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N.C. Senate Drops UNC Zoning Exemption
By Ama Boaten
Staff Writer
The N.C. Senate has erased a budget
proposal that would have exempted the
University from Chapel Hill zoning
laws, following talks between University
and town officials.
The Senate Appropriations
Committee previously approved a pro
vision granting UNC exemption from
town zoning laws so Master Plan con
struction could proceed as part of the
state budget proposal.
Sen. Tony Rand, D-Fayetteville, a
UNC alumnus, was a strong supporter
of the exemption’s inclusion in the bud-
Study: Jobs
Available
In Triangle
A preliminary report shows
the region's unemployment
rates are lower than other
N.C. metropolitan areas.
By Demetrius Grigolaya
Staff Writer
Finding a job in .a restaurant down
town Chapel Hill was easy for Alexis
Baker, an junior environmental studies
major at UNC.
“I got it the minute I stepped in,” she
said Monday, her fourth day at The
Coffee Mill Roastery.
Baker is among a number of students
who were able to benefit from low
unemployment.
Orange County enjoys the lowest
unemployment rate in the state, accord
ing to preliminary data released May 25
by Employment Security Commission
of North Carolina.
The unadjusted rate, which does not
take into account seasonal fluctuations in
employment, was 1.6 percent in April.
“We tracked unemployment for
more than 15 years,” said Dianne Reid,
the director of Orange County
Economic Development Commission.
“Orange County tends to be below the
state’s average.”
The Triangle’s unemployment rate
was the lowest among the 11 metropol
itan statistical areas in the state at 2.4
percent. North Carolina’s non-seasonal
ly adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4
percent in April.
Overall, about 37 percent of people
were employed by government, which
includes the University, 16 percent in
retail and 15 percent in service, Reid said.
“About half of total wages paid in
Orange County are from state and local
government,” she said.
It also provides stability, she said,
adding that she thinks it is relatively
easy for students to find a job in Chapel
Hill.
“There is always somebody looking
for employees because unemployment
is low,” Reid said.
McAlister’s Deli on Franklin Street
had a “Now Hiring” sign about a month
ago, when the spring semester was end
ing and students were leaving for the
summer.
But the general manager at
McAlister’s, Keith Case, said he didn’t
have any problems filling the positions.
“There are a lot of students looking
for something,” he said.
Although unemployment tends to be
higher during summer months in
Chapel Hill, students say it’s easier for
them to find part-time jobs.
“It’s pretty easy to find a job during
the summer,” Baker said. “But I was
looking for a job last fall and I didn’t get
one.”
Demetrius Grigolaya can be
reached at demetrius@unc.edu
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
get proposal. He said the town’s zoning
laws could make it difficult for the
University to proceed with construction
of badly-needed facilities.
“The University is not owned by the
people of Chapel Hill or Orange
County,” Rand said. “It is owned by all
the people in North Carolina and I don’t
think its future should be artificially lim
ited.”
Town-gown relations were strained
when the Senate Appropriations
Committee approved a bill exempting
the University from town zoning laws
May 28.
Special Assistant to the Chancellor
Jonathan Howes said he thought the
Trouble Brewing in Neighborhood
By Sally Francis
Staff Writer
A familiar problem is rearing its
head yet again in Carrboro, one that is
pitting students against permanent res
idents.
An influx of student housing in res
idential areas has some Carrboro resi
dents concerned about maintaining
their neighborhood’s close-knit feel.
Pine Street residents are worried
that the traffic on the narrow and side
walkless street will be increased by the
stresses and strains associated with
about 20 undergraduate college stu
dents living in four houses.
In protest of the construction, neigh
bors have posted signs in their lawns
that read, “Now Showing: The Rape of
Pine Street at 106 and 108,” and “This
Isn’t a Dorm.”
Although it appears the neighborhood
has taken its frustration out on the 10 stu
dent renters now living on the street, res
idents claim that none of the signs are
directed towards the undergraduates.
“Our concern is for town density,”
Pine Street resident Jennifer Hay said.
“We are concerned that developers and
landlords have no control over how
many tenants live in their properties.”
Residents claim that the two new
student houses will cause an increase in
noise, street traffic, late night activity
and fitter, negatively affecting the fam
ilies and the Pine Street neighborhood.
Area residents believe that Pine
Street landlord Armin Lieth is turning
the neighborhood into a family-versus
student issue to avoid being at the cen
ter of the controversy. “He is trying to
take the heat and focus off himself,”
r* A A
THE FIRST PROBLEM: - THE SECOND PROBLEM: THE CATCH: - THE BREAKDOWN:
Pine Street residents are worried that - University students who now The landlord's actions are perfectly legal - The neighborhood is pinned against
the building of two additional houses on live on the street or will live in the because the town of Carrboro has a the town, neighbors against neighbors,
their street will affect the traffic, two newly-built houses have been zoning ordinance allowing more than and the neighborhood against UNC
parking, children's safety and the overall _ blamed for the loss of the —one house per lot in order to promote _ students and their landlord,
feel of the neighborhood. _ neighborhood's family atmosphere. density near downtown. _ rmi „„„„
3 “ 3 1 r DTH/COBIEDEISON AND EVANN STRATHERN
UNC Alumni Open Bar at Alma Mater
By Michael Woods
Staff Writer
A few hours before the grand open
ing, the namesake of Lucy’s rushes
through the door.
It is the first time she has been to
the new restaurant at the comer of
Rosemary and Henderson streets, and
she darts across the hardwood floors
intent on conducting a thorough
inspection. After moving inquisitively
between the tables for a few seconds,
Lucy abruptly ends her search.
