July 2012
![[Meg's Twitter picture]](https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/2224927233/photo.jpg)
Meg McGurk has taken the helm of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership after five years as its assistant director. I have worked with Meg for four years in the planning of Project Connect, an annual event where persons at risk for homelessness and those experiencing homelessness can receive services. Meg and I recently talked about her goals for the Downtown Partnership now that she is its executive director, including her thoughts about arts-driven economic development, parking, panhandling, vacant buildings, and new development.
Recently, members of the North Carolina Air National Guard left their homes in the Charlotte area to serve the people of South Dakota in reaction to the out-of-control forest fires. Two days ago, when a C-130 cargo plane was carrying fire retardant to the fires, the plane crashed. Four members lost their lives and two were injured. While the names of the injured have yet to be announced, the four who lost their lives in service to others were: Lt. Col. Paul K. Mikeal (pronounced like "Michael"), 42, of Mooresville, N.C.; Maj. Joseph M. McCormick, 36, of Belmont, N.C.; Maj. Ryan S. David (pronounced da-veed), 35, of Boone, N.C.; Senior Master Sgt. Robert S. Cannon, 50, of Charlotte.
As a ceremonial sign of respect, there was a gubanatorial declaration to lower the American flag to half-staff for today.
But not in Carrboro. Both the American flags in front of Town Hall and in front of the Carrboro Century Center remained at full-staff all day.
What does this say about Carrboro values, and on the eve of the most patriotic day of the year?
I support environmental protection and the mitigation of global climate change. I do not believe that every business should be allowed to do what they what. But there are times when government is in the wrong and shouldn’t kowtow to existing businesses and their supporting organizations at the cost of new business. So to kick this post off I’m going to reclaim a bit of conservative rhetoric. Because it applies in this situation.
It should not be the job of the Town of Chapel Hill to pick which business succeeds and which fails. But this is what they are doing by aggressively regulating food trucks away from the streets of Chapel Hill. It’s called protectionism. The result of the Town of Chapel Hill food truck ordinance is protecting existing brick and motar businesses from competition with food trucks. This is accomplished by charging a fee that is unaffordable to food trucks. The fact that almost no food truck owners will pay the Town fee to provide services in our Town is evidence of that.
Chapel Hill Magazine's The Weekly had a nice scoop this afternoon. "The WEEKLY has learned that George Cianciolo will make himself a candidate to fill 's council seat after she moves to BOCC."They also noted that Jon Dehart will seek the appointment as well. Should be interseting to see their article next week, particularly if they have other names of folks planning to run. Also worth noting that if Penny was replaced by George or Jon, who'd both make good councilmen, that would leave only 2 women (22% of council/mayor) representing 53% of Chapel Hill...
Unsurprisingly, names have started to surface as possible
applicants for Penny Rich's open Town Council seat once she leaves her post to
join the County Commission in January. Today I heard via Twitter that George
Gianciolo and Jon DeHart likely plan to apply for the position.
While I'm sure either of these men would provide a
thoughtful voice for Council, the unpleasant reality is that if either were
appointed, the gender breakdown of CHTC would be just two women and seven men
(including Mayor Kleinschmidt). Council would be comprised of just 22%
women, exactly the same representation as the NC legislature.
It's
embarrassing that a municipal government we proudly consider to be a model for
progressivism in our state could possibly have the same gender breakdown as our
backward-thinking General Assembly.
The Town Council's initial reaction to the proposed redevelopment of Colony Apartments (see "Council balks" in the CH News, 7/3/12) is classic Chapel Hill: act high-minded when, in fact, our head is buried deep in the sand. I am an affordable housing advocate and a Chapel Hill resident, but I take a different view of this development proposal.
Am I concerned by the potential loss of one of the community's few apartment complexes that serves a working class population? Of course. Yet the reason such apartment complexes are scarce is that as a community we persistently fail to understand the ongoing impact of our many protectionist, restrictive policies that curb the supply of housing. (With all the PhDs in this town, you'd think we could understand basic supply and demand by now.)
Details:
Chapel Hill Special Topics: "Planning Models and the Future Townscape"
The
Town of Chapel Hill Special Topics sessions return to the community
with "Planning Models and the Future Townscape" to be presented at noon
Wednesday, July 18, in the Council Chamber of Town Hall, 405 Martin
Luther King Jr. Blvd. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
The Special Topics series began during the Chapel Hill 2020
comprehensive planning process as a way to share information with
interested residents who want to know more about issues, trends and
studies that affect the future. For past topics, see http://bit.ly/zi4gLo.
