September 2014
All persons interested in the proposed Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project will get an update this fall on the 17-mile project.
"The upcoming meetings will give residents information on the environmental work that's underway," said David King, Triangle Transit General Manager. "Hearing concerns from the public will assist us as we complete the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that will be published and available for public comment next spring."
Four workshops will be held in November:
- Tuesday, November 18, 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. - Durham Station Transportation Center, 517 W. Pettigrew Street, Durham, 27701
- Tuesday, November 18, 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. - UNC Friday Center, Chapel Hill, 27517
- Wednesday, November 19, 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. - Marriott/Spring Hill Suites, 5301 McFarland Road at Patterson Place, Durham, 27709
- Thursday, November 20, 4 P.M. to 7 P.M, Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham, 27701
The proposed light rail line will run from Chapel Hill to East Durham serving UNC Hospitals and UNC, Mason Farm Road, Friday Center, Leigh Village, Patterson Place, South Square, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center, the VA Medical Center, downtown Durham and Alston Avenue/NC Central University.
In February, the Federal Transit Administration gave Triangle Transit the go-ahead to enter Project Development. The proposed Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project is one of two light rail projects nationwide approved by the US Department of Transportation this year.
The project cost is estimated at $1.34 billion dollars (in 2012 dollars). Voters in Durham and Orange counties approved a one-half cent sales tax to fund the local share of the light rail project along with new and expanded bus service.
More information about the project is available at ourtransitfuture.com.
For more information, contact Brad Schulz at 919.485.7434.
Date:
Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Location:
Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham, 27701
Developers proposing a 40-acre commercial development on the Lloyd property in Carrboro (at the corner of Highway 54 West and Old Fayetteville Road) will host a public meeting to receive input on their latest proposal.
Date:
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm
This week, the Chapel Hill Town Council returns to their newly renovated Council Chambers, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen addresses livestock within town limits, the Hillsborough Town Board talks about the militarization of police, and more. Here’s the full summary:
CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERPERSONS
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Regular Meeting: Tuesday, September 9th, 7:30pm at Carrboro Town Hall
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See full agenda here.
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Notable agenda items include:
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A discussion of options for use of the office space above Acme Restaurant (to be vacated by Fleet Feet)
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Continuation of the discussion of an amendment to the Joint Planning Agreement on other agricultural uses within the rural buffer.
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A discussion of proposed changes to the keeping of livestock (chickens) within town limits.
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
This morning I attending a training session for members of town boards. (I was appointed to the Board of Adjustment last summer.) About 40 people were there. I thought it was a good session. We were reminded that local governments are limited by the state legislature; the rules about open meeting and public access to information; the new flow for development projects and the general purpose of the boards. Just a bit of trivia of about the attendees: most were white, I don't think any Asian-Americans or Latinos attended with perhaps three African Americans participating; about 10 had gray hair (only my beard is graying so I didn't count myself); even male: female ratio and about 1/3 wear glasses.
It’s a busy week this week across Orange County. The Carrboro Alderfolks will consider an interlocal agreement for work in the Rogers Road neighborhood, while the Chapel Hill Town Council will tackle several proposed developments. The Chapel Hill Carrboro School Board will receive a 2014 accountability report, while its Orange County counterpart takes a break. The County Commissioners will consider what to lobby the General Assembly and make appointments to several boards.
Here’s the full summary:
CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERPERSONS
After getting my haircut this week (at the same place since my junior year of college), I ran into Al Bowers of Al’s Burger Shack. I wished him a happy one-year-in-business birthday and he asked me what I was up to. I told him we were about to take a hundred people to Athens, Georgia. And he asked, why were we going to do that? Good question, Al.
In 1985, a group of engaged community leaders called the Public Private Partnership (PPP), organized our community’s first Inter-City Visit to Lexington, Kentucky, spurred by a visit from leadership from the Bluegrass State the previous year. Since that first trip to Lexington, our community has traveled to eight other college communities, including Boulder, Princeton, Champaign-Urbana, Madison, and Ann Arbor.
On October 6, the Town of Carrboro will hold a community forum on policing in Carrboro. The public is invited to bring questions and/or comments for Police Chief Walter Horton, Town Manager David Andrews, members of the Board of Aldermen, and other Town employees regarding policing in Carrboro. Attendees can expect to:
- learn what kinds of policing issues are of concern to different people in our community;
- gain insights into Carrboro’s current approaches to policing;
- raise and consider ideas for how policing here can best reflect Carrboro’s values; and
- open or improve channels of communication so that the conversation can continue.
Date:
Monday, October 6, 2014 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location:
Town Hall, 301 W Main Street, Carrboro
Because of this week’s InterCity Visit to Athens, Ga., there aren’t many meetings of Orange County’s elected boards. You can follow #ICV2014 on Twitter for updates from the trip, but if you are town the Orange County School Board will meet to review student achievement. OWASA will also hold its annual meeting.
Here’s the full summary:
CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERPERSONS
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There are no scheduled meetings this week. The board’s next meeting will take place Tuesday, October 7.
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
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There are no scheduled meetings this week. The board’s next meeting will take place Monday, September 29.
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION
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There are no scheduled meetings this week. The board’s next meeting will take place Tuesday, September 30.
HILLSBOROUGH TOWN BOARD
It isn't "Throwback Thursday" yet it feels like old times. I'm covering the Board of Aldermen (after a more-than-a-decade pause) and Orange County/Northern Chatham at large once again. This time, for the Chapel Hill News | News & Observer. I won't be covering affordable housing for the time being as I continue as Chair of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners until January, but of course I can pass those stories along and encourage good coverage (like any good reporter would). This is freelance work, not full time, but I'm so glad to at least have my toes in the waters of local coverage once again.
First story should appear on Wednesday. If you have news about Carrboro or the County at large, please send it my way!
Email to jean.bolduc@gmail.com or Tweet to @jeanbolduc
There's been quite a bit of great Tweeting about the InterCity Visit to Athens, GA. Still, there may be some of you out there who'd like to provide a little more context about what you have been learning. Please use this thread to do so. Travis and I will be posting some thoughts here as well.
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