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Library meeting moved up

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Staff

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

CARRBORO — A public hearing on the proposed rezoning of property on Hillsborough Road for a new library will be held next Tuesday instead of April 19, town officials announced at their meeting Tuesday night at Town Hall.
The board continued the hearing on the controversial rezoning last month after hearing from supporters of the site and a number of its neighbors who said it is in a far too residential setting.
Members of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen agreed Tuesday night to a request by the county to move the continuation of the hearing up a week. Mayor Mark Chilton said the county had asked for the change because it would cost the county about $10,000 in additional earnest money to retain a contract on the 2.69-acre property. The county obtained an option to purchase the property in mid-October in order to explore the possibility of locating a one-story 20,000-square-foot library on the site, which is adjacent to Carrboro Elementary School. The option expires on April 21.
Chilton said the town was reluctant to change the date and that it had been misinformed by county staff about the timing of final consideration of the zoning issue. The town would have to approve a change in the zoning in order for the library to be built. Even if the change is approved, the county’s site and building plans would still require approval by the board as well as another public hearing.
Town Manager Steve Stewart said the county had advertised the date change and sent postcards noting the change to residents within 1,000 feet of the site and those who spoke at the last public hearing.
At Tuesday’s meeting, board members did not say which way they intend to vote, but Chilton said there needs to be a meeting of the minds with the county on the right kind of location.
Board member Jacquie Gist, who has been critical of the county’s choice, said she hoped town and county elected officials could meet soon and have a “collegial discussion” on the issue.
“Maybe it’s not their fault, it’s just that they don’t live here,” she said.
Next Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at Carrboro Town Hall. The agenda will be posted at townofcarrboro.com/BoA/Agendas/boaAgendas.htm
In other action Tuesday night, the board discussed updates to the state’s proposed Transportation Improvement Plan. The plan, which works off a list of priorities set by a consortium of local governments, sets the order and schedules for state transportation projects.
Before referring the latest information to the town’s Transportation Advisory Board for review and suggestions, sidewalks for the Rogers Road neighborhood and the proposed bicycle and pedestrian pathway between Carolina North and the main UNC campus were added to the town’s list of priorities.
Also on Tuesday, the board heard an appeal from its representatives on the Orange Water and Sewer Authority board of directors asking for the town to help get the word out about the Taste of Hope program.
OWASA and the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service created the program to help low-income customers who are having trouble paying their water bills. Under the program, OWASA customers can agree to round up their bills to the nearest dollar by checking a box on their utility bill.
Board member Randee Haven-O’Donnell praised the program and said the only reason people don’t check the box is because they don’t know about the program.
The board agreed to add a link to the program on the town’s website and look at other ways to let residents know about it.

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