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LETTER: Reject Shelton Station

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Staff

I grew up in Carrboro and am the fourth generation of a family with deep roots here. I am writing this letter to share my concerns about a rezoning request that could have a significant impact on my hometown.
I strongly urge the board of aldermen to vote NO on Jan. 24 to rezoning 500 N. Greensboro St. The rezoning would allow for high-density development such as Shelton Station. Initially, the BOA will only consider the rezoning request. However, rezoning is required before developers can later bring Shelton Station (which includes 96 apartments and 24,000 square feet of retail/office space on roughly 2.5 acres of land) to the BOA for approval.
A high-density development at this location would be sited directly across from Shelton Street on the edge of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Carrboro and would vent traffic onto North Greensboro where there is already high traffic activity. All participants acknowledge that the serious traffic congestion there would be made worse.
High-density development will play a role in Carrboro’s future. There are four projects already approved for downtown Carrboro that combined total more than 400,000 square feet of commercial space and 115 residential units (apartments, condos and other units). These developments will bring increased traffic and draw on existing infrastructure.
At what point do we stop and look at how we are growing, and what the impacts will be of approved and proposed developments? Vision 2020 calls for preserving historic areas, buildings and older neighborhoods, and calls for development that is consistent with the distinctive town character. Developments such as Shelton Station can be good for Carrboro – if they are put in appropriate locations. Let’s not place them where they would negatively impact established older neighborhoods and increase already significant traffic problems.
In addition to voting NO to rezoning 500 N. Greensboro St., I also encourage the board to reach out to citizens and revalidate the ideas in Vision 2020 to ensure that our commitment to growth sustains the integrity of Carrboro.

Celia Pierce
Carrboro

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