“I think she’s already found her
favorite spot,” says Bruce Mason, co
owner of Lucy’s and sole owner of the
red Doberman now sniffing around the
kitchen.
WEEKLY
SUMMER ISSUE
Serving the students and the University community since 1893
m
deletion of the bill
would restore
good relations
between the
University and the
town.
“The town and
University are
negotiating in
good faith,” he
said. “We expect
them to approve
(the rezoning).”
But Town
Council member
Flicka Bateman
said merely with-
Chancellor
James Moeser
says meetings with
town officials led him
to ask for the
proposal's removal.
* M
OTH/BRENT CLARK
Two-year-old Connor Hay plays in the driveway of his home on Pine Street. Connor's parents Andreas and
Jennifer worry about the increased traffic that will result from additional two-story houses
that will be added to lots across the street.
Hay said. “We are not anti-students.”
But Lieth said the neighborhood
behavior has turned into a discrimina
tion issue against student housing.
Inside the walk-in kitchen, Mason’s
partner Norman Bullard is peeling
shrimp and trying to keep an eye on
the new visitor.
“I think she’s trying to figure out her
cut,” Bullard jokes.
Considering that their establishment
will be opening in mere minutes,
Bullard and Mason are impressively
relaxed. “It’s a great new adventure,”
Mason says. “It’s sort of like the first
day out of school.”
“This is my dream,” Bullard says,
pausing from his work in the kitchen to
take a look around. “It is just so satisfy
ing for it to be coming true.”
The smile on Bullard’s face belies
the long and difficult road that preced
ed this moment. In fact at times, the
drawing the proposal would not wipe
the slate clean.
“I think that there was some damage
done with the bill,” Bateman said. “Its
going to take some time to get over
that.”
Chancellor James Moeser said in a
statement that the University originally
supported the legislative proposal to
exempt it from town zoning “because
we were convinced that the town would
not approve the University’s develop
ment plan in its entirety.”
Under the town’s zoning regulations,
full implementation of the Master Plan
would have required UNC to win a
super majority vote by council members
“People are trying to find ways to
complain about students,” Lieth said.
“The problem is fueled by the fear peo
ple have about what a minority of stu
struggle to realize his dream better
resembled a nightmare.
In 1994, while on vacation with his
parents, Norman Bullard made a stop
in Chapel Hill and decided at that
moment to build a restaurant.
The property that is now Lucy’s has
been in the Bullard family since
Norman’s father purchased it in the
19505. Originally a commercial build
ing, a small apartment was later added
to the property - an apartment that
housed soccer superstar Mia Hamm
during her senior year at Carolina. But
over the last decade, the building grew
dilapidated from disuse.
“This property had been neglected
See LUCY'S, Page 2
Battle of the Sexes
Anew column looks at differences
between men and women.
See Page 4
in nine separate votes.
According to the statement, Moeser
asked the Senate to delete the exemp
tion following Chapel Hill Mayor
Rosemary Waldorf’s assurance that the
town will handle the University’s rezon
ing request in a single vote instead of
nine.
Howes said the University prefers a
single vote rather than nine because the
Master Plan covers the entire campus.
Said Howes, “We think it is appropri
ate that the rezoning covers the area of
the Master Plan.”
Ama Boaten can be reached
at boaten6@hotmail.com.
dents have done.”
Student renters on Pine Street
See PINE STREET, Page 2
DTHBRENT CLARK
Patrons of newly-opened Lucy's, located on Rosemary and Henderson
streets, fight for bar space to order a drink on Saturday night.
Thursday, June 7, 2001
Loopholes
Examined
By House
The House does not agree
with budget cuts made by
the Senate, but will first
need to find more revenue.
By Matt Viser
City, State & National Editor
The North Carolina House of
Representatives has started examining
the budget proposal the Senate passed
late last week and has indicated that
there will be quite a few amendments.
“I think there will be big changes,”
said Rep. Verla
Insko, D-
Orange.
Senators
voted along
party lines to
Students, UNC
Respond to
Budget Cuts
See Page 3
approve the budget, 33-15, but
Democrats in the House are holding on
to a slim 62-58 majority.
House Representatives began meet-
ing in appropria
tions subcommit
tees Wednesday.
“We’re going to
focus first on the
corporate loop
holes,” said Rep.
Paul Luebke, D-
Durham, co-chair
man of the Finance
Committee.
Loopholes are
areas of special
interest where
taxes can be
increased.
Legislators have
been careful to
Rep.
Verla Insko,
D-Orange,
suggests generating
more revenue to
reduce budget cuts.
avoid a general tax increase, instead
identifying areas to try and “close the
loopholes” to raise revenue.
Once all of the proposals are fully
implemented, in the 2002-2003 fiscal
year, the loopholes would raise an esti
mated $l9O million.
The biggest generator of money
would come from a 6 percent tax on
out-of-state long-distance calls, which
would produce $68.7 million for the
2001-2002 fiscal year. But House
Representatives say it’s unlikely that
provision will pass.
“I think it will be very difficult to get
a 6 percent sales tax on long-distance
phone calls through the House,” said
Rep. Gordon Allen, D-Frankfin, co
chair of the House Finance Committee.
But Luebke has suggested adding a
fourth income-tax bracket to raise more
revenue. The tax would raise income tax
from 7.75 percent to 8.5 percent for those
making more than $200,000 a year, or
about 2 percent of the population.
“That single change could bring in
sll9 million,” Luebke said.
“We have to raise revenue so we can
restore programs that were cut by the
See BUDGET CUTS, Page 2