Wake Forest: 5; J. Russ: 0

The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners unanimously (5 to 0) approved a 55 acre annexation that , according to Raleigh City Manager J. Russell Allen, would create a "huge issue" for the completion of the Little River watershed, Allen wrote in a strongly worded letter to the town.

The land, near the intersection of Capital Boulevard and Jenkins Road,
is next door to an established subdivision and in the Falls Lake
watershed. Raleigh is opposed to allowing any water and sewer lines into the property.

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Running lines into the watershed willy-nilly could jeopardize Raleigh's credibility with the state and the feds when it needs to get approvals for the Little River Reservoir.

No problem, Wake Forest said, we've already got lines out there. According to chief planner Chip Russell, Wake Forest ran water and sewer lines to the property pre-merger with Raleigh, assuming the land would eventually be annexed.

Reached by phone Allen said, even with existing lines the Tuesday vote could hurt approvals.

"It puts them and us in a difficult situation."