With word that the Environmental Protection Agency has completed its investigation of the Orange County Planning Department, County Attorney John Roberts last week gave County Commissioners permission to restart talks about a plan to bring sewer service to the Historic Rogers Road community.

Roberts had previously advised the Board of Commissioners to hold off on discussing the sewer extension while the EPA looked into claims that the planning department had discriminated against the predominantly black neighborhood by failing to apply for grant money to fund new infrastructure.

Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County are planning to split the cost of the $5.8 million dollar sewer project, but discussion of how county leaders would chip in has been stalled during the EPA’s investigation.

Now that the year-long investigation is complete, commissioners can move forward with the remediation plan for the neighborhood that’s lived with the landfill for four decades. While Roberts said the board is now free to discuss funding for the sewer plan, he did urge caution, noting the results of the investigation have yet to be released.

It’s not clear when the EPA will announce its findings, but county officials say they anticipate that the full report will be released soon.

Related Stories
‹
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 […]
›