Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 30, 2007, edition 1 / Page 7
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latlg ©ar Meri The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce is actively participating in several municipal elec tion activities to learn more about candidate support for sustainable community issues, so that the Chamber can distribute this information to our members and their employees. To assist in this effort, the Chamber Board of Directors unanimously approved Community Vision 2007, which outlines the Chamber’s goals for the upcoming municipal elections. In late August, Community Vision 2007 was distribut ed to candidates for municipal office in the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Community Vision 2007 identi fies six goals the Chamber encourages voters and candidates to address in the upcoming municipal elections. Each candidate was asked to consider the objectives of developing and maintaining environmental, social, and economic sustainability when developing their platforms and addressing current community concerns. The Chamber also surveyed candidates about important municipal issues related to sustainability and business climate. Each survey was followed by an in-person candidate interview to obtain more detailed information about candidate viewpoints on these important issues. For a list of candidates and their survey responses along with Chamber commentary, please visit www.carolinachamber.org/elections. In early October, the Chamber hosted two community forums with EmPOWEßment, Inc., Community Action A/etwork, WCHLI36O AM and the Carrboro Citizen. These forums were broadcast live on WCHL, giving candidates from Carrboro and Chapel Hill the chance to weigh-in on key issues in their respective communities. The Chamber is proud to participate in these election activities and support our members and their employees in learning more about each candidate's commitment to our community. The candidates for public office in Carrboro are: Carrboro Mayor *Mark Chilton www.markchilton.org Chuck Morton www.chuckmