Cashiers Marketplace

Legal fight over Cashiers Marketplace water source continues
By Kevin McCall - reporter@highlandsnews.com

Following changes to the Cashiers Marketplace development plan, a lawsuit has been filed by the Holly Forest Association and the Fairfield Sapphire Valley Master Association Inc., which were granted an injunction to prevent the connection of wells until the lawsuit is resolved.

“It’s still pending,” said Attorney Shira Hedgepeth, who represents the plaintiffs of the case. “Anytime you et an injunction, you end up paying a bond in case you lose, for the potential damages and stuff like that. We paid the bond. They wanted the bond drastically increased and they wanted the injunction to be dismissed. Neither occurred.”

The source of conflict in the lawsuit centers on the use of wells for the Marketplace development, which are located in Sapphire. However, according to Hedgepeth, the land has deed restrictions, which state that the wells can only be used for farming or homes, not businesses like hotels or retail shops.

[Read the full article at The Highlander]

Cashiers Marketplace amends development March 2025

By Kevin McCall

reporter@highlandsnews.com

Plans for the Cashiers Marketplace development will be pivoting, as its application for a special use permit in regard to building a mixed-use development in Cashiers has been withdrawn.

“They submitted an application for mixed use development in the village, part of it in the village commercial area. The general commercial area of our zoning districts of our Cashiers zoned area, which requires a special use permit,” said Mike Poston, director of Jackson County Planning department.

Poston added that the applicant is going to seek a different type of design for the project, and based on their letter submitted, it would be a design that wouldn’t necessarily need any additional approvals other what’s already in the ordinance.

[Read the full article at The Highlander]

Existing Site Conditions:

At present, the 30.73-acre site hosts a single 4,800 +/- SF commercial building and two residential structures, accompanied by driveways and gravel parking areas. The site predominantly consists of woodland (~90%), with grassy meadow areas concentrated around the existing development in the gentler terrain of the northwest corner along NC107. Steep upland slopes covered with deciduous and white pine trees rise above the developed area. Navigable dirt timber roadways and spurs traverse the property, connecting to Monte Vista Road (SR1116), a NCDOT Public Roadway. The site's average slope, as per Jackson County regulations, measures 23% (4.35’ H to 1’ V), categorized as moderately steep.

Original Project Details:

Initially proposed, Cashiers Marketplace would feature:

100 Hotel Rooms and 30 Hotel Cabins

21 Cottages (2400 sq ft)

24 3-Bedroom Condos on Steep Slopes

Sewage treatment plant on Monte Vista

43,500 Sq Ft of Retail/Office/Restaurants at HWY 107 and FRANK ALLEN ROAD

Additional daily car trips to the Crossroads totaling 4,275

Excavations reaching 40-50’ high (4-5 Stories) into Cashiers Ridge

Opposition and Further Information:

The organization "Develop Cashiers Responsibly" opposes the submitted project. For more comprehensive details, please visit their website.

[Develop Cashiers Responsibly]

Cashiers, NC

Cashiers Marketplace

Cashiers Marketplace