This morning, Judge Marlene Hyatt announced that she would delay a summary judgment hearing on the lawsuit against the controversial Parkside land sale until 2 p.m. today.
Around 50 opponents of the project packed the courtroom, wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “Stop Parkside” or waving fans quoting Buncombe County Commissioners Vice Chair David Gantt asserting that “We screwed up” in originally selling the land to developer Stewart Coleman in 2006. One man had a “Stop Parkside” sticker on his forehead (he later shifted it to his shirt). Many of the protesters were not happy when Hyatt delayed the hearing.
“We get the message,” one woman said as the group got up to leave the courtroom. “Get the people out of here,” another man muttered, shaking his head. Others swore to come back later this afternoon.
The lawsuit, brought by the heirs of George Pack, claims that when Pack donated the land to the county in 1901, he stipulated that if it were ever sold, it would revert to Pack family ownership. The county asserts that a later deed removes those conditions.
— David Forbes, staff writer
