Cullowhee: meet your makers

Jackson County Commissioners have begun naming a task force that will shepherd Cullowhee along the way to becoming a bonafide planning district, complete with tailored development guidelines to ensure compatible growth.

So far, five members of the nine-person committee have been chosen. Commissioners will fill the remaining spots no later than August. The committee will have one handpicked appointee from each of the five county commissioners, one county commissioner to act as a liaison, two community members selected at large from a pool of applicants and a representative from Western Carolina University.

The committee will be tasked with creating a vision for the community and then helping to draft development standards.

County Commissioner Vicki Greene is excited to see the process that sat for more than a yearwho lives in Cullowhee and is a retired Jackson County Health Department employee.

• Mark Jones appointed Scott Baker, who lives in Cullowhee and is a dean at Southwestern Community College.

• Charles Elders appointed Arnold Ashe, owner of the Cullowhee Cafe.

• Jack Debnam appointed Jeff Brotherton, a resident in Cullowhee who is retired from the military.

• Doug Cody appointed Mike Wade, owner of Rabbit Ridge Apartments in Cullowhee and resident of the apartment complex.

Other appointments include:

• WCU appointed Mark Lord, professor at Western Carolina University and Cullowhee resident.

• Jackson County Commissioner representative Vicki Greene.

Community members could apply for two remaining at-large seats to be appointed by a vote of county commissioners. Applicants include: