OP Live Candidate Forum: Hillsborough Board of Commissioners

I think we have several things going on here. First, I do think that many people feel disengageed. There is a sense that the Historic District gets a lot of the attention, and that our other neighborhoods don't always get the same hearing. I do not think that has been intentional, but many residents do express this. I think it's very important for us to make sure residents from all of our neighborhoods feel heard, because each neighborhoods has different needs and desires. I also think that people are generally satisfied with the job the Board has been doing in recent years. Not without complaint, but generally satisfied. They guided us through a tough economic time and HIllsborough emerged in many ways even better than we were pre-recession (though I would note not everyone is feeling like they have emerged from the recession). Finally, municipal elections just aren't terribly glamorous. We hold ours on off-year elections when there is often - like this year - bothing else on the ballot.  Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

Vanessa,I believe that the fact that we've got three smart, engaged candidates who are passionate about our town says a lot about the kind of town we live in. We as candidates are not unique- I think we represent well the kind of community we have; one that is engaged and committed to doing what's needed to keep things moving forward for Hillsborough. It's great to me to see more than enough good candidates stepping up to service. 

With respect to citizen engagement, my experience has been that our Town has a high percentage of highly engaged citizens who very much care about Town decisions and who have been pleased withthe preponderance of decisions that our elected officials have made, myself included. Having said this, there are citizens who do feel left out - either because they felt they received poor follow-up from the Town or because they felt they weren't included in the decision process. I believe the more elected officials and staff reach out to the neighborhoods and Town, the more all focus on follow up, the more I believe more citizens will feel included.Kathleen Ferguson

Preservation of the physical structures, continuity of history as cultural conversation are key components of ensuring our history lives on.  Continuity of the look and feel of our Historic District is important. Just as continuity of our neighborhoods are important. However, homes will be updated, new businesses will come in and the nature of both will reflect current and future trends, as they should. Where citizen input is needed most as well as Town communication is where that change is abrupt.Kathleen Ferguson

I think this needs to happen in a thoughtful, yet organic way. There can't be a planned modernity pushed down from town officials- but the town can recognize trends and embrace and encourage positive change. Hillsborough has done this successfully for centuries. We celebrate our past, but it does not hold us in one place. We both preserve history and create new history. There is a pride of place here that keeps us moving forward without losing the integrity of who we have historically been.

Continuing to embrace the character of Hillsborough is important to all of us. Whether people are living in an apartment in Patriots' Point,are families whose family worked in the mills here for generations, or people in the HD, people in every neighborhood say the small town character is important to them. The character is also important to the thriving of the town. No one is going to drive here from Greensboro to spend money here to visit a chain restaurant downtown. That said, there is a need to have business tax dollars constitute a stronger element of our tax base. The Churton Street Commercial Corridor provides a good vision for this. The train station, the area around the hospital, and eventual redevelopment of Daniel Boone Village provide terrific opportunities for us to make choices that do both - maintain character and modernize, so to speak. We can absolutely capitalize on River Walk and being the only municipality on Mountains to Sea Trail as part of our overall amenities that support that vision. I would like to see HIllsborough really think creatively and be visionaries for small town sustainability - thinking long term about how we can incorporate renewable energy efforts into our living and economy.   Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

I support the Strategic Growth Plan overall - Waterstone is ideal for commercial development and it makes sense to focus residential growth south of downtown given the bottleneck of downtown.  Development of the Highway 70 corridor also makes sense. We need the services businesses for that area of Town and like Waterstone, it respects existing East/West traffic patterns.  In speaking with citizens across Town, I anticipate that infill will be the most challenging in that as a town our Visioning process identified higher density residential growth and neighborhood commercial services as a desired thing --- but when the conversation turns to individual neighborhoods, NIMBY becomes very visible.  To this end, really listening for consenus, acknowledging citizen voices, and high levels of communication are essential before decisions are made.Kathleen Ferguson

There will naturally be some growth in each of the existing areas in order for us to attain the walkable, small-town character that we all love. This means there will be some higher density options and thoughtful infill incorporated into historic areas, like West Hillsborough (redevelopment of the mill) and the Historic district, as well as new mixed-use communities, like the Waterstone development, which include a variety of resedential options and commercial spaces. Additionally, redevelopment of areas of town, like business 70 corridor should also include thoughtful planning to promote our small town character and engourage prosperity for residents.

I think there is a natural inclination to floow the Churton Street Corridor. As I alluded to previously, the rail station, redevelopment of Daniel Boone, and the new hospital create a natural path. The hospital provides the opportunity for things with easy access off I-40,especially such that would augment and serve people working at and visiting the hostpital. And as mentioned before Daniel Boone and the train station present us with what will likely be a challenging, yet ultimately fruitful opportunity to create a multi-use development area that still keeps the character of town. I think we should also keep in mind the Cornelius St Corridor up by Hwy 70. It's an award-winning plan (to the credit of Kathleen and her cohort), and residents up that way strongly express the need for more development. I know the town is in general focused on developing south of town, and that is wise, given traffic concerns, but that needn't mean Fairview and Hillsborough Heights shouldn't have the benefit of some redevelopment up that way. Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

Apologies for choppy responses - still getting used to how this works and keep typing into ether!It's an important conversation, because it not only sets the first impression and visual tone and experience of our Town, it also impacts viability of the land for commercial development. Careful balancing will be necessary so that one is not sacrificed on behalf of the other.  Kathleen Ferguson

As Hillsborough grows into a larger small town, and with the arrival of the hospital, there will be no way to avoid *some* kind of development in the S. Churton street area and around I-40 in general. If we can agree that this change is a possibility, we can get on to the larger question of what makes the most sense here. Again, inclusion of the voices of all our citizens is what we need. Cornwallis Hills, Beckett's Ridge and eventually Waterstone will be most impacted by these changes, and we should actively include them in the planning process, but we also should engage other citizens as well. We are a small enough town that all changes affect the whole. 

I am in favor of improving the asthetic value of that area of Churton St. Though it may be a somewhat painful process, I think it would serve all parties well in the end. It is very important, though, that all the businesses down there feel they are being treated equally and with fairness through out that process.  (sorry so slow, I managed to lose a comment too) Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

I support the 2013 Land Use Plan, which I know I great deal of sweat and possibly tears went into creating on the part of both the county and the town. Specific to the notion of big-box stores - when considering locating any development projects on that scale it is really important to weigh that against the need to maintain Hillsborough's character. We have all seen small towns across our state whose downtowns have flat-out died after big box stores have come on the scene. We have managed to avoid that, in no small part due to our residents' desire to shop locally when they can and support our local businesses.  Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

The town's 2013 land use plan was thoughtfull and carefully crafted with the intent of balancing the varied needs of our citizens. There should always be the possibility for review and revision when it comes to long-term planning, as needs and opportunities may change. However, I think that the intent of town and county leadership is to create a balanced and pragmatic solution to development that preserves our character, protects and promotes our current businesses, and provides future opportunity for our citizens. This means we need to look at both the positive and negative consequences of each decision we make, and try to find the middle path that provides the best solution for the most people. Regardless of what businesses come into town, the standard should be their alignment with our town's values and culture. 

I support our Strategic Growth Plan and the consensus ideas that were derived from the Visioning sessions conducted by the Town's Plannind Department. The issue of big boxes point to other issues.  In speaking with citizens over the years, my experience is that we are split community, with a sizeable chunk of citizens wanting such stores coming to town, while an equally sizeable chunk of citizens favoring local alternatives and other types of businesses.  To this end, I would want to have data in hand before making a decision WRT to expected tax revenues, jobs (quality and quantity), market saturation, expected business longevity, and such.   Kathleen Ferguson

I can also say, having worked with the Habitat community in Orange county for 4+ years, that principled decisions to keep out "big box stores" have created a high cost of living in our neighboring towns that disproportionately affects lowever socioeconomic comminuties. Though the decision was made with good intent, its negative consquences have not been adequately addressed. Is there a more clever solution? I think it's important as a town that we not just say "no." We need to figure out what to say "yes" to- what is the creative solution that meets the needs of all our citizens? How can we support our local businesses, maintain a reasonable cost of living and not overburden our citizens with taxes? I am interested in having these conversations- I want to help find workable solutions that benefit all.

It's up now!

I'm seeing my reply twice as well as yours and Meighan's  - Kathleen Ferguson

We definitely need to get folks using that deck. Once River Walk is
complete, it is highly likely the need for that deck will become more
obvious, as more people from both within and out of town use that deck as a home base for exploring River Walk. I discussed this with some of the downtown merchants a few weeks ago and they suggested that putting up some additional signage within the deck directing people to exit past the library would make that trek a bit closer instead of walking all the way around Weaver Street and the fire station - it does make a difference.Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

Having talked to many citizens about this issue, I personally believe that a large chunk of the problem is awareness- I know are people who think it's too far, but my conversations with residents make me feel like there are many folks who still don't realize (or are just beginning to realize) that the deck is free. Better marketing of the message, better signage, and even clever signage could go a long way towards changing use. I find with most issues, presentation is key. How could we promote the parking deck's usage in a clever way? It's worth thinking about, as this provides access for residents and visitors to a key business district, which translates into revenue for our businesses and the town.

It speaks to how small we are that the distance from the parking deck to Radius Pizza is a long way - although it certainly feels like miles if it's cold, rainy, or hot! It takes time to change habits, and like many things, a multi-prong approach likely will be most effective - Downtown Business Owners using it; locals using it.  Taking the carrot approach before the stick --- having the Town and Downtown Merchants providing incentives (maybe discounts to local stores for owners of cars selected at random which are parked in the deck).  Better signage likely would help (how many people drive past the Margaret Lane entrance thinking that it's closed off?).  Repetition of reminders in the paper and on our public access channel as well as reminders at each of the businesses. Kathleen Ferguson

Just wanted to let you know I've "replied" to this question twice and lost both responses. I will try again!

