Growth & Development
Having a "big picture" economic development strategy will help the Town
and other partners in economic and community development shape policy
and prioritize investments in a proactive manner. The strategy will
serve as a guide for understanding choices and making decisions.
The Council Committee on Economic Development, which includes Mayor pro
tem Jim Ward and Council members Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom and Ed
Harrison, has drafted an economic development draft strategy with Town
Manager Roger L. Stancil and Dwight Bassett, economic development
officer. After community input this March, the draft plan will be
reviewed by the Town Council for consideration.
Discussions about developing an economic development strategy for the
town tie back to the Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted
in 2000. The Council renewed its commitment to developing a strategy
when it created the position of economic development officer in June
2006. The position is expected to communicate Town policy and Council
expectations to businesses as it assists businesses with understanding
processes of Town government.
The draft of Chapel Hill's economic development strategy is available at
www.townofchapelhill.org/economic_development.
Its summary statement proposes: " The Town of Chapel Hill will work
innovatively and proactively to diversify local economic opportunities
by retaining and supporting existing jobs, and attracting new,
desirable jobs in locations convenient to transit and housing. Our goal
is to build a more sustainable economy for the 21st century by creating
a healthy balance among employment, housing and commercial development.
In all of our development efforts, the Town of Chapel Hill places
importance on the built & natural environment, community character,
transit orientation, social equity and quality of life for its
citizens."
Date:
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - 5:00am
Location:
Franklin Hotel, 311 W. Franklin St.
I applaud the Mayor and Council for meeting to examine the assumptions that they have held about growth and planning development in Chapel Hill as described in the 2/28 Herald Sun Article below:
Council revisits assumptions on high density projects
WATER: THE CYCLE of LIFE: A Water Resources and the Future of Orange County Symposium Do you have questions and concerns about the current and future affect of the drought on our reservoir and well water supply? If you do, then come to a program where a distinguished group of water resource experts will help us understand these complex issues. Charles Daniel, Pat Davis, Tom Konsler, and Rick Bolich will make presentations Sunday March 9th from 2:30 to 4:30 at the Southern Human Services Building on Homestead Rd. in Chapel Hill.
The Community Action Network (CAN), whose mission is to raise public awareness for a sustainable community, is sponsoring “Water the Cycle of Life — A Water Resources and Future of Orange County Symposium.” Charles Daniel and Rick Bolich are hydro-geologists who will help us understand how our water supply is replenished and show of results of the “Orange County Water Resource Studies” completed by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Mr. Daniel conducted the Orange County USGS research and Mr. Bolich of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, conducted drought workshops for Orange County citizens this past summer and fall. Pat Davis, OWASA Utility Manager and past Triangle J Water Resources Manager, will show us the state of the municipal water supply, recent research findings, and the efforts implemented to protect our local water quality. Tom Konsler, Orange County Environmental Health Director, will provide information on the health and care of wells and ground water in Orange County.
All of the speakers will share their ideas on what we can do to conserve the quantity and protect the quality of our water resources. Orange County is fortunate to have had our water resources studied and protected more than any other county in the state. So come on out and bring your friends and neighbors with you! We all need to learn more about the status of our water and we also must know what each of us can do to conserve and protect our precious water resource.
Date:
Sunday, March 9, 2008 - 10:30am to 12:30pm
Location:
Southern Human Services Bldg., 2501 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill
I was glad to read in Lisa Sorg's article in the Independent ( www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A168911 ) a couple of weeks ago that OWASA is contemplating emergency back-up plans for providing water to Chapel Hill and Carrboro. But I was concerned to read that one of the options under consideration is the construction of a new water-intake at Jordan Lake.
While we all hope that the drought will break before we run out of water, it is only prudent to consider what our back-up plans will be. Even with more drastic mandatory conservation measures on the way next week ( http://owasa.org/Press_Releases/press_release_20080218.pdf ), it is possible (but not likely) that our water supply could run out.
In the initial news reports Buckhorn was touted as “a center like The Streets at Southpoint” (N&O, Jan 12). Over a million square feet of retail, hotel & movie theater uses are proposed on 128 acres at the intersection of Buckhorn Road and I40/I85. At the west end of one of the County’s Economic Development Districts (EDDs), this was for many years the site of a thriving flea market. Some of the materials submitted by the developers hint at the inclusion of residential and office uses, but most of their documents and statements to the press indicate that their interest in these is very low. They estimate the County would realize $7.2 million a year in sales & property tax revenues. But what might these revenues cost us?
That a development of such magnitude is being considered for the County raises questions like these:
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