Chapel Hill hands off annexation discussion

By the end of Monday night's Chapel Hill Town Council meeting, residents of two Orange County neighborhoods were one step closer to knowing the town to which they will belong.

The two subdivisions, Highlands and Highland Meadows, sent petitions to the town of Chapel Hill in October requesting a voluntary annexation after learning that the town of Carrboro had issued a resolution of intent to annex the areas.

The Town Council unanimously passed Monday a motion to refer all comments and material received from residents to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and to inform the aldermen that they are open to conversation if Carrboro initiates it.

On Sept. 14, Carrboro issued an intent to annex what it called Area A and Area B.

The Highlands and Highland Meadows neighborhoods are part of Area A. Area B includes neighborhoods on the northern portion of Rogers Road.

"I think we're seeing the dance municipalities play," said Highlands resident Brian Voyce. He added that there are issues of respect between the different town governments that are being addressed.

"The burden of the issue is on the town of Carrboro," Voyce said.

Chapel Hill Town Manager Cal Horton said there are legal restraints that prevent the council from taking action.

Terms of agreements between the towns do not allow Chapel Hill to annex areas located in the Carrboro transition area, and the areas do not meet the requirements to be considered a satellite area, according to Horton's recommendation to the council.

Carrboro also has jurisdiction over the area because it was the first town to adopt a resolution of intent to annex it.

"What may have looked good on paper nearly two decades ago is not the best plan for citizens today," said Highlands resident Sharon Cook at Monday's meeting.

Other residents present at the meeting talked about reasons why they want to be annexed by Chapel Hill instead of Carrboro.

"My life revolves around Chapel Hill," said Highlands resident Rickard Faith.

Nancy Salmon, another Highlands resident, talked about the response times of the Chapel Hill and Carrboro fire departments. It takes 12 minutes for Carrboro's fire department to get to the neighborhoods when there is no traffic, compared to the three-minute response time of the Chapel Hill department, she said.

"Highlands is much closer physically and philosophically to the town of Chapel Hill," she added.

Other Highlands residents echoed her sentiment and said there is a difference in values between their neighborhoods and the towns.

"The question of annexation remains one of values," Voyce said Monday. "I will ask Carrboro officials to begin a dialogue with you, a dialogue to do the right thing."

Carrboro Planning Director Roy Williford said Tuesday that the department has not yet received information from the council.

Charlie Buckner, a resident of Area B, has written a letter that he will deliver to the aldermen and to the Chapel Hill mayor stating his opposition to annexation.

"We prefer not to be annexed," he said. "But if we have to, we want it to be in Chapel Hill."

Carrboro will hold a public forum on the proposed annexation Tuesday.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.