Michael Davis

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Residential Occupancy Guidelines Nearly Set

By Michael Davis | November 12

In another step toward changes in town land-use standards, the Chapel Hill Town Council voted last week to clarify occupancy standards to allow no more than four unrelated residents per housing unit -- or four per side of a duplex. The final draft of the land-use management ordinance, which officials hope to adopt in December or January, must be passed before the limits go into effect. The council voted 8-1 last week in favor of the increased occupancy limits, with council member Mark Kleinschmidt the lone dissenter.

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Water Restrictions May Lead to Rate Increase

By Michael Davis | October 30

Orange Water and Sewer Authority will hold a public hearing Nov. 14 to discuss the possibility of additional rate increases to cover a $1.2 million budget deficit attributed mostly to lost revenue from recent conservation efforts. Although OWASA water use rates will increase slightly beginning Nov. 1, officials say these hikes are not related to the drought and will not be discussed at the hearing. The adjustments, which were agreed to in June, will result in an increase of 6.25 percent in OWASA customers' rates, said Ed Kerwin, OWASA's executive director.

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Local Man Charged In Fatal Accident

By Michael Davis | October 28

Chapel Hill police have charged the driver who allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian on Franklin Street last week with misdemeanor death by vehicle. Thomas Earl Bynum, 50, of Chapel Hill, will be charged with the death of James Elijah Ellis, 77, of Henderson, who died Tuesday night after being struck by a vehicle, according to the incident report prepared by the Chapel Hill Police Department. Bynum said he has been advised by his attorney not to comment on the accident.

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Bond Tagged for 3rd High School

By Michael Davis | October 21

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education agreed Thursday to shift 2001 bond funding to the construction of a third high school. Faced with a burgeoning high school population, the district elected to move funds previously allocated for a 10th elementary school toward a new high school.

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Town to Evaluate Apple Chill Setup

By Michael Davis | October 7

The Chapel Town Council tonight will discuss the next steps to gather information needed to determine the viability of the Apple Chill Street Fair, an annual April event. Officials will consider the town manager's proposal to have the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Commission, a public advisory board, examine the Franklin Street festival. Town resident Eunice Brock of 319 Burlage Circle petitioned the council in late August with concerns that Apple Chill and Festifall, a similar event held this weekend, cater primarily to an out-of-town clientele and drain local revenue. Kathryn

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Politics Divide, Join Orange County

By Michael Davis | October 3

To some observers, Orange County might appear as two separate universes. In the southern end, Chapel Hill and Carrboro dominate the landscape with a progressive agenda that caters to an largely affluent and educated population. The median family income is $73,483 in Chapel Hill and $47,330 in Carrboro, and more than 75 percent of adults have a college degree. But a 10-minute drive up N.C.

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Animal Shelter Might Undergo External Assessment

By Michael Davis | October 3

The Orange County Animal Shelter likely will undergo a detailed evaluation by a national organization to assess disease and management concerns at the facility, based on tentative plans from county officials. The Orange County Board of Commissioners addressed issues surrounding the animal shelter at its meeting Tuesday night in Hillsborough. The animal shelter and the private, nonprofit agency that oversees its operations -- the Animal Protection Society -- recently have been the focus of public scrutiny after several employees approached the board last month regarding disease control

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Area Officials Plan for 193-Acre Educational Development

By Michael Davis | October 2

County leaders and residents met Monday night to discuss the preliminary stages of the master plan for the Chapel Hill Township Park and Educational Campus. The 193-acre development is bordered by Old N.C.

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Town Offers Meals For Late at Night

By Michael Davis | September 27

It's no secret that college kids like to eat. Add to that a penchant for late-night activity, and it is easy to see why college-based eateries serve students into the early morning. Chapel Hill is no exception to this collegiate norm, with numerous restaurants catering to rumbling stomachs -- and lean wallets. For relatively modest prices, students can get their fill from a wide variety of menus, ranging from sandwiches to bean-packed vegetarian burritos to the college delicacy of freshly delivered pizza.

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Students Excel in Proficiency Tests

By Michael Davis | September 23

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools unveiled student proficiency test results last week, with officials largely pleased with the broadened scope of the operation. School officials presented the findings at the school board meeting Thursday night at East Chapel Hill High School. This was the first year the system compiled a separate report on proficiency not only after the traditional May testing, but also after two possible retests. The district also collected information on the VoCATS, vocational assessment tests, and a separate report on kindergarten through second grade.