TO THE EDITOR
On Feb. 23 the Town Council will likely vote to enact a proposed rezoning ordinance that will allow the developer of Grove Park Condominiums to make changes to the original plans.
These changes and the development in general alarm residents.
I have lived in Chapel Hill since 1970 and have experienced its many changes — some good some not so good.
I can understand why the Town Council is interested in increasing the population density of this area. However I am distressed at what effects increasing the density will have. Traffic will increase; limited resources will be even more stressed; low- to middle-income housing will be removed; property taxes will increase; and the overall environment will suffer.
I should also point out that removing a significant segment of this neighborhood's population — the residents of Town House apartments — without providing something for them in return is not fair.
Finally the development of Carolina North is also going to have an additional impact on this neighborhood in ways similar to the ones just mentioned.
Unless something happens to increase the diversity of businesses uptown there will be fewer people who spend money there. Let's face it middle income people who would be able to afford this new proposed housing are not going to walk uptown to shop. Instead they will drive elsewhere thus increasing traffic increasing the negative environmental impact and not increasing the business of local merchants.
Deborah R. Finn
Chapel Hill
