Yo Chapel Hill and Carrboro: there’s a LOT going on this week, civics-wise. Let’s take a look at what’s on the docket.
Monday
Parks, Greenways and Recreation Commissions special meeting
Our parks and rec friends are holding a special meeting to discuss the Splash Pad and Inclusive Playground Feasbility Analysis and Report Project. We’re major fans of both projects and are thrilled to see so many of the possibilities from our Chapel Hill Splash Pad Location Activation Tracker (SPLAT) on the shortlist for the possible splash pad.
Tuesday
Carrboro Town Council
Taking a bye week – they’ll be back on October 11th. In advance of their next meeting, we recommend reading this excellent article on why Carrboro should eliminate parking requirements. (Related: Will Carrboro solve its parking problem?)
Chapel Hill’s Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board
7:00 PM
Chapel Hill’s Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board meets. They’ll be receiving and discussing the petition from TBB author Martin Johnson on an extension of the Libba Cotten Bikeway. They’ll also be discussing recent bike and pedestrian crashes.
Community Design Commission
6:30 PM
The CDC will be looking to elect new officers, check out the lighting plan at the Union Chapel, the Carraway Village Refuel Center – yes, it is 2022 and we are apparently still building new gas stations ? – and, finally, a concept plan for 157 East Rosemary Street.
This would be an 11-story residential condominium with ground floor retail. This project is at the other end of the E. Rosemary , near Henderson Street. (This is a concept plan, so it is really a high-level design that is getting it’s first real exposure to the towns advisory boards.)
One comment on the CDC meeting, which is not an issue this week. However, there have been times when the CDC and the Transportation board are reviewing the same projects on the same night. This has caused almost comical maneuvering by the applicants when the meetings were in person — they have to shuffle back and forth between simultaneous meetings.
It’s only slightly better these days when the meetings are virtual. We think either the meeting should avoid reviewing the same projects on the same night, or one of them should move to a different night. Both are once-a-month advisory boards.
Wednesday
Chapel Hill Town Council Meeting
7 p.m., Chapel Hill Town Hall
This is going to be a helluva meeting – and likely a long one. What’s on the docket?
- A request and a petition (one from a CHALT-endorsed candidate; the other from two CHALT members) to delay and hold more forums about the American Legion site, which was last tackled at the May meeting.)
- Council will receive the 2022 Affordable Housing annual report and the 2022 Public Housing annual report. We’re thrilled that Town Council is motivated and pushing forward to help more people live and stay in Chapel Hill. Well done!
- They’ll receive the annual report for Carolina North, Glen Lennox, and Obey Creek.
- UNC will present their semi-annual development report.
- And we’ll get a capacity analysis from the Complete Community team. We’re not really sure what this powerpoint says, and are looking forward to hearing the words that accompany it.
Thursday
Orange County Board of Commissioners/Boards of Education Joint Meeting
7 p.m.
Richard Whitted Meeting Facility
More info and agenda highlights: https://bit.ly/3BMXzc7
- Update on School Budgets
- School Safety
- School Capital Needs Work Group Report
Sunday
Carrboro Musical Festival, one of our favorite days of the year