May 2011

Chapel Hill's New Parks and Recreation Master Plan: Your Input is Needed!

Submitted by Erin Crouse on May 4, 2011 - 11:30am

The Town of Chapel Hill's Parks and Recreation Department is starting the process of updating their master plan. The current plan is almost 9 years old, and is considered out-of-date. The Town is partnering with Site Solutions (a Charlotte-based firm) to develop the new plan, which will take into account the Town's changing needs and current economic situation.

Voter-Owned Election Public Information Session

Submitted by Jason Baker on May 4, 2011 - 12:12pm

I received the following email from the town.  It seems to be the same date (and according to the town's calendar, same location?) as the Council's Budget Worksession.  Choices, choices...

Voter-Owned Election Public Information Session May 10
Posted Date: 5/4/2011

VoteThe Town of Chapel Hill's Voter Owned Election Program will be discussed at a public information session scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, in the Council Chamber of Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The program for the public funding of local municipal election campaigns is voluntary and is for candidates choosing to run for Town elective office. Prospective candidates who choose to participate in the program must demonstrate a level of public support and comply with spending restrictions and reporting requirements as established by the Town program in order to receive public funding.

The information session will be of special interest to persons considering becoming candidates and potential candidates' campaign managers and to treasurers in the municipal election for the Town of Chapel Hill on Nov. 8, 2011, and others interested in local election issues. Voters this November will be electing a mayor and four Council members.

On July 16, 2007, the Town of Chapel Hill received authorization from the North Carolina General Assembly to establish the program for public funding of local municipal election campaigns. Chapel Hill is the first local government in North Carolina to have received this legislative authority.

A Voter Owned Election is a comprehensive system that provides candidates a voluntary option for a new way to run for office. Candidates who are registered with the program agree to:

  • Collect a large number of $5 to $20 qualifying contributions to demonstrate community support 
  • Limit campaign spending 
  • Agree to comply with strict administrative rules

In return, participating candidates receive limited amounts of campaign dollars from a publicly financed fund to be used only for allowed campaign expenses.

For more information, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/voe.

CONTACT: Kim Strach or Amy Strange, NC Board of Elections: 919-733-7173

Date: 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Update on work of the Chapel Hill Affordable Housing Technical Advisory Group

Submitted by Molly De Marco on May 5, 2011 - 10:31pm

The Chapel Hill Affordable Housing Technical Advisory Group met again for the first time after the town staff worked over the past 2 months to hold 59 focus groups, talking to nearly 450 people about what an affordable housing plan for the town should look like. We were joined by two new members; a representative from UNC (Linda Convissor) and a representative from the Homebuilders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties (Nick Tennyson).

Focus groups were held with Habitat for Humanity families, UNC undergrad and graduate students, Chapel Hill fire fighters, residents of Northside, realtors, El Centro Hispano clients, members of the UNC Employees’ Forum, Community Home Trust owners, Chapel Hill Carrboro Schools employees, members of the Homebuilders Association and many others.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul?

Submitted by Ruby Sinreich on May 6, 2011 - 4:41pm

So I was catching up on the Chapel Hill News yesterday and I noticed some eery similarity in two stories about new downtown developments in both Carrboro and Chapel Hill. In one article, questions are raised about how the developers of Greenbridge qualified for the gigantic loan that they are currently unable to repay. It should surprise no-one to learn that the 15% of the condos that were mandated to be affordable by the Town sold first.  It turns out that when the bank looked at pre-sales to determine demand, they counted the number, rather than the value, of the units. In fact, the News goes so far as to ask whether the affordable housing policy itself is somehow at fault for Greenbidge's current financial problems. I think that's a stretch, but it does make you think twice about the process by which banks decide to make commercial loans. (Housing bubble anyone?)

