Two land use ordinance amendments, if passed, would increase the number of mixed-use facilities in downtown Carrboro as well as widen North Greensboro Street to two lanes in each direction.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the amendments at their Tuesday night meeting and heard comments from the public about the issue.
Kenneth Reiter, president of Belmont Sayre properties was involved in drafting both amendments and pointed out that changing the zoning ordinance could reduce the amount of non-residential space in facilities to 20 percent.
“We’ll have a new tool in the toolbox that no one uses,” he said of the plan.
While many board members were willing to consider all aspects of the plan, some were strongly opposed to it.
Alderman Jacqueline Gist, who lives in downtown Carrboro, said she doesn’t want it to turn into a series of apartments.
“This will cause downtown Carrboro to look like our bypass,” she said.
Resident Gabe Riven, who moved from Washington in June, said he wouldn’t want to see Greensboro Street turn into a highway.
“The more cars we put on it, the more dangerous it’s going to feel to us,” he said.
Mayor Mark Chilton said he felt there could be advantages to the plan.
“This text amendment change would allow for a number of possibilities,” he said.
Chilton said the fate of the plan would ultimately rest with the incoming board of aldermen.
Notable
The annual financial report was presented by an internal auditor from Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP.
Cash investments went down by $1.1 million dollars from the 2010 fiscal year to the 2011 fiscal year, but overall expenditures increased.
The auditor indicated tax rates had stayed the same overall, but property tax collection had increased slightly. He said the overall balance of funds remains at a healthy level.
Quotable
“I guess for hard times, the good news is we’re doing very well”, said Alderwoman Jacqueline Gist of the current financial situation.
“The question is do we want to respond to the existing market or do we want to wait,” said Alderwoman Joal Hall Broun on the rezoning ordinance amendment.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
