Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Jan. 12, 2000, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 Wednesday, January 12, 2000 Aldermen OK Proposal For Affordable Housing By Jason Owens Assistant City Editor Carrboro took a step forward in the constant struggle to provide affordable housing last night when the Board of Aldermen passed a bill easing the process of low-income development construction. The ordinance created the single room occupancy classification (SRO), which set regulations for residential units that consist of one room, usually with cooking units and common bath room facilities. Alderman Allen Spalt identified the need for more affordable housing in the area as the primary reason for the ordi nance. “We have a shortage of inexpensive housing,” he said. “The IFC does a phe nomenal job (of providing housing) with the shelter, but demand exceeds supply. People can’t stay in the shelter (perma . nently).” The focus of the location of the SROs is downtown, supporting Carrboro’s plan to reduce urban sprawl by pro moting living and commerce in the cen ter of town. Spalt said the ordinance would not only encourage affordable housing but would also regulate it to maintain safety. “Just because it’s low income, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be unsafe,” he said. M * f vif '*l® big.cheap.late.great ym* cosmic | % yy menu sampling: various menu items $2 yr JV old school veggie burrito 2 I Sp ijmjjß veggie burrito deluxe 4 I ' -WF chicken burrito 5 Tf m quesadilla 3 ajkLjF chicken quesadilla 4 ...and more plus... all mexican beers $2 S I@FF ANY BURRITO OR QUESADILLA ANY TIME AFTER SPM * MINIMUM $5 PURCHASE OFFER VAUO THROUGH 1/18/0Q r" l "U LOCATION ONLY. ONE COUPON PER PERSON. aynpq oiimsoo ino r 9604395 open super late night until *43111 always fresh, juicy, big and healthy where are vue? f nagHga a chapel hill: right across the street w 3 from the varsity theatre at 128 r franklin street [at the end of the hall]. *'f durham: on 9th street and perry street [across from brueggers], 286-1875. r mj's newest game ■ late night dining till 1:00 am thursday, friday, Saturday ■ now open for lunch daily ■ open at noon on Sundays serving brunch specials & dinner all day. ■ watch the games in style 200 W. FRANKLIN ST. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 919 960 9623 PHONE 919 960 9023 FAX Alderman Jacquelyn Gist identified the need for this type of housing due to the abundance of single people who do not need more than one room. “You might not be able to afford an apartment, but you can afford a room,” she said. Though the ordinance passed through the board unanimously, it was not met without opposition. Adam Searing, acting chairman of the Carrboro Planning Board, said he supported the idea of the ordinance but thought some changes needed to be made. He said the ordinance did not support forms of affordable housing out side of SROs. “Our thought was not to discourage SROs,” Searing said. “We want more affordable housing. Their proposal is too limiting.” The ordinance encourages affordable housing by changing zoning require ments, such as reducing the number of parking spaces required for a building, resulting in less cost for the builders. The zoning exceptions would only apply to buildings meeting the defini tion of an SRO. Carrboro documents define an SRO as a multi-family, resi dential use in which each dwelling unit includes no more than 450 feet. The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu. Council Thwarts Gas Station Plans Mayor Rosemary Waldorf says anew convenience store will not constitute rewriting a town ordinance. By Kevin Krasnow Staff Writer The Chapel Hill Town Council put the brakes on a proposal that would have allowed a gas station to demolish an existing service station and build a new convenience mart and fuel pumps. The council voted unanimously Monday night against granting the BP Gas Station, located at the corner of Airport Road and Critz Drive, a Special Use Permit Modification. In order to receive the permit, the convenience store and fuel pumps would have to maintain or promote the Traffic Plan Stalled by Road Block Some residents argued that permanent traffic diverters were a hazard while others felt they were necessary. By Kevin Krasnow Staff Writer Chapel Hill residents hoping to improve the safety of their streets hit a red light as the Town Council turned down a proposal to install permanent traffic diverters on Rogerson Drive. In a 5-4 vote Monday night, Mayor Rosemary Waldorf, along with council members Edith Wiggins, Lee Pavao, Pat Evans, and newly elected member Jim Ward defeated a measure which would have placed construction barrels on Rogerson Drive to limit cut-through traf fic from N.C. 54. Council member Lee Pavao said he wanted a broader study conducted before granting permanent diverters. “I feel we should do an in-depth study,” he said. “I’m not in favor of I I I I a I I A i— “ - -- -- ... .. - -..1 City general welfare of the town, which coun cil members did not find to be the case. Council member Flicka Bateman said there were already enough convenience stores in the area, something that is reg ulated by an existing town ordinance. “There are already two convenience stores near there,” she said. “The ordi nance says you can’t have anew conve nience store there.” While Mayor Rosemary Waldorf said she thought the BP Station would do a good job building a convenience store, she was also against granting the permit. “The welfare of this town would be better served by not modifying the town ordinance,” she said. Council members were also con cerned because if the convenience store was built, the intersection near the ser vice station would have needed to be reconfigured, said Town Manager Cal Horton. blocking it off because then every neigh borhood would ask for