State moratorium likely
By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL — A statewide moratorium on new municipal annexations and tighter rules on how they are conducted are the likely outcome of action in this year’s General Assembly session, according to Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt.
Kleinschmidt said he has been working with the state’s League of Municipalities in following the priorities of the new GOP-led legislature. At a meeting Monday night at Town Hall, he briefed the Chapel Hill Town Council on possible annexation rule changes being contemplated by the new majority. Making it more difficult for towns to annex, he said, “is very high up on their list.â€
The council tabled a proposal to hold a broader review of the issue until the changes in state policy become clearer.
Council member Jim Ward had advocated for the review, saying that the town’s policy of not annexing places unless it could provide sewer and water service means some areas are receiving town services without paying for them.
Council member Gene Pease said he would like to see what services are being used and their cost spelled out in more detail in any future review.
Kleinschmidt said discussions between legislators and the League of Municipalities appear to be at a standstill and that a statewide moratorium appears likely while new rules are worked out. Under consideration are requirements ranging from referendums in areas proposed for annexation to house-by-house approval.
Town Manager Roger Stancil said given the legislative realities, any discussion based on current rules would be moot.
Also on Monday night, the council held a public forum on changing town ordinances to allow for food trucks.
Jared Resnick, owner of the West End Wine Bar, speaking for himself and the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, called it an “awful idea.â€
Resnick said the town should do more to promote existing brick-and-mortar businesses rather than allow food trucks to move in.
“This does nothing to help local businesses,†he said.
Several food truck operators and Lex Alexander of 3Cups, whose petition to the council led to the forum, disagreed, saying the trucks would enhance Chapel Hill’s image as a town for “foodies†as well as encourage entrepreneurship.
Brian Bottger of Only Burger said his food truck allowed him to experiment and hone his ideas, and that eventually led to a brick-and-mortar business. He said concerns about parking, signs and other issues raised have been resolved by other towns.
“Create your own rules,†he said.
Aaron Nelson, president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, said restaurants he’s talked to have mixed opinions, but many are worried about “competition against the home team.†Many, he said, suggested the council move ahead with allowing outside dining downtown and find other ways to help existing restaurants.
Kleinschmidt said he has particular concerns about allowing food trucks downtown, given that there are so many restaurants already and few places to put a truck.
Several council members said the town should look at rules for best practices and study how other towns have addressed the concerns raised. Council member Penny Rich, citing her own experiences growing up in New York, said she’s optimistic.
“I think there is a way we can coexist,†she said.
In other action Monday night, the council approved a request from the Orange Water and Sewer Authority to amend the inter-local Water and Sewer Management, Planning and Boundary Agreement (whose acronym, WASMPBA, is pronounced “wa-sambaâ€) to allow for easier access to water from Jordan Lake.
The change would allow OWASA to ask the state for an upgraded status that could allow it to tap its five-million-gallon-per-day allocation of Jordan Lake water via existing links between Cary and Durham and Durham and OWASA. (See story on page 1.)
The council also reviewed a traffic and property analysis of potential improvements in the Ephesus Road and Fordham Boulevard area.
Among the changes is a proposal to create a through intersection at Elliot Road that would extend from Fordham Boulevard to Ephesus Road.
The new plan is intended to spur redevelopment of the area, relieve traffic congestions at the intersection and improve conditions for bicycle and pedestrian use.
The full report is on the town’s website at townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=1518