Planning & Transportation

What is this program?

The DCHC MPO programs state and federal transportation projects in our region.  The MPO is reviewing different alternatives for meeting future transportation needs and inviting citizens to participate.  The public comment period will be from Friday, August 17, 2012 through Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

 

How can I participate?

There are several options for participating, including:

 

www.dchcmpo.org -- Web site provides:

§  A description and presentation (tables and maps) of the alternatives – See “Alternatives Analysis” or use this link:

                       http://www.dchcmpo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=92&Itemid=35

§  An email link for making comments; and,

§  List of opportunities to provide your comments at the local government level (see list in Introduction document).

 

Public Hearing – Citizens can provide feedback to local elected officials (Transportation Advisory Committee); Wednesday, September 12, 2012, at 9:00AM in the Committee Room (2^nd Floor of Durham City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza).  Persons with disabilities will be accommodated -- provisions must be requested at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

 

Public Workshops –

·       Hillsborough -- 9/13, “The Town Barn,” 4-7 PM;

·       Durham -- 9/18, Durham Station Transportation Center, 4-7PM; and,

·       Chapel Hill -- 9/20, Chapel Hill Town Hall, 4-7PM.

 

Who can I contact?

Comments and questions should be directed to:

               Andy Henry, City of Durham, Transportation Department

               101 City Hall Plaza

               Durham, NC  27701

               E-mail:  andrew.henry@durhamnc.gov    Phone:  (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419

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.