Big-box development: New development is necessary for the town’s growth

Commercial development of all types is a necessary step toward providing residents with affordable retailers and businesses.

Big-box and high-rise developments are two of these types of commercial development, and they should be encouraged.

While small town character is important for maintaining the down-home, Mayberry-like appeal of Chapel Hill, the benefits of potential big-box and high-rise development outweigh their downsides.

Chapel Hill has a reputation of being an expensive town in which to live.

By allowing big-box development of affordable retail stores, Chapel Hill could enable more middle and lower income families to live here because it would diversify the tax base away from residential property taxes.

The town depends heavily on residential property taxes for its tax base.

However, a partner in a local development firm said the proposed Obey Creek development, which would house a big-box store, could generate $4.5 million in tax revenue.

Having these retailers closer by would be more convenient for residents that would otherwise have to travel elsewhere for them.

There’s no doubt that with a growing population comes greater issues dealing with environmental degradation and stresses on infrastructure; such issues are inevitable with any type of development.

But urban sprawl has become an issue in many towns and cities because of zoning regulations prohibiting high-rise development.

Building upward as opposed to outward would help stave off the need to continue clearing lands for further use.

High-rise development can and should be promoted in areas of Chapel Hill where it would not compromise the historical integrity of neighborhoods and areas such as Franklin Street.