, the council:

• Approved the first part of the village’s 50-50 private property cost-share project at 1573 Trinity Garden Circle, awarding the private party contract to Fleming Land Management where the village’s responsibility is $5,875 and the second part of the project where the sole financial responsibility is to the village in the amount of $43,380.
• Received an update from Steve Gearren, public works director, on a good start to the leaf season, saying that the village has completed three complete rotations and encouraged residents to continue moving their leaves to the street.
• Heard a presentation from Liz Byrom from Kittleson & Associates on the kickoff for the Safe Streets and Roads For All Safety Action Plan.