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Letter: Consider CVS implications

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Staff

I’m very hopeful that the Carrboro Board of Alderman will show us that they have a vision of our future that mirrors the needs and desires of all of Carrboro’s citizens as they contemplate the consequences of allowing CVS a conditional-use permit (CUP) to build a store at 201 N. Greensboro St.

On the positive side, CVS would add 11,000 square feet of occupied retail space to the tax base (even as many retail spaces remain empty and thousands of square feet of previously planned mixed-use development is stalled). Shoppers would have a wider selection of cold remedies at the CVS, and the Harris Teeter could expand – perhaps increasing the Oreo selection (a paltry 21 feet of shelf space for only 16 varieties, when there are in fact 33 different kinds).

Now the downside: The neighborhood suffers. I live on Oak Avenue, which is classified a “collector” street, even though its physical and practical capacity are not “collector” grade in today’s world – Oak Avenue is 29 feet wide, no sidewalks; new collector streets are specified to be 34 feet wide with sidewalks and bike lanes. We should be a “minor” street, with the lowest level of projected traffic, 100 cars or less per day. 

But we have more than 600 vehicles a day, at last count, with two-thirds headed south (and in a hurry) to avoid the universally despised intersection of Greensboro and Weaver streets. Anything that makes it less desirable to drive through that mess (like the current construction) makes for even more traffic for us. The affected area is larger, of course, and I recommend a comprehensive study of downtown traffic.

Traffic is already plenty bad – Weaver Street Market’s need for traffic-control assistance for backing trucks into their loading zone is a constant annoyance (and one of the reasons Oak Avenue is such a popular cut-through). Surely any major development on that corner requires considering that untenable situation, not to mention the impact of the maybe-it-will-happen-this-time 300 East Main project.

As you weigh this issue, please ask yourself, what kind of Carrboro do you see in 10 or 20 years? What is your vision of a town you’d like to live in? Tell me your vision, show me how approving this CUP takes us in that direction – or better yet, ask anybody who lives here what they think. The board needs a “compelling” reason to grant the CUP – if there is one, please, somebody, what is it?

Chris Frank
Carrboro

2 thoughts on “Letter: Consider CVS implications”

  1. James Smith says:
    May 27, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    Yes, stand in the way of economic progress so that you can live in a quaint town, all to yourself.

    I’m amazed at the selfishness in your letter. You would sacrifice everyone’s economic prosperity for the sole sake of reducing traffic on Oak Avenue. How pathetic.

  2. Terri Buckner says:
    June 8, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Good letter Chris. Totally agree.

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