Chapel Hill needs to stray away from its disdain of big-box developments and begin to see the benefits.
Many residents have attempted to bar companies such as Target from setting up in Chapel Hill for years, citing traffic and the change it would cause in the town’s environment.
As Chapel Hill grows, traffic and an updated aura are natural responses to the progress of development.
Regardless, these points pale in comparison to the benefits that would occur if Target were to move to Obey Creek.
A retail market analysis by the town of Chapel Hill suggests a demand for a supercenter within Chapel Hill’s bounds due to the leakage of these consumers into neighboring cities.
By building the Target within the town’s boundaries, Orange County and Chapel Hill will see the revenue gain, rather than having the tax money flood to the surrounding counties.
Additionally, the development will allow the town to diversify its tax base. A main point of contention within Chapel Hill is the dependence on property taxes to fund the annual budget. Bringing in a Target to Orange County could potentially allow tax revenue from the Target to offset the burden on property taxes and make affordable housing more of a reality in Chapel Hill.
It is impossible to make all residents content, especially those who live next door to Obey Creek, but the increase in tax revenue would allow the town to grow in a much more valuable manner.
