The Carrboro Town Council met on Nov. 19 to discuss new property developments and hear a quarterly budget update.
What’s new?
-
Multiple community members expressed noise, flooding and ecological concerns about a potential affordable housing project on Crest Street, Hill Street and Pathway Drive.
- An assessment from the Town in June prompted further discussion about the parcel’s viability for development.
- “Many people in the community who are aware of the summit report conclusions are shocked, as I am, that the Town is still considering spending more money exploring this possibility, given the cost and damage it will involve,” community member Renee Flam said. “Maybe I wouldn’t be if there were more genuine and meaningful communications from the Town.”
- The council held a public hearing for consideration of a special use permit request for property at 904 Homestead Rd.
- Development Review Administrator Marty Roupe gave a presentation about the project plans, as well as outlined the fifteen staff recommendations concerning the property’s development the council was asked to approve.
- Council members raised concerns about certain recommendations, including electric vehicle charging stations, street tree placements and the safety of roll-type curbs.
- The council decided to postpone their approval of the recommendations until additional testimony about their safety concerns was available to them at the next meeting and left the public hearing open.
- Chad Meadows with CodeWright Planners gave an introduction to the consulting team in charge of the Land Use Ordinance rewrite. He gave an overview of the scope and the 19-month schedule of the rewrite.
- Meadows said the pillars of the project are climate resiliency, social equity, attainable housing and predictable processes.
- “Our goal is to make sure that [community] engagement takes place, that people have a voice,” Meadows said.
- Deputy Finance Director and Budget Manager Darrell Keyes presented a quarterly budget update.
- Keyes reported that expenditures and revenue are increasing as expected.
- “The trend of our fund balance is showing an increase, which means we’re moving in the right direction," Keyes said.
What decisions were made?
- The council approved the consent agenda, including a resolution to approve the 2025 Town Calendar.
What's next?
The council will meet next on Dec. 3 at the Town Hall.
