by Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
After a review of progress in long-range planning for northern Carrboro, the town Board of Aldermen placed a strong emphasis on seeing commercial development in the region.
During a discussion at Town Hall Tuesday night of five sites identified as having commercial potential, Alderman Joal Hall Broun said she was disinclined to vote for any more residential development — except affordable housing — until the town’s ratio of commercial to residential development improves.
Broun and Alderman Randee Haven O’Donnell resisted moves to take one of the five sites, a 173-acre group of parcels on the west side of Old N.C. 86, off the list of potential commercial areas. The move was proposed by Alderman Dan Coleman, who said the site could be put back on the list later, but that because Bolin Creek runs through the site and since that side of Old N.C. 86 does not have water and sewer service, the site should not be included.
Broun said the need for commercial space was critical to reducing the tax burden on homeowners and she would not support removing the site from the list.
O’Donnell said it is important that commercial space not be just “boutique†but include the kind of essential stores and services that will reduce road trips for the growing population north of town.
Board members focused attention on a nine-acre site along the south side of Homestead Road made up of several parcels running from the intersection with Old N.C. 86 to the large open field across from the entrance to Lake Hogan Farms. Mayor Mark Chilton said the area, much of which is cleared, makes the most sense for a commercial development.
Chilton and board members agreed that the town should consider rezoning some of the sites as commercial to further telegraph the town’s intent.
Town planner Patricia McGuire said town representatives plan to meet over the summer with the sites’ owners, some of whom have expressed an interest in commercial development.
The five sites were picked based on the recommendations of the town planning staff and the town’s Northern Study Area Plan Implementation Review Committee. In addition to the site alongside Old NC 86 and the Homestead Road site, the town is also looking at a 36-acre parcel on Old N.C. 86 north of Homestead Road, a 44-acre collection of parcels west of Twin Creeks Park and a 31-acre group of parcels on the north side of Eubanks Road and Old N.C. 86.
In addition to the review of next steps in long-range planning for the area, the board also heard an update on providing town services to the recently annexed northern areas.
Planning director Roy Williford told the board that the town has communicated to the North Carolina Department of Transportation a list of deficiencies that need to be dealt with before the town can take over ownership and maintenance of public streets in the area. Williford said that DOT officials have said that budget constraints are preventing the work from being completed.
Police service to the area, Williford said, will be handled by adding it to one of three existing police service areas, rather than creating a new service area as originally planned. The department is adding officers to meet the new demand, he said.
Transit service to the area is also ready to increase thanks to a grant to extend the Chapel Hill High School route to Rogers Road. The route, which at present only runs during peak hours, will expand to mid-day service as well.