Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Jan. 30, 2002, edition 1 / Page 3
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Slip Daily (Tar Hppl Council's Action Not Due Process To build or not to build - that was the question before the Chapel Hill Town Council on Monday night. Development has been a hot-button issue in the town for years because the manner in which Chapel Hill grows piques the inter est of politicians, business owners and residents alike. And a huge question was laid at the Town Council’s doorstep: Does Chapel Hill halt all new building until a compre hensive develop ment ordinance JONATHAN CHANEY CITY COLUMNIST can be drawn up and enacted? The Town Council answered “yes.” The matter came up last year when three petitions between May andjune were submitted to the Town Council by local residents and officials. They specifically requested a moratorium on development in northeast Chapel Hill. (For those like me, who can’t orient yourself with a compass, northeast Chapel Hill would be around the vicin ity of U.S. 15-501 and Erwin Road.) The net result of all proposed build ing is more than 88,000 square feet of new office space and 359 new homes - all around an area that is traffic hell for commuters. Hence, residents worried about all this influx pleaded with the Town Council to put a stop to it - at least until the new development rules are set by the town, which would not be until late summer or early fall at the earliest. But because halting any new devel opment in a town is a move with such an immediate and wide impact, the process to put a moratorium in place is obviously a little cumbersome. Town attorney Ralph Karpinos advised the council that public hearings would have to be held so residents and business leaders could give their input. And the town would have to put forth a strong, valid and specific reason for putting a stop to development before the moratorium could be adopted. But the real kicker to Monday’s decision by the Town Council is that for all intents and purposes, they have put a moratorium in place. Instead of a formal moratorium, the Town Council unanimously voted to pass a resolution that keeps developers from petitioning the council until anew development ordinance is approved. Only four projects will be allowed to go forward because they already have been approved by the planning board. Business leaders were surprised by the move. Though Mayor Kevin Foy said the resolution was not the same thing as a moratorium, Aaron Nelson, president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, disagreed. “Essentially, you have achieved the effects of a moratorium without adopt ing it. That feels a little inappropriate.” He’s absolutely right. The town has indeed effectively stopped growth until it passes the new regulations late this year. Only it did it with alarming and careless speed. The Town Council has put off approving the new development ordinance for months so they can further study the effects of the changes it will lead to in Chapel Hill. That’s piudent planning and is prob ably the best thing for the town in the long run. But for the council to spring a surprise on everyone by passing this res olution - instead of going through a more thorough process of implementing a moratorium - seems contradictory. What about the effects of delaying these projects to the town? Stopping growth has just as many impacts as growth itself. This decision was taken much too hastily. If you want to put a moratorium on development in Chapel Hill, go through the correct process. Don’t use smoke and mirrors to get your way quickly and unfairly. Columnist Jonathan Chaney can be reached at jhchaney@email.unc.edu. I Research Volunteers Needed Are you suffering from Allergies? North Carolina Clinical Research is seeking participants for a medical research study who meet these qualifications: • Are 12 years of age or older • Have a history or diagnosis of allergies • Symptoms may include runny nose, congestion, sneezing, itchy nose and eyes Eligible participants will receive at no cost study-related physi cal examination, skin test, EKGs and lab tests and study medication, as well as reimbursement for time and travel. Dr. Craig LaForce and Dr. Karen Dunn. Board Certified in Alierov and Immunoionv Conveniently located in Raleigh & Chapel Hill For more information call (919) 881-0309 Monday-Friday B:3oam to spm. After hours please leave a message. Board Certified in Allergy and Immunology ■hh North Carolina iinica i ■Where patient care and the future ot mmmmmtm i medicine come together. ” | Town Officials Request Halt on Road Work By Ben Brooks Staff Writer The Chapel Hill Town Council voted Monday to have Mayor Kevin Foy sub mit a formal request that the N.C. Department of Transportation suspend its work to expand Weaver Dairy Road. Foy, who made it part of his 2001 mayoral platform to challenge the Town Council’s January 2001 decision to expand the road to three lanes, is expect ed to submit the request soon. The town’s decision clashed with the NCDOT’s wish to make the road four lanes wide. The council’s Monday night decision came in response to a report the council ML ™HI Hi Sy jHKH AH -T"" "■ J fll HH L 1 Mr sr He ._ k - 1 JBM ’?■-si *£■- ■ IHPQFn ■ • PjgpilM x mm mV ’hSR DTH JESSICA NEWFIELD Junior Christopher Salazar (left), freshman Leah Mcßae and sophomore Kirk Mason take a moment to laugh with sophomore director Michael Gagnon during a rehearsal of Company Carolina's production of "All My Sons." The play opens Friday. 