The Town of Hillsborough held a public hearing on Monday night to hear thoughts and concerns from residents regarding a development application to build a new townhomes complex nearby. But the gathering of the town commissioners was a little different than any held in recent years.
Hillsborough officials conducted the hearing outdoors at the David Price Farmers’ Market Pavilion off East Margaret Lane. Not only was it the first gathering the Board of Commissioners had in-person since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Monday was a deviation from its typical holding of meetings in the Hillsborough Town Hall Annex.
Mayor Jenn Weaver spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck on Tuesday about the hearing, explaining the move to outdoors for the single meeting.
“Part of the legislation the [North Carolina] General Assembly wrote to allow remote quasi-judicial local government meetings,” said Weaver, “allows any neighbors deemed to have standing by the town to challenge the remote hearing setup. So, we had that happen for the first time with the development proposal we have before us.”
Instead of meeting in the town hall’s board room, the commissioners chose to conduct the hearing outside to best ensure public health measures. Weaver said people wore face coverings, socially distanced and were mindful to others, saying the residents in attendance ensured their comments were heard about the potential East Village at Meadowlands development off U.S. Highway 70.
“Folks are concerned about some of the typical things with any new development that’s coming next door,” she described, “such as lighting, storm runoff, some traffic issues. The subject matter wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary, it just happened we were meeting outside to keep it nice and safe for everyone.”
Weaver praised Hillsborough’s town staff for orchestrating the hearing, setting up microphones, speakers and a projector to aid the proceedings. But the mayor also said she does not believe this outcome of the General Assembly’s legislation is sustainable or intended, indicating she and others might advocate for it to be changed.
“It’s one of those things that myself and my fellow commissioners might be poking our state reps about [saying,] ‘Hey, on your long list of things to do when the General Assembly comes back in session, this could probably use some adjusting,'” Weaver said.
Concept designs for the exterior of townhomes, as part of the East Village at Meadowlands development application. (Photo via Cline Design Associates.)
The proposed development aims to rezone nearly 11 acres east of the Meadowlands Office Park near Hillsborough. The property owner’s application says their goal is to create a 76-home community, which would be 13 townhome buildings with open green space in the middle. Habitat for Humanity Orange County would oversee the construction, although Weaver said that element has yet to be cemented.
“That piece is not finalized, but that is the intent in the development application,” the mayor said on Tuesday.
If involved, the development would be another affordable housing community Habitat for Humanity has helped construct in Hillsborough. Crescent Magnolia, a senior community Habitat partnered in building off College Park Road, recently earned a housing award from the state recognizing its efforts in aiding residents who are 55 and older find affordable homes.
More information about the East Village at Meadowlands proposal can be found on the Town of Hillsborough’s website.
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