limiting cut through traffic.” The primary traffic problem stems from drivers using Rogerson Drive as a short-cut from N.C. 54 to Interstate 40. Residents complained about the speed of the street’s traffic. Council member Flicka Bateman, who was in favor of the measure, said the street was so narrow that diverters were needed. “It is a very narrow street that needs to be protected from a multi lane highway,” she said. Residents at the meeting were angered because they were scheduled to speak before the vote, but the council voted before hearing their views. Waldorf apologized for the mistake and then allowed them to speak. Bateman said that Waldorf made a mistake, but the residents had previous ly voiced their opinions to the council at another meeting. Many residents near the street voiced their displeasure that the divert ers were not being made permanent. Paula Davis, of 32 Oakwood Drive, said two states. One rate. No roaming or long distance charges in the Carolinas ...ever! MONTHLY PACKAGE 4# ACCESS MINUTES JW 300 Jy l| ITPI $69.95 eoo $109.95 1200 AUTHORIZED ! (Nokia 91 8) ADAPTER** ACCESSORIES" J ••Actual phone may vary. Good with new activation only. Must present coupon at time of activation. New line of service and credit approval required for new customers. Carolina Freedom rate plans available to new and existing customers. Package min utes must be used in the month they are issued and no credit will be extended for unused minutes. Other charges may apply. Carolina Freedom rate plans may not be available in all areas of North Carolina. sls activation fee applies. Other restrictions apply. See store for details. IT’S ALL IN OUR NAME Formerly 360'Communications 4215 University Dr. (Parkway Plaza) North Pointe Shopping Center at Guess Rd. & I-85 Behind South Square Mall between KMart & Pier 1 Next to Kroger & Home Depot “The distance between the con venience store and the intersection would not meet current stan dards,” he said. BP owner M.L. Barnes said he would still convert the service station into a conve nience store, but was upset a better one could not have been built. “Surely the council recognizes by law that 1 have a right to operate a convenience store,” he said. “This convenience store could have been fine, but now it will be sec ond-class.” Barnes was also angered because that if diverters were not in place, nonresidents would speed down the streets. “Oakwood and Rogerson have older, straighter roads," she said. “The driver does n’t even realize they are speeding. So we had hoped that you would make them per manent mea sures.” Beth Kell, of 29 Rogerson Drive, was upset that the council members voted down the measure after pledging in their campaigns to make streets more pedes trian friendly. “During Ihe recent cam paign, everyone pledged to work for safe streets and walkable sidewalks,” she said. “You can’t do that by turning these streets into high-volume thoroughfares.” Other residents were angered that the diverters were being left up temporarily. Value Cellular & Paging after BP delivered their presentation, the council members made a few comments and then voted against granting the per mit. Barnes was further upset because he claimed the town staff had told him the vote would not be held for months. However, Horton said no such promis es were made. A public hearing was held on Nov. 15 on the issue and the issue was reopened at Monday night’s council meeting. Despite Barnes’ criticisms, Bateman was confident the council made the right decision. “We need a convenience store on Airport Road just like we need $ fissure down the center lane,” she said. “We simply do not need another one.” The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu. m r> - iSi Town Council member Flicka Bateman said there was no need for anew convenience store. Jeremy Firestone, of 2 Oakwood Drive, said the diverters posed a safety threat. “They are very dangerous, especial ly when trying to make a right-hand turn,” he said. “It would be a mistake to maintain them.” On Nov. 22, the council had voted 5- 4 in favor of permanent diverters, but the ordinance failed because a two thirds majority is needed on the first vote. On the second vote, only five votes are needed. However, two of the five council members who voted for the res olution, Joe Capowski and Julie McClintock, are no longer on the coun cil, and newly elected member Jim Ward’s vote defeated the measure. Madeleine Jefferson, who ran unsuc cessfully for Town Council and lives at 34 Whitley Drive, said her mother was almost involved in an accident because of the barriers. “They are an accident waiting to happen,” she said. “People forget that a street is a street - it is meant for cars.” The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu. Town Council member Lee Pavao said the proposal would spur more traffic limitations. Campus Calendar Thursday 5:30 p.m. - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold its general body meeting in Union 205. Friday 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - The University of Chicago's Berthold Hoeckner will present “Schoenberg’s Eyes and the Moment of German Music” in 103 Hill Hall. A reception will follow'. Items of Interest ■ Conversation Partner applica tions for the spring semester are avail able at the International Center, which is located in Union 116. English-speaking volunteers meet foreign students one-on-one for an hour of conversation. For more information, call 962-5661. ■ Class of ’3B Summer Fellowship Abroad applications are available at the International Center, which is locat ed in Union 116. Five awards of $3,000 each are avail able for sophomores and juniors to pur sue a project of personal or career inter est. aljp iotly (Tar
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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