Garrett Davis, a long range planner for the Town of Chapel Hill,
will provide an overview of the
various types of planning models the Town uses to analyze and
understand data related to future population and employment growth and
related transportation and land use impacts. Models help planners gather
and analyze information and predict possible future outcomes, based on a
set of assumptions. The presentation, which will provide an overview of
the current use of planning modes in the Triangle region and focus on
the use of CommunityViz, an interactive software platform that
integrates land use mapping and statistical analysis used by the Town
during the development of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan. The presentation
will be followed by a question and answer session.
Garrett develops analysis, Geographic Information System (GIS),
and graphic design projects to aid the Town's planning initiatives. He
also provides professional support to other Town departments and partner
agencies.
The public event will be aired live on Chapel Hill Government TV-18 and streamed on the Town of Chapel Hill website at www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=1850. For more information, contact gdavis2@townofchapelhill.org or 919-969-5061.
Date:
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Location:
Chapel Hill Town Hall Council Chambers (405 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.)
I used to think that getting paid is what differentiated The Media from blogs, but I'm increasingly not so sure about this. For example, WCHL uses a large number of unpaid interns as news reporters, and now they want some lucky "winner" to provide voice talent to promote their new FM signal.
If you think YOU have the perfect voice for radio, then this is the contest for you!
Click on the "Scripts" tab above, follow the links to download and print the three scripts, record yourself reading all three scripts in the best BIG FM RADIO voice you can, and submit the file (as either an MP3 or a Video File) through the submissions tab.
The winner receives the opportunity to record commercials and radio spots to be aired on 97.9 FM WCHL and a $100 gift card to a local restaurant!
Once or twice a month I am the substitute host for D.G. Martin on his radio show Who's Talking which airs on AM 1360 WHCL Tuesday through Friday at 6:15 pm with a repeat at 10:00 pm. Tomorrow's (July 13) program may be of interest to the OP readerhip. Last year, in honor of Carrboro's 100th anniversary, Mayor Chilton starting researching the rather fascinating history of the train line from University Station to Carrboro. Tomorrow's show is a conversation with Mark on this topic as well as the current efforts to build a light rail line from Chapel Hill to Durham and on to Raleigh. For me it was interesting to see the parallels between the issues and politics for rail lines in the 1880's and today.
Listen in if you can and let me know what you think.
This item was in today's Public School Forum. Not sure if this will show up on the site. I think it's interesting. State Board of Education Revokes Charter of Three Schools Three North Carolina charter schools may lose their ability to operate independently of traditional public schools. The State Board of Education voted Wednesday to revoke the charters of Bridges Charter School in Wilkes County and Highland Charter School in Gastonia after fewer than 60 percent of the students attending the schools were proficient in required subjects and students failed to meet learning targets. Though nearly four dozen charter schools have been closed since the mid-1990s, these two charter schools would be the first to lose their charter for failing to educate students. The State Board also voted Wednesday to revoke the charter of Cape Lookout Marine Science High School in Morehead City due to financial problems. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 7/11/12)
Date:
Saturday, August 25, 2012 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Location:
2nd Wind Sports Saloon (118 E. Main Street, Carrboro, NC)
I wanted to take some time to update the OP community on the status of Early Voting for the 2012 General Election.
At its June meeting, the OC BOE approved the usage of four sites: Rams Head, Seymour Center, Carrboro Town Hall, the OC BOE office, and a nothern Orange location to be determined (not unanimous). They also established early voting times for Seymour, BOE and Carrboro Town Hall (unanimous). However, the motion for Saturday voting for 9am to 3pm was not unanimous.
At its July meeting, the OC BOE approved the times for Rams Head and signaled that it was still interested in a fifth northern Orange site, but that it was increasingly difficult to find such a location since there were concerns about Mt. Zion (the early vote site during the primary).
At its meeting today, the BOE has now approved a total five sites: Rams Head, Seymour Center, Carrboro Town Hall, the OC BOE office, and Mt. Zion AME Church. These were the five sites for the primary. The motion to approve Mt. Zion as well as its times was unanimous.
Do you live or work in the Estes Drive area? Do you have ideas about how the area could be improved or enhanced?
The Town of Chapel Hill will hold a Public Information Open House
for the Estes Drive Focus Area from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, at the
Orange United Methodist Church, 1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Chapel Hill, NC 27514. An identical meeting (choose the one that works
best for you) will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the
same location.
The purpose of the Public Information Open House is to create a
common community baseline of knowledge about the Estes Drive Focus Area.
