The Carrboro Town Council met on Tuesday, May 21. The council discussed the N.C. General Assembly House Bill 237 and the potential for a conditional zoning change at 400 N. Greensboro St.
What’s New?
- Mayor Barbara Foushee read a resolution proclaiming May 19-25 as National Public Works Week in Carrboro.
- The council read their annual proclamation designating June as Pride Month in Carrboro.
- "The town of Carrboro is committed to defending the human rights of LGBTQ+ people and ensuring that all residents — regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression — are treated with respect and dignity," Foushee said.
What decisions were made?
- The council unanimously approved a resolution presented by council member Randee Haven-O’Donnell to voice disapproval of the N.C. Senate’s version of H.B. 237, also known as “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals.”
- North Carolina criminal statute bans the wearing of hoods or masks to conceal identity on public grounds. Some exceptions to the law exist, permitting the usage of masks in public places for holidays or if required for one’s profession.
- However, the proposed bill would remove health exemptions from state laws that penalize wearing masks in public and automatically upgrade the class of a felony or misdemeanor if one wears a mask with intent to conceal their identity.
- “The strikethrough of the existing law removes mask wearing for health and safety exemptions for the most vulnerable of our citizens by health, immunocompromised, age, disability or other concern for protecting the health or safety of the wearer," she said.
- The council held a public hearing on a conditional zoning request for a property located at 400 N. Greensboro St. The request would change the property's zoning classification to create a three-story multi-family residence.
- Sam Mitchell, one of the owners of the property, said that the primary reason for the proposal is so that he and his co-owner can live in Carrboro. Five of the building’s seven units would be occupied by friends and family.
- William Derry, who lives across the street from the proposed development voiced concerns about the N.C. Department of Transportation attempting to widen N. Greensboro St. due to increased traffic, as an expansion of the road would reduce the amount of land between residential properties and the street.
- "I am conflicted here, and I said this at the informational meeting. That property has probably been vacant for 18 years. Something needs to be done with it," he said. "For me, I'm not sure this is it. I think this is a little heavy-handed, being 36 feet tall on a third-of-an-acre lot."
- The council unanimously approved the rezoning request.
What’s Next?
- The council will hold its next regular meeting on June 4 at 7 p.m. in the Carrboro Town Hall.
