Aldermen endorse solar-powered housing development in Carrboro

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen endorsed the building of a new 39-unit solar-powered housing development.

Veridia, to be located on Old Fayetteville Road, will consist of trailers powered by alternative energy and will replace an existing trailer development.

“This began as a dream five years ago,” said Trip Overholt, one of the project’s co-managers. “But we’ve been working on it with the town since 2007.”

The project is set to begin after the board reviews the final development plan, which Alderman Dan Coleman passed along with blessings.

“I hope you have great success with this project,” he said.

Each household will only be assigned one parking spot, with several other spots remaining for any community members to use, the project co-managers said.

The development will also include storage sheds for each unit and a community park. All park materials would comply with the board’s regulations.

“We want to make sure it’s safe for the children,” Alderman Lydia Lavelle said.

Veridia will also house a community garden for produce as well as personal garden spaces designated for each unit.

The people living in the trailer homes where the development will be built are going to receive notification before construction begins, and will be given the opportunity to either purchase one of the new units or move.

Those who move will be compensated with the amount of their first month’s rent in their new home.

“We want to make sure they have plenty of notice,” Alderman Joal Hall Broun said. “At least three months.”

During the meeting, Overholt said the project was about giving back to the Carrboro community.

“We’ve done all this because we really do believe in this community and what we can provide Carrboro,” he said.

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