'All My Sons' Showing Timely By Kristen Williams Staff Writer Spring is typically a lighthearted time, but Company Carolina’s first play of the spring semester, Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” might take audiences on a heavier emotional ride. The play tells the story of a typical American family struggling with the loss of a son in World War 11, leaving the remaining son, Chris, to adjust his idealistic views to the reality at hand. Awaiting the return of her fallen son, his moth er finds herself in a country eager to forget the atrocities of war. “All My Sons” opens Friday. Researchers Analyze N.C. Legislators' Votes By Daniel Blank Staff Writer A state research group released a score card last week that graded N.C. legislators on their voting record, but some are questioning the study’s validity. Nine state representatives and 12 state sena tors received perfect scores from the N.C. Public Interest Research Group, an interest group that focuses on environmental issues. The grade was issued based on the legislators’ votes on environmental, consumer and “good government” legislation from the 2001 session. Eleven of the lawmakers who received per fect scores represent parts of the Triangle. On average, representatives scored 56 per cent, and senators scored 76 percent. Nine bills on which the N.C. House voted and six bills on which the N.C. Senate voted provided the basis for the scores. The bills included reduc ing coal-fired power plant pollution by 70 percent, a bill allowing citizens to sue their HMOs and a bill raising fees on small, short-term loans. Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, received a perfect score of 100. She attributed her score to strong personal opinions about specific issues. “The bills and issues scored are the ones that received from the 25-member Citizens Committee to Study Traffic Safety Issues on Weaver Dairy Road, which was cre ated in August 2001. The group studied the short- and long-term traffic safety issues on Weaver Dairy Road. The committee also was charged with the task of developing traffic-calming measures. The suggestions were divided between short-term improvements that could be implemented before the cur rent NCDOT roadwork is completed and ideas that could be incorporated into the NCDOT’s long-term vision for Weaver Dairy Road. The report, presented by committee Chairman Paul Caldwell, was divided into In the wake of Sept. 11, the show takes on a new meaning as the country is once again deal ing with loss and war. “This is the reason why I proposed the show; it parallels the experience of World War II and September 11,” said Michael Gagnon, sopho more and first-time director. Assistant director Jenny Walker, a junior, said she believes audiences can relate to the production given America’s current situation because the tragedy of war hasn’t changed and also because the time period is more modern than Miller’s other works. “It’s a timeless work, and I think people can I’m interested in, so we coincided,” she said. Kinnaird added that her score reflects her effort to serve her constituency. But NCPIRG spokes woman Elizabeth Ouzts said that while legislators passed several significant bills, the N.C. General Assembly does not have a perfect record in the areas deemed important by her group. “There is certainly room for improvement in both houses,” she said. “The General Assembly passed one of the strongest patients’ rights bills in the country, but the House didn’t take up the clean smokestacks bill.” Kinnaird said that although her work was rewarded by a high score this year, she will not rest on her laurels. “These are issues that we need to keep working on,” she said. “We need to stay vigilant so that we get good environmental bills through and stop very bad environmental bills.” But legislators who received low scores ques tioned the importance of such a scorecard. Mon-Sat llam-lOpm 711 W Rosemary St. ■> • - I Carrkoro 933.8226 News four major sections: pedestrian safety, speeding, traffic flow and problems regarding traffic turning left off of the road. Caldwell, a UNC senior, then listed the top five priority items that the com mittee felt the Town Council should approve immediately, including traffic light installation at various intersections and sidewalk construcfion along the road. The council also heard comments from a few members of the committee. All the speakers requested that the council take action to prevent the NCDOT’s planned project to widen Weaver Dairy Road, which they fear will encourage motorists to treat the road like an interstate. After hearing the committee mem relate to it more because it’s our grandparents’ generation and not the Puritans,” said Walker, referring to Miller’s “The Crucible.” Gagnon said he has had a positive experi ence with the production but that it was difficult at times. His father served in the military for 22 years, so at times the play became personal. “It’s been hard sometimes because it hits too close to home, but it’s provided me with a bet ter understanding,” Gagnon said. “It’s amazing because (the play) explored a lot of issues that our nation is going through See SONS, Page 7 Both Rep. Sam Ellis, R-Wake, and Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston, expressed disappoint ment for being judged on less than 10 votes when they make more than 1,000 votes