I have two small children so anything with the word "train" in it brings excitement to our household. Broadly, ensuring that development/redevelopment around the train station is multi-use and in keeping with Hillsborough's character will go a long way toward helping that area thrive. We must also be sure that there are safe routes for pedestrians exiting the train to access downtown. We might also use our relationships with other nearby municipalities that have stops on the line - Durham and Burlington, for example - to promote the rail experience as good for family outings and commuting alike. Some regional coordination/cooperation could be benificial to everyone. HIllsborough specifically has an opportunity to market our status as a destination - ride the train to experience River Walk, ride the train with your backback to head out on the Mountains to Sea Trail, etc.  Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

The first element is a consensus definition of what success looks like.  Connectivity between the station, Downtown, and our neighborhoods will support and encourage usage.  Marketing will play an important component as will collaboration with other cities and towns along the rail route to generate and support ridership. Mixed use development in which residences and businesses surrounding the station have to be highly desirable in order to attract people as well as to generate revenue ROI for the Town in terms of tax revenue and maximum multiplier effect.  Kathleen Ferguson

Successful train stations require a paradigm shift in thinking about transportation. Hillsborough is the right kind of town, at the right time in history to embrace this kind of change. We have perennial traffic problems in town, which can be improved somewhat, but will always be present because of natural and geographic limitations. Again, like the parking deck, presentation is key, and a successful plan for promoting and implementing usage will be critical. Even more critical, however, is the availability of connected, regular and reliable public transportation. We must make the train accessible to all of our neighborhoods, and make our neighborhoods accessible to train riders. Ease of use is critical for success. This *is* doable though, but it will take vision and critical, creative thinking. Hillsborough should look to other successful communities to see how this has been done well in similar towns. I look forward to the thoughtful town leadership that will execute on this plan.

The relationships that Hillsborough has with other municipalities is based on our shared regional responsibilities and opportunities. It does not have as much to do with our town's decision about town matters, but rather about our obligation to the larger community (in protecting and maintaing our shared watershed for example) and our mutual participation in decision making and resource sharing. I see those relationships as critical to our larger success, as those entities have a direct impact on our town's budget. As all citizens and neighborhoods in Hillsborough should have a seat at the table when it comes to town decisions, all local towns and cities should also have a seat at the table when it comes to regional matters. Approacing these groups with a collabrative spirit and thoughtful pragmatism ensures the mutual success of all our communities. We should stay open to the voices of all, with a firm commitment to advocate for our citizen's needs.

Collaboration and regionalism are key to the success of towns our size, especially in an era of reduced services from the stateand increasing costs. Hillsborough and our surrounding localities need to work together - creatively and collaboratively. It is my belief we can do this and still allow each locality to maintain its unique nature. Conflict will inevitably arise, and when it does it is very important that each governmental entity remain committed to fostering a good working relationship even in the face of disagreement.Keeping those relationships in working order goes a long way to avoiding other boards having too much say, as that allows for creative problem-solving, collaboration, and negotiation.  Jenn Weaver
Hillsborough

We have good infrastructure for formal collaboration in that we as a Town have a seat at the table across a number of county and regional organizations. To this end, except for the legislature, board/organization structures is such that there are structural limits WRT to outside decision-making imposed on the Town.  Participation on/with those organizations is only one element though. Informal relationships with decision-makers and influencers are equally if not more important---reaching out to them, engaging and maintaining communication. Having these relationships in place before a crisis hits is what provides the best opportunity to ensure our Town's needs are met.  This means reaching out to more than just our own representatives and community leaders. This is especially important given that our legislature does have the power to impose its will on municipalities. While relationships likely will not prevent undesirable decisions imposed by the legislature, they can mitigate undesirable impact, through proactive understanding and communication.  Kathleen Ferguson

This is a concern of many of the citizens I have spoken to in recent months, especially those who are in need of regular public transportation. It's a hard balance to strike, considering the size of our town, capacity of service ,and relative cost. I do think we have more work to do, but we are on the path- we are much better served than we were years ago. Change is a slow process sometimes, but we must be committed to the process. Especially considering the train station and the hospital; there will be an increased need for and use of service, and we must work towards a more effective solution for more citizens in the upcoming years.

Real quick - No, we are not adequately served, but I am please with the plans for TTA, the Circulator, Chapel Hill transit, et al to improve the situation. People need to be able to get where they need to go in a timely manner, and the Circulator, while better than nothing and quite useful for many of our elderly residents, takes too long for people who want/need to use it to get to and from work. More bus routes with improved timing would better serve those who most need to use them.  Jenn Weaver Hillsborough

No - we are not served adequately.  Too many of our residents simply can't get to where they need to go because of too few routes, poor timing of routes.  We have a foundation to build on but more is needed adn I would support.Kathleen Ferguson

How do we edit previous posts?Kathleen Ferguson