Conservation Concerns Raised by Some Residents Over Greene Tract

Several residents called on the Chapel Hill Town Council last week to preserve varying amount of the Greene Tract as Chapel Hill’s governing body considers the future of the undeveloped plot of land adjacent to the Rogers Road community.

During the meeting, Mayor Pam Hemminger announced that staff had been working on scheduling a special session for a Greene Tract resolution and mentioned several possible dates in mid-July.

Public comments saw Abel Hastings, a member of Friends of the Greene Tract, submit a petition asking the council to keep 80 percent of the tract for forest preservation and parkland use.

“The remaining 20 percent should be used for housing,” Hastings said. “To do this, I think the Town Council should formally align on a target for the right amount of both housing and preservation in order to meet multiple community interests.”

Greene Tract proposal in February 2019 Orange County Commissioners packet.

Hastings said he wanted to be clear that the Friends of the Greene Tract supported housing development on that land, but they want the town to commit to preserving 80 percent of the green space there.

“Without the Greene Tract, Chapel Hill will find itself severely lacking in green space in the future,” Hasting said.

Hastings said the potential development of UNC’s property at Carolina North Forest means Chapel Hill cannot rely on the university land for green space. Hastings also pointed to the Greene Tract’s importance to the town’s storm water retention plan and its climate change goals.

This petition comes after residents at a recent town council meeting asked for officials to act soon on a Greene Tract resolution that would signal a step toward land development.

The 164-acre plot  is currently jointly-owned by Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County. Town Aldermen in Carrboro and county commissioners passed resolutions last February that set a preliminary agreement on re-configuring ownership of the Green Tract in a step toward development in the area. However, a vote by Chapel Hill Town Council on a similar resolution has been delayed. That vote could come during a special meeting this summer.

‹

RENA Rep: Rogers Rd Plan Must Move On Despite EPA Investigation

An attorney for RENA says the EPA investigation into claims of racial discrimination is no reason to delay the work of the Rogers Road Task Force.

EPA Investigation Could Halt Rogers Rd Remediation

Remediation for Rogers Road may be grinding to a halt as the EPA investigates claims that the county’s planning department engaged in racial discrimination.

At Long Last: Forward For Rogers Road

The Rogers Road community breaks ground on a new sewer - marking a historic day for Orange County.

Local Leaders Make Progress On Rogers Road Remediation Plan

The Rogers Road remediation plan has been in the works for nearly two years, but recently Chapel Hill and Orange County each took steps to move it forward.

Aldermen Push For Action On Rogers Road Plan

Carrboro leaders want the county to act on the Rogers Road sewer plan, despite an on-going EPA investigation that has dragged the process to a halt.

High Bids Put Rogers Road Community Center On Hold

Plans to build a new community center on Rogers Road are on hold, as county staffers say initial project bids are twice what commissioners budgeted.

Chapel Hill, Carrboro Celebrates Juneteenth With Motorcade Event

The Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities were among many which celebrated Juneteenth this weekend. Held for the first time as a federal holiday, one of the local events was a motorcade through historic Black communities in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Advocate Stresses Housing Need as Chapel Hill Considers Greene Tract Plans

The Chapel Hill Town Council will discuss at a special meeting Monday night a resolution that, if passed, would mark a preliminary step forward for development of the 164-acre Greene Tract that adjoins the Rogers Road neighborhood. In years past, Rogers Road residents have asked local municipalities to support development on the Greene Tract, in […]

Chapel Hill Council To Consider Greene Tract Resolution July 15

The Town Council is scheduled to meet Monday, July 15, to discuss, and possibly vote, on a resolution on development in the Greene Tract.

Conservation Concerns Raised by Some Residents Over Greene Tract

Several residents called on the Chapel Hill Town Council last week to preserve varying amount of the Greene Tract as Chapel Hill’s governing body considers the future of the undeveloped plot of land adjacent to the Rogers Road community. During the meeting, Mayor Pam Hemminger announced that staff had been working on scheduling a special […]

›