After the Open House, additional community meetings
will be held to gather community input about the area and appropriate
uses for the area.
All community members are invited to help develop the process for
gathering community input and the process' next steps. If you are
interested in participating, contact Megan Wooley, a housing and
neighborhood services planner, at compplan@townofchapelhill.org or 919-968-2728.
Background
During the development of the Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive plan,
the community participated in focused discussions about six areas
of Town which were referred to as the "Future Focus Discussion Areas."
These areas were identified as the areas most likely to change in the
future due to vacant land, underdeveloped sites, and their location
along transportation and transit corridors.
One area that was identified as a Future Focus Discussion Area was
the area located near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr.
Boulevard and Estes Drive. As a first priority for implementation of the
Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive plan, the community and Town staff will
work together to create process that will work towards the goal of
identifying appropriate uses and zoning regulations in and near Estes
Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Currently, the process is being called the "Estes Drive Focus Area"
process. The community will have the opportunity to discuss and refine
this
name, as well as the boundary for the focus area, during the Public
Information Open House and additional community meetings.
As a general guide, the area includes the Estes Drive/Martin Luther
King Jr. Boulevard intersection and generally includes the area
extending just north of Piney Mountain Road, south to the YMCA area, and
along Estes Drive to Seawell School Road and towards the Chapel Hill
Public Library on Library Drive. The community will have the opportunity
to discuss and refine the boundary for the focus area during the Public
Information Open House and during additional community meetings.
For more information including a Frequently Asked Questions list about the Estes Drive Focus Area, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/estesdrive
Interested in Chapel Hill zoning?
Keep an eye out for updates on the Ephesus Drive Focus Area Open House, tentatively scheduled for late September 2012.
Please let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts. We
would like to hear from you, and we welcome your feedback. Please also
let us know if you would like to be added to the email distribution list
for the Estes Drive Focus Area. Reach us by emailing compplan@townofchapelhill.org or calling 919-968-2728.
Date:
Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location:
Orange United Methodist Church, 1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Do you live or work in the Estes Drive area? Do you have ideas about how the area could be improved or enhanced?
The Town of Chapel Hill will hold a Public Information Open House
for the Estes Drive Focus Area from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, at the
Orange United Methodist Church, 1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Chapel Hill, NC 27514. An identical meeting (choose the one that works
best for you) will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the
same location.
The purpose of the Public Information Open House is to create a
common community baseline of knowledge about the Estes Drive Focus Area.
After the Open House, additional community meetings
will be held to gather community input about the area and appropriate
uses for the area.
All community members are invited to help develop the process for
gathering community input and the process' next steps. If you are
interested in participating, contact Megan Wooley, a housing and
neighborhood services planner, at compplan@townofchapelhill.org or 919-968-2728.
Background
During the development of the Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive plan,
the community participated in focused discussions about six areas
of Town which were referred to as the "Future Focus Discussion Areas."
These areas were identified as the areas most likely to change in the
future due to vacant land, underdeveloped sites, and their location
along transportation and transit corridors.
One area that was identified as a Future Focus Discussion Area was
the area located near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr.
Boulevard and Estes Drive. As a first priority for implementation of the
Chapel Hill 2020 comprehensive plan, the community and Town staff will
work together to create process that will work towards the goal of
identifying appropriate uses and zoning regulations in and near Estes
Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Currently, the process is being called the "Estes Drive Focus Area"
process. The community will have the opportunity to discuss and refine
this
name, as well as the boundary for the focus area, during the Public
Information Open House and additional community meetings.
As a general guide, the area includes the Estes Drive/Martin Luther
King Jr. Boulevard intersection and generally includes the area
extending just north of Piney Mountain Road, south to the YMCA area, and
along Estes Drive to Seawell School Road and towards the Chapel Hill
Public Library on Library Drive. The community will have the opportunity
to discuss and refine the boundary for the focus area during the Public
Information Open House and during additional community meetings.
For more information including a Frequently Asked Questions list about the Estes Drive Focus Area, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/estesdrive
Interested in Chapel Hill zoning?
Keep an eye out for updates on the Ephesus Drive Focus Area Open House, tentatively scheduled for late September 2012.
Please let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts. We
would like to hear from you, and we welcome your feedback. Please also
let us know if you would like to be added to the email distribution list
for the Estes Drive Focus Area. Reach us by emailing compplan@townofchapelhill.org or calling 919-968-2728.
Date:
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - 8:00am to 9:00am
Location:
Orange United Methodist Church, 1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514
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