Chapel Hill sees 'big box’ retailers gaining traction

Big box retailers are gaining support in Chapel Hill and are likely to arrive in town in the near future, town officials said.

At a candidate forum Monday, the nine residents running for Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously supported bringing large retail chains to Chapel Hill.

Augustus Cho, chairman of the transportation board and candidate for town council, said he supports big box retailers — like department stores — because they increase local spending and offer more options for consumers.

Cho said Chapel Hill’s increasing population is creating greater demand for more places to work and shop.

“It is only responsible for elected officials to prepare for that,” he said.

Lynn Hayes, broker/owner of Lynn Hayes Properties, said the issue isn’t about keeping big box retailers out of the Triangle.

“They’re already here,” she said. “Now the question is whether people will drive to Durham or keep the money in Chapel Hill.”

But while she recognizes that people want to shop at these stores, she said she hopes the retailers won’t locate near downtown.

“That drive up Franklin Street is really magical for some people,” she said.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward said he thinks the retailers should be located on the town’s periphery.

The town looked at retail demand in 2009 and found the greatest demand to be in department stores, said Dwight Bassett, town economic development officer.

The Edge, a proposed mixed-use development off Eubanks Road, will include space for retailers and is expected to cater to that demand, he said.

Ward said people previously opposed big box retailers due to concerns of traffic congestion and the potentially negative impact on local businesses.

But more residents support the retailers now because some of the stores are offering better wages and benefit packages, he said.

People are more willing to look past the impact of traffic because they realize the value of tax revenue, he added.

Discussion of the new comprehensive plan for Chapel Hill will address whether big box retail is included in the town’s future, Ward said.

“I’m hopeful that at the end of the comprehensive plan, we’ll have a map that identifies areas with significant support for high-density retail,” Ward said.

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