a year. Ellis scored 22 percent, and Hoyle scored 40 percent. Hoyle said he received a low score because he voted against the clean smokestacks bill, but he said he is an environmental advocate who has pushed similar legislation in previous years. “I’ve sponsored bills to protect and preserve our environment in the past,” Hoyle said. “And what did that get me (on the score card)? A zero percent probablv.” Ellis said the relevance of a study with such a narrow scope is limited. “I could have a group that could come out and say, ‘Sam Ellis is the most wonderful thing ever’ and get a gTade of 100.” But Ouzts said the score card is important because it shows people how their representa tives are voting on key measures. “Folks have to be able to find out how their representatives are voting on important issues,” she said. “Obviously, they can’t haul over to Raleigh every time there’s an important vote.” The State & National Editor can be reached atstntdesk@unc.edu. N.C. Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, attributed her perfect mark to strong opinions on the issues scored. bers’ concerns, the council amended an original resolution - requiring the com mittee to send its findings to the NCDOT - to include a request that the NCDOT stop its efforts on expansion of the road. In addition, the council is going to request that the NCDOT not reallocate the funds earmarked for the expansion to other possible projects. In doing so, the council hopes to hold the money for future projects. The committee’s report will be reviewed by Town Manager Cal Horton and the town’s engineering department before again being brought up before the council. The council must approve the altered report before it is sent to the Officials Discuss Plans for North Campus Halls Construction will be designed to keep the original architectural features of Kenan, Alderman and Mdver residence halls intact. By Rachel Clarke Staff Writer Department of Housing and Residential Education officials said Tuesday that three North Campus residence halls are in the first stages of becoming more accommodating and acces sible to students. Students and staff discussed the possible future of Kenan, Alderman and Mclver residence halls at a presentation Tuesday by the architects in charge of renovating those halls. “This is a concept discussion,” said Christopher Payne, director of housing and residential education, at the meeting, which was held in Kenan. “The purpose of this session is to get ideas out there.” Housing department officials and students discussed the placement of kitchens, study lounges, offices and the area director’s apartments in the three residence halls, which will be closed in spring 2003 and reopen in fall 2004. The halls will close when Connor, Winston and Alexander residence halls are ready to reopen after they undergo simi lar renovations during the 2002-03 school year. Payne said the primary purposes of the renovations are to improve the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, to install sprinklers and to make access to the buildings easi er for students with disabilities. He said an elevator will be installed in each residence hall to create access to the upper floors for students with disabili ties. At Tuesday’s meeting, architects from Clark NexsSn, the company hired to work on the renovations, presented tenta tive plans for the three halls. About 20 of the meeting’s atten dees made suggestions for changes. The final plans will not be presented for at least several more months, said John Shurley, a Clark Nexsen designer. Payne said a few residents’ rooms might be lost in the ren ovations as a result of making room for the new elevators, although he said the impact on available student housing will not be significant. He said the housing department also would like to create a two-bedroom apartment for the area director, who has a See HOUSING MEETING, Page 7 THE WIND-UP... iSHh DTH/BRENT CLARK Zachary Dulabon, 5, plays basketball at Homestead Park on Tuesday, practicing his shot on a 10-foot goal. Dulabon has been playing for six months. BAniNTIDM 1 Do You Have Asthma? We are looking for individuals 13 years of age or older on regular asthma medicine to participate in a research study of an investigational medication for asthma. If qualified, you will receive study-related doctors visits, lab and lung function tests, and study medication at no cost to you. Qualified participants will be reimbursed for their time and travel. Dr. Craig LaForce and Dr. Karen Dunn. Board Certified in Allergy and Immunology Conveniently located in Raleigh & Chapel Hill For more information call (919) 881-0309 Monday-Friday B:3oam to spm. After hours please leave a message. ■*■■■■ North Carolina Mimical -Where patient care and the future of HUOI medicine come together" | Wednesday, January 30, 2002 NCDOT. The transportation board, the planning board and the bicycle-pedes trian board also will review the commit tee’s report The resolution passed 6-2 with coun cil members Pat Evans and Edith Wiggins voting in opposition. Evans said she opposed the resolution because “the amendment regarding the DOT to cease and desist their current work was sprung on us out of the blue.” Bill Stockard, assistant town manager, said it could take several months for the town staff to revise the committee’s report The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu. 3
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