By Kirk Ross, Staff Writer
CARRBORO — What started as an update on a design workshop for a possible commercial space north of Carrboro turned into a full-fledged discussion on the potential for commercial development north of Homestead Road in a Carrboro Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night at Town Hall.
The board discussed a proposed workshop for a 31-acre parcel on Eubanks Road owned by Parker Louis LLC, one of five property-owner groups asked by the town to consider joining in a workshop with neighbors, developers and other stakeholders to gain feedback about potential mixed-use developments.
The town and its recent North Transition Area Plan Implementation Review Committee identified several areas north of town that have potential for commercial space. The board of aldermen indicated in 2008 that the town would consider increasing the allowable density in some areas if commercial space was a part of the project. Later this month, the board will continue a public hearing on a proposal to do just that. Developers of the Ballentine project, acting at the encouragement of the board, are asking for a zoning change to allow for greater density and a commercial building in phases three and four of the project.
The owners of the Eubanks property were the only one of the five property owners approached by the town who are interested in participating in the town-sponsored workshop.
Members of the board debated whether it was worth holding a meeting on only one parcel and discussed expanding the range of conversation at the workshop to include a broader discussion of the types of commercial space needed for the area.
Last week, during the beginning of the discussion of the Ballentine proposal, residents of Lake Hogan Farms and other nearby neighborhoods dispute the board’s assertion that residents in the area have long sought some additional commercial uses in the area.
Board member Dan Coleman supported going ahead with the design workshop in order to gather more public input and test some of the ideas.
“We’ve been tossing these ideas around for years,†he said, “and have not had a chance to put anything in the ground.â€
Mayor Mark Chilton said he’d also like to see the community discussion go forward. He said he was not as concerned about adding density to the area as he is about doing so while preserving the status quo.
“I’m not afraid of the density,†he said. “I’m afraid of 500 new homes and no commercial components.â€
Board member Randee Have O’Donnell said she was concerned that the town’s village mixed-use zone results more in boutique businesses and not the kind of commercial spaces residents seek. She said the town should seek input from a large part of the northern area and not just from neighbors of the parcel under consideration.
Chilton said the town should also remain open to a purely commercial development for the area.
Board member Joal Hall Broun also suggested that the board consider types of commercial use in the area beyond retail.
In other action Tuesday night, the board heard a series of ideas from Catherine DeVine, chair of the town’s Centennial Committee, on plans for next year’s celebration. The town was chartered as Venable in 1911 and changed its name to Carrboro two years later.
The celebration is planned for Carrboro Day, which is May 1 this year.
Devine said The ArtsCenter has agreed to participate fully in the event both by combining the usual Carrboro Day activities at the Town Commons with its Circes des Arts circus performers and by hosting a celebration at the center that evening.
Board members asked for a staff review of plans and a proposed increase in the Carrboro Day budget of $6,500 for the celebration.
Board member Jacquie Gist noted that the town flag cites March 3, 1911 as the date of official charter and asked that the town hold some kind of ceremony on March 3 of next year as well.
Also on Tuesday night the board:
• canceled its Nov. 2 meeting because it conflicts with Election Day;
• approved an agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation on the Morgan Creek Greenway; and
• rescheduled a public hearing on a draft ordinance to revise stream buffers as a result of the Jordan Lake Rules to Oct. 26.