BY KIRK ROSS
Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL — After three hours of hearing a wide range of opinions from citizens and a lengthy discussion of the alternatives before them, the Chapel Hill Town Council decided on Monday night that further research was necessary before making a decision on ways to control the town’s burgeoning deer population.
The council convened a public hearing on controlling the population at Town Hall, driven in part by petitions from the Lake Ellen and Mount Bolus neighborhoods to allow for an urban bow hunt to reduce the herds munching in their yards.
Much of the testimony from the public on Monday night came from individuals concerned about tick-borne illnesses, the increase of which they blamed on the rising deer population.
The council also heard from representatives of the state Wildlife Commission describing the rules for urban bow hunts, which have been on the rise as municipalities try to deal with growing deer populations. The council also heard from Duke Forest managers about their efforts to cull the herd in the forest. Faced with what forest managers called a potential devastation of the forests herbaceous plants by the deer, Duke two years ago authorized the first hunt in the forest in its 75-year history.
Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said the issue has passionate supporters on both sides. Although the council earlier this year decided to put in an application for an in-town bow hunt before the state’s April 1 deadline, several members of the council are strongly opposed to the idea.
Residents were as divided as the council has been on how best to proceed.
Laura Fleck said if the council wanted to shoot deer, they could find 20 or 30 in her yard almost any afternoon. She asked the council to act.
“Anything you can do to get rid of them I applaud,†she said.
Martha Collins said she was opposed to a hunt and urged the council to look for other solutions. Once the town starts culling deer, it would likely have to do it every year, Collins said.
“I don’t think culling is the answer,†Collins said.
The council approved a motion to ask Town Manager Roger Stancil to draw up a set of proposals on how a deer census would be conducted, the impact of the deer on natural vegetation in the town and the alternatives for reducing the population, including a possible bow hunt.
The motion was approved by a vote of 8-1, with council member Laurin Easthom saying she could neither support a proposal for bow hunting in the city limits nor could she support any plan that would close down the Carolina North property while a hunt was conducted.
In other action Monday night, the council approved a special-use permit that will allow the Episcopal Church of the Advocate to begin construction of its campus on Merlin Road near the Billabong neighborhood. The church plans call for 44,300 square feet of construction on 16.4 acres, including a welcome center and chapel, worship center, community assembly building, parsonage with four dwelling units, outreach building and a retreat center.
The council also continued a public hearing on the Bridgeport project, a mixed-use development proposed for Homestead Road near the railroad crossing.
The project includes 77,567 square feet of floor area for two mixed-use, non-residential buildings and 23 to 32 townhouses on 9.2 acres.
Stancil said the project presents a challenge for town planners since it is in an area identified as an environmentally sensitive area as well as one listed as having potential for commercial development.
Kleinschmidt and others worried about the viability of the commercial space.
“I think one of the worst things that could happen in this part of town is to build commercial space that’s going to end up being ghostland,†he said. “It’s worse than having nothing.â€
The council continued the public hearing until May 24.