Carrboro to host 2nd annexation hearing

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen will hold a second public hearing tonight on a controversial proposal for the annexation of two areas northeast of town.

The meeting is aimed at receiving public comments concerning the annexation proposal, said Alderman Mark Chilton.

"In reality, we're handing the floor over to the people who come," he said. "I reckon people will take it where they want to."

Carrboro initiated the annexation process of two areas along Rogers Road, called Northeast Annexation Areas A and B, on Sept. 14.

Area A includes the Camden, Highlands, Highland Meadows and Highlands North subdivisions. Area B is composed of Fox Meadow, Meadow Run and the northern portion of Rogers Road.

About 852 residents live in the areas, which span across 321 acres.

Carrboro town officials hosted the first public forum about the proposed annexations Nov. 1. About 100 residents attended, and several denounced the plans outright.

Residents have raised concerns about issues such as differences in property taxes and fire and police services between the towns.

Some have voiced those concerns through petitions to the Chapel Hill Town Council, and others have gone to the state level.

Highland Meadows resident Rhett Macomson, who along with 43 of his neighbors signed an October petition to the Town Council offering voluntary annexation into Chapel Hill, said he plans to attend the meeting tonight.

"I would like to go make a statement that I don't want to be annexed into anybody," he said. "I don't feel it's beneficial, for the cost."

Highlands resident Mark Gill e-mailed every member of the N.C. General Assembly for support in opposing the annexations. He said he had heard from four representatives and one senator as of Monday. "They're concerned. They want to know more about what's going on."

The Highlands subdivision also delivered a petition for voluntary annexation into Chapel Hill to the Town Council, in response to Carrboro's annexation plans.

The council reviewed both petitions at its Nov. 8 meeting and determined that Chapel Hill cannot legally annex the neighborhoods.

Annexation into Chapel Hill would violate the two towns' 1987 Joint Planning Agreement and 1995 Annexation Agreement.

Carrboro, having annexed the areas first, also has prior jurisdiction, according to state law.

Council members voted to refer all public comments to the aldermen.

But Macomson said he thinks Carrboro is moving ahead with annexation, regardless of public commentary. "The decision has already been made," he said. "To me, it sounds like it's a done deal."

Gill said Carrboro has not adequately communicated with residents on the process. "We're not being treated as people anymore, just property," he said. "Carrboro cares about what Carrboro wants."

Chilton said the aldermen likely would make a decision in January or February. Under the proposals, the annexations would go into effect Jan. 31, 2006.

Tonight's hearing will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Carrboro Century Center.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.