Name of candidate: Matt Pohlman
Address: 104 Colburn Point
Contact information: mattforchapelhill@gmail.com
1. We talk a lot about growth and where it should occur. Clearly the Town Council can influence the rate of growth through its planning and zoning powers, granted by the NC Legislature.
What are your goals and objectives for growth? Building on a question asked at the Visioning Task Force focus groups, how much growth can Chapel Hill support and still maintain our values, the things that people like about living in Chapel Hill? How would you determine growth rates that are "sustainable"?
The town must grow in a thoughtful manner with an eye to keeping Chapel Hill unique. Preservation of our historical monuments and greenways is crucial to maintaining the character of our town. In order to be sustainable, real estate growth must be balanced with the resources our community has available for that growth. One example of this limited capacity is our water supply. We should not allow growth that strains this resource. The town and its citizens must be proactive about growth and proactive about how we grow.
My goal is for the Town Council to provide a forum for open discussion of growth - resulting in a thoughtful strategy for long term, sustainable growth. The objectives that support this goal are: encourage appropriate, sustainable development growth and measure in new development projects. These objectives will help us to achieve the goal of open discussion and successful growth.
2. New development occurs on vacant land, or developers buy properties to redevelop for a completely different purpose. Examples of the latter are East 54 and Greenbridge, and proposed projects such as Rams Plaza, University Mall and University Square. Development of any type can bring desired amenities for the Town but can also cause undesirable consequences, such as a changed Town character, environmental damage, the loss of affordable housing, increased traffic, and the migration of small scale retail from present locations.
Given that development and change are inevitable, please suggest ideas about how each of the unwanted consequences could be addressed in future development proposals.
'Development and change' are what have made our town look the way it looks today. We can continue to develop and change while preserving our town's unique character. One way to develop is through higher density commercial real estate projects along existing transportation corridors. This is a great way to increase our commercial tax base and begin the process of taking the overwhelming tax burden in our town off the shoulders of homeowners. In addition, protection of our green spaces, creek beds and old growth trees is paramount and must continue to be an integral part of the discussion. Appropriate higher density development gives the town its best chance to avoid several of the listed unwanted consequences. Unwanted consequences should be addressed during the development proposal process though open, informed discussion and decisive leadership from the Town Council.
3. Chapel Hill prides itself on an open public process with fair, consistent rules and development review process. Citizen Advisory Boards ensure that citizens are involved in decisions that affect them. A Concept Plan process helps guide developers toward a concept desired by the Town.
Please comment on whether the Town's process is working as it should, and offer specific ways it could be improved. Is the process achieving the results we want?
The Town's Concept Plan process and Advisory Boards are well intended, but falls short in a handful of areas. One example, the Citizen Advisory Boards need to have members with experience and expertise in relevant fields. Citizens must always seek to be involved in decisions that impact them - that is the foundation upon which our forefathers built our government. We must complement that voice with the voice of expertise and experience in matters such as development. Given that we continue to have a shortfall in the commercial tax base, and given the ever growing voice of citizens who are concerned about rising residential property taxes, the current process must not be fully achieving the desired results. The ultimate measure of success is a more balanced tax base, appropriate new developments and businesses and continued focus on greenways, historical landmarks and the natural environment of Chapel Hill.
4. For the last few years the Council has embraced a policy of encouraging higher densities along major transit corridors through zoning changes based on certain assumptions about transit and population estimates, e.g. a planned hotel on MLK near I-40, and the 54 East project already built at the proposed transit hub. Do you support the policy of putting density on major transit corridors and why? What changes, if any, would you want to make in the policy?
I support higher density development on major transit corridors. Not only do I support higher density projects on major transit corridors, I would argue that is the most appropriate long term strategy for development in Chapel Hill. It allows us to preserve green spaces and natural habitats while adding the much needed commercial base that our town so desperately needs. The only improvement I would make to the current policy would be to make the development review process and collaboration of impacted parties more transparent and straightforward.
5. Chapel Hill and UNC signed a Development Agreement in June 2009. NRG worked with the Town of Chapel Hill and UNC to ensure that interests of Chapel Hill neighborhoods were taken into consideration, particularly in transportation planning. Our recommendations and neighborhood concerns are found at http://www.nrg-nc.net
When the review of the Development Agreement comes up, name three issues that you will consider to determine whether or not the Agreement is a success, and discuss in general terms what you will be looking for as measures of success.
Measures of success - specific measures of success - are important. In order to achieve a long term goal, a series of objectives must be hit on the way to that goal. First, deadlines must be set and adhered to. Second, a specific decision must be made regarding a transportation infrastructure plan. This plan must include traffic calming, noise impact measures and parking. Thirdly, the agreement must continue to focus on the preservation of greenways. As with any University town, taking into consideration the bikeways and pedestrian walkways is an integral part of the greenway preservation discussion. All of these objectives are important, but success will be measured by the level of collaboration between impacted parties - primarily the town and the University.
6. Public participation cuts across all aspects of Town Government. During the Carolina North planning process, many neighbors emphasized the importance of improving public participation. See attached NRG recommendations report. What is your view of public participation in Town Council decisions, and your ideas for updating Town strategies to reflect current]day technologies and media?
Public participation in Town Council decisions is a fundamental part of our system of government. The voice of the citizens can, and should, be heard in a variety of ways. With our fare-free bus system, access to the Town Hall should be available to all who wish to attend Council meetings in person. However, missing a meeting should not exclude a citizen from having a voice. Just as we can access the Town Council meetings through television and the Internet, citizens should be able to participate in public discussion through the Internet as well. As a Town Council member, I will work to ensure that the Town puts in the appropriate measures to allow for access to citizens who want a voice. The Carolina North planning process should serve as evidence in the power of public participation and the value of hearing from all citizens who wish to be heard.