Alex Kowalski

News

Growth increases local schools' needs

By Alex Kowalski and Tracey Theret | April 23

If you build it, they will come. And when they come, you have to build again. The same residents flocking to Chapel Hill and Carrboro to enroll in its top-rated schools create pressure on the district to build more. Environmentally friendly policies, mass transportation, proximity to job hubs and most importantly, the public school systems attract potential residents. “It’s a desirable place to live primarily because of both of the school systems that we have that are not overcrowded and the mind-set that Orange County has,” Orange County Planning Director Craig Benedict said.

News

Grant to fund Bolin Creek cleanup

By Alex Kowalski | January 29

The Chapel Hill Town Council voted Monday night to support a grant application for the Bolin Creek Watershed Restoration Project. If the grant is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, town staff will work together with Carrboro to restore and maintain the water quality of Bolin Creek, which flows through both Chapel Hill and Carrboro and into Jordan Lake.

News

Commissioners delay farmer feud decision

By Alex Kowalski | January 16

Feuding farmers will have to wait to hear who will operate Hillsborough's new Public Market House. Despite months of discussion, the Board of Commissioners said they still have not received enough information to make a decision. "There's not really any analysis of any of these options--," commissioner Mike Nelson said. "I feel like a fish jumping around on the dock. I don't really have any way to evaluate those options." The commissioners could have chosen to let either the Hillsborough Farmers Market, the Farmers of Orange or the county run the market.

News

Farmer market ruling tonight

By Alex Kowalski | January 15

After more than a year of dispute, two feuding groups of farmers in Hillsborough will find out tonight who will occupy the county's newly constructed Public Market House. The Orange County Board of Commissioners might choose the existing Hillsborough Farmers Market or the newly formed Farmers of Orange to manage the market. In the agenda for tonight's meeting, staff have recommended a third option - that the board decide to have a county-run market. The market house, near the Hillsborough courthouse complex, is scheduled to open as early as March, according to the agenda.

News

Underage drinking persists despite effort

By Alex Kowalski | November 20

Despite ongoing efforts to curb underage drinking, the Chapel Hill Police Department and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agents issued a number of alcohol-related charges against residents and businesses Thursday. The operation resulted in 47 citations against 30 people, including 22 citations for underage possession of alcohol - results that are not abnormal, said Chapel Hill police officer Mitch McKinney. "Any day you can go into a bar in Chapel Hill and probably write a few underage drinking violations," he said.

News

Chatham examines growth

By Alex Kowalski | October 31

A newly elected Board of Commissioners has outlined its commitment to combat rapid residential growth in Chatham County's 2006-07 highlights report. The report describes a one-year development moratorium that will help limit the growing population of the county, which has increased by 55 percent since 1990, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "Right now we probably have 15,000 houses waiting to be built," Chatham County Commissioner Patrick Barnes said. "We're not prepared for it."

News

Water limits tighten with new restrictions

By Alex Kowalski | October 23

As area reservoirs approach less than 50 percent capacity, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority has declared new water-use restrictions in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The restrictions, effective Friday, were implemented under a newly designated stage two water shortage and are intended to reduce the current water demand in the area by at least 15 percent - a difference of 1.3 million gallons per day. Residents and businesses in the community are subject to regulations that restrict activities requiring water and limit water consumption levels.

News

Opening celebrates transit

By Alex Kowalski | September 11

The dedication and grand opening of the new Chapel Hill Town Operations Center on Millhouse Road took place Monday morning. Though employees have worked there since July, the ceremony officially marked the opening of the $52 million facility that houses the town's transit system and public works department. Hundreds gathered to hear speeches, see the ribbon-cutting, and tour the new facilities. One of the town's colorful new buses was also on display. "There had to be at least 175 people," said Kurt Neufang, project coordinator for Chapel Hill Transit.

News

Residents stress zoning issues with plan

By Alex Kowalski | August 28

CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, Tuesday's page 6 story, "Residents stress zoning issues with plan," incorrectly states that the discussion was about Orange County's Comprehensive Plan in the first two paragraphs of the story. The discussion was about the Efland-Cheeks Overlay District. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error. Residents turned out Monday to help shape a plan that will guide Orange County's land use for years to come.

News

Commissioners mull 10-year homeless plan

By Alex Kowalski | April 25

The Orange County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday to consider the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County and the proposed West 10 Soccer Center. Tara Fikes, Housing and Community Development Director for Orange County, reviewed the 10-year plan and answered questions regarding its implementation. "We have a lot of services for the homeless community, and we need to make sure they're in places that are acceptable to the homeless," she said. "We hope to do that by public education and encouraging our community to get involved with programs involving the homeless community."