Call to Action on Carolina North!
Town Council members need to hear from us!
During the next two weeks, the Chapel Hill Town Council will finalize the Development Agreement that will govern Carolina North for the next 15-20 years. NRG recently submitted recommended changes to the Agreement based on citizen input, and has asked the Council to adopt the recommendations.
We’re asking you to support our efforts by contacting your Council members now.
We have made it easy for you to lend your voice at this critical juncture:
1. You can contact all the Council members via a single email address: mayorandcouncil@townofchapelhill.org
2. If you do not have time to write your own note, you are welcome to use a form letter that we have prepared. If you would like to edit it around the issues most important to you, that’s even better.
3. If you would prefer to call or email Council members individually, see their contact information.
Thank you for helping preserve our communities! If you have any questions, please contact us at info@nrg-nc.net.
Learn more about Carolina North:
Town of Chapel Hill: http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?NID=1816
University of North Carolina: http://research.unc.edu/cn
Sustainable Community Visioning
Task Force Gathering Input
The new Sustainable Community Visioning Task Force is charged with developing a specific blueprint for how
Chapel Hill will grow over the next 10 years. If you have opinions about density, transportation, auto use, economic development, the environment, infrastructure, etc. NOW is the time to be heard.
Attached you will find a flyer announcing a schedule of Community Visioning Forums. These forums give you a real opportunity to weigh in on the next ten years of growth and development in
Chapel Hill.
Neighborhoods' Recommendations on Transportation and Carolina North Submitted to Town Council
Neighbors for Responsible Growth (NRG) submitted a report with recommendations on transportation planning and Carolina North to the Chapel Hill Town Council on May 11 during a public hearing on the Transportation Impact Analysis for the project.
Transportation Planning and Carolina North: Recommendations of Citizens in Northern Chapel Hill and Carrboro (PDF)
The recommendations in the report are based on public opinion gathered by NRG through neighborhood focus groups, an online survey and a public forum held on May 3. The raw results for each are also available:
Focus group results
Notes from May 3 Public Forum
Survey on Neighborhood Traffic and Carolina North
Summary
Average by Neighborhood
Survey Comments on CH-Carrboro Impacts
Survey Comments on Neighborhood Impacts
Survey Comments on Cut-through Traffic
Survey Comments on Non-residential Parking
Participation Map
Public Forum on Carolina North
Traffic Impacts - May 3rd
Dear Citizens,
Thoughtful transportation planning is critical to the success of the proposed Carolina North campus. Traffic impacts resulting from Carolina North will be felt most immediately by the surrounding neighborhoods in northern Chapel Hill, but will ultimately affect all citizens in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and portions of Orange County.
Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth (NRG) will sponsor a public meeting “Carolina North: Don’t Get Stuck in Traffic” on Sunday, May 3 from 4-6 pm at the Homestead Community Center (600 Homestead Road). The event will focus exclusively on traffic and transportation issues for Carolina North. Town Council Members and University officials plan to attend and participate in this forum as well.
The Chapel Hill Town Council will likely sign off on the final Development Agreement for Carolina North at the end of June. Time is very short for us to react to the traffic challenges presented by this historic development.
We hope that you or someone from your household can attend this important meeting. Public participation will play an important part in this meeting and in the solution!
Contact Julie McClintock at mcclintock.julie@mindspring.com for additional information.
Council Denies Aydan Court Zoning Request
Mar 23rd, 2009 - A protracted struggle ended tonight when the Town Council denied a rezoning application for Aydan Court, a residential multi-family development of townhouses and condominiums proposed for the north side of NC Highway 54 near the Upper Little Creek Water Fowl Impoundment (opposite the Downing Creek neighborhood). The applicant applied to rezone the property to the R-SS-C zoning district (Residential-Special Standards-Conditional), but since the Council took no action on the proposed text amendment, the higher density residential development will not be permitted.
After the Council decision was made, several citizens spoke passionately both for and against the project and the zoning decision. Carol Ann Zinn, the developer, accused the Mayor and Council of failing to give citizens an opportunity to speak on behalf of her project, and of manipulating the decision through "procedural shenanigans". Mayor Kevin Foy rightly denied these accusations, pointing out that as a property developer, Ms. Zinn willingly takes on the inherent risks of that business.
Ms. Zinn mentioned in her concluding statement that she had attended "Chapel Hill 2020", NRG's Density & Growth Forum held on Dec 8, 2008, and had appreciated the opportunity to discuss the lack of affordable housing in our community.
Another important agenda item earlier in the evening related to dog tethering.
Zoning Change - R-SS-C
Nov 24th, 2008 - NRG submitted comments to the Mayor and Council on text amendments to the R-SS-C zone [Residential - Special Standards - Conditional]. Click here for details. At their meeting on Nov 24th, the Council enacted a revised ordinance amending the Land Use Management Ordinance R-SS-C zoning district, but limiting this zone to the downtown area (details to follow). [Link to minutes pending]
Proposed Aydan Court Rezoning and SUP
Oct 20th, 2008 - NRG submitted comments to the Mayor and Council on the proposed rezoning and Special Use Permit. Click here for details.
Council publishes online project list following NRG request
Sept 25th, 2008 - NRG, seeking greater transparency in the planning process, petitioned the Town Council to make public the list of ongoing development projects. Click here for details. The Town's website now has a list!
Click here to see it. | 
