There are two important OWASA meetings this week related to parking and draft parking arrangements.
Monday, June 23, at 6 p.m. in the OWASA Community Room at 400 Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro. Discussion of community feedback from the May 19th meeting and to see possible parking solutions from OWASA. Details here
OWASA page noticing the meeting and their history of the project
Thursday – June 26 – The OWASA Board of Directors will meet at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room at 400 Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro. Topics to be discussed:
- Approval of Schedule of Rates, Fees, and Charges; Annual Budget; Five-Year Capital Improvements Program
- PFAS and OWASA Biosolids Management Program
- Draft Parking Solutions and Objectives Evaluation Framework
What is happening? OWASA has embarked on an expensive (and needed) project to add infrastructure to remove PFAS from the water supply. This project requires the addition of new equipment and buildings on their existing site. This new infrastructure will be placed in locations of existing parking, meaning OWASA needs to find more parking for their staff.
OWASA began planning a project to add some of the needed parking on property purchased years ago as well as a home OWASA purchased in April of this year. A purchase that OWASA admitted was done secretly (source Daily Tar Heel article)
The problem is these lots are in an established neighborhood of mostly black owned homes, and also some of the few remaining affordable home sites in Carrboro. The house above would be demolished and replaced by surface parking for OWASA vehicles or employee vehicles, adjacent to existing homes in a quiet little cul-de-sac in Carrboro.
The neighbors have been meeting since April. I personally attended several of them. What I learned from the neighbors was they were not trusting of OWASA. The homes are steeped in history. Some residents have been on Glosson for 50 years. They have been frustrated with the little detail that OWASA has provided residents with. They are concerned about traffic on a street that currently it is a safe place for children to play.
The good news is that, at the last public meeting, the neighbors of Glosson and Fidelity were heard, and OWASA took a step back in their plans. The Monday meeting is part of the process. If you live in Carrboro , and especially if you live on Fidelity or Glosson
We will be there and you should attend too. Again, the details are here: