A public hearing scheduled for Jan. 29 will give local residents and students the chance to voice their opinions on Johnny’s 3.0.
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to hold the public hearing on Jan. 29 about the proposed rezoning of 901 W. Main St., an issue that has caused tensions between the owners of the property and its neighbors.
The property is home to Johnny’s 3.0 , a general store and cafe in Carrboro. The owners of Johnny’s are applying for a conditional rezoning in order to hold outdoor events.
Many neighbors have spoken out against the rezoning, raising concerns that Johnny’s events and gatherings will contribute to noise and parking issues in the area.
Alderman Dan Coleman said rezoning the property would allow the board to place limitations on what the business can do to address neighbors’ concerns.
Mayor Mark Chilton said he received an email from Johnny’s owner Jan Halle asking for additional time before the hearing so the business could continue discussion with neighbors.
Neighbors at the meeting said a negotiation was held on Friday, but no plans for further mediation were made.
“We’ve heard nothing about ongoing negotiations,” said Devan Clark, who lives near the property. “We’re willing to do it.”
The board agreed to allocate up to $2,000 to a mediation process if an agreement could not be reached between the two parties before Jan. 2.
“It is our responsibility to ultimately decide these kinds of issues,” Mayor Mark Chilton said. “I’m not inclined to hear about this dragging on forever and ever.”
Notable
The board also approved phase one of the Master Sign Plan for the future Hampton Inn & Suites, which will be part of the mixed-use development at 300 East Main St.
The dimensions of the sign were reduced from 42 square feet to 25 square feet. The developers assured the board that the sign would not be an eyesore on Main Street, and it will mostly be visible from Padgett Lane.
Quotable
“When we are challenged by information or claims or assertions we disagree with, it helps us to understand why we believe what we believe in,” said Chilton about the board’s decision to support policies that create public forums in places like public buses.
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