Town council candidates talk development dangers

The effects of the Obey Creek development were on everyone’s mind on Tuesday at the Chapel Hill Alliance for a Livable Town forum.

Town council and mayoral candidates spoke at the forum about their positions on the issues of development, worsening traffic, public transportation and affordable housing.

Development plans

Many town council candidates expressed concerns about the Obey Creek development plan, which is expected to be a 1.5 million-square-foot commercial and residential project across from Southern Village.

“How we choose to develop has an impact on every other issue,” moderator Theresa Raphael-Grimm said.

The primary issue Chapel Hill Town Council candidate Jessica Anderson shared about the Obey Creek development was the size of the project.

“We don’t need something as big as Southpoint across from Southern Village,” Anderson said.

The CHALT forum also focused on transparency in town council decisions.

Pam Hemminger, a candidate for mayor, proposed town hall listening sessions to improve public interaction with the council.

Meeting attendants were concerned that residents’ opinions were not taken into consideration before the Obey Creek plan was approved.

“Citizen input is absolutely critical,” council candidate Michael Parker said.

Town council candidates also raised concerns about the Ephesus-Fordham development plan, which would create commercial and office space. Some said it could create traffic issues.

The forum focused on improving standards for new development plans to ensure that transportation is funded and energy standards are met.

Public transportation

When questioned about a lack of a public transportation plan, current town council member Lee Storrow said the Obey Creek developer will make annual payments toward public transportation.

Storrow, who is running for re-election this year, was charged with a DWI in August.

Raphael-Grimm discussed the effectiveness of the Chapel Hill bus system, which Anderson said is convenient for students, but not working individuals.

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt discussed leasing buses and finding a new way to purchase buses through extracting funds from developers. He said this would ensure that buses are updated.

Affordable housing

The CHALT forum also focused on affordable housing goals. Storrow discussed a project with DHIC, a nonprofit developer based in the Research Triangle, that seeks to build affordable housing on town-owned land.

Additionally, town council candidate Nancy Oates proposed turning UNC’s two empty residence halls into affordable housing for University employees.

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