In another story, the News talks about the recently restarted mixed-use project at 300 East Main Street in Carrboro, which will bring 5 stories of retail, housing offices, a hotel, and parking to the current run-down strip mall that houses the ArtsCenter and the Cat's Cradle. (VisArt, RIP.)  One key element that helped Main Street Partners to secure their financing for this was the Town of Carrboro agreeing to lease a large number of parking spaces for the first few years after construction.

Chapel Hill Youth Summit

Submitted by Jason Baker on May 9, 2011 - 11:39am

The Youth Council for the Town of Chapel Hill will work to:

  • Provide an organization of young people that can carry out projects that benefit youth.
  • Provide an opportunity for young people to share in local government matters and to learn skills of leadership and responsibility.
  • Initiate programs and projects that benefit youth, as well as the community.
  • Serve, listen and represent the youth of Chapel Hill in all matters of civic interest and need.
  • Work collaboratively with other groups.

The purpose of the Chapel Hill Youth Council is to offer an organization through which the youth of our community may benefit both themselves and their community. 

Date: 

Saturday, May 21, 2011 - 9:00am to 3:30pm

Location: 

Carrboro High School

More Information: 

http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/index.aspx?page=541

Chapel Hill Town Council Approves IFC Community House

Submitted by Molly De Marco on May 10, 2011 - 4:11pm

The Chapel Hill Town Council last night approved a special use permit (SUP) for the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service’s Community House at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and Homestead Road in a 6-2 vote after another dramatic public hearing. (The first part of the public hearing was held on March 21). Council members Czajkowski and Easthom voted against the application; council member Pease was absent.

The hearing began with the presentation of a petition from the lawyer for a group of neighbors asking that Mayor Kleinschmidt and council members Rich, Harrison, and Czajkowski recuse themselves from voting on the SUP application because they had ostensibly already made up their minds when they answered a question about the issue on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce candidate questionnaire during the 2009 elections.

What IFC's new neighbors are worried about

Submitted by wadetj on May 10, 2011 - 9:30pm

 Check out this comment on the News and Observer article:

 "The trouble at my downtown business all began when the police station moved out and the homeless shelter moved in. Downtown looks like hell. It is dirty and unkept. How about a program that pays some of these homeless to clean up the area they call "home"?
Good luck to the neighborhood this place is moving into. I actually have more homeless people using my property for a toilet or a bed than I did before the homeless shelter opened. Why? b/c they can get a meal, beg money, then go get drunk or high. They are then turned away from the shelter and end up crashing on the nearest "cozy" property.
Chapel Hill has put out the welcome mat to homeless and they are come in droves."

Farewell Forever Old Road to Durham?

Submitted by Mark Chilton on May 11, 2011 - 4:40pm
Have you ever wondered why there is no rail line between Chapel Hill and Durham?  Do you want to know how we can ever create one?  Do you want to know how you can help?  Let me tell you . . . 
 

Muddy Water Watch

Submitted by jmcclint on May 13, 2011 - 3:36pm

Friends of Bolin Creek announces a Muddy Water Watch Workshop with Haw River Assembly held on Monday, May 23rd from 7 - 9 pm. The workshop is free but there are limited spaces.  Please register at this link.   http://bolincreek.org/blog/

With the OWASA earth moving activities happening now right along Bolin Creek, you can help us monitor impacts on our creek from the number one pollutant of NC waters – sediment! 

Date: 

Monday, May 23, 2011 - 7:00pm

Location: 

Main Street, Town of Carrboro, NC

PTA Thrift Shop in Carrboro development

Submitted by James Barrett on May 14, 2011 - 9:02am

In all the other high profile developments going on, I don't think there's been any mention here or in other media of another bold proposal -- the redevelopment of the PTA Thrift Shop in Carrboro.

Seems to me this is an interesting proposal.   They are using multiple revenue streams to avoid a huge capital campaign (although whether folks will feel tapped out by this going on same time as IFC remains to be seen).  And they are increasing the public good they serve beyond just the re-use of goods to maximize the use of the land they own -- options for retail, office and restaurant/entertainment spacein addition to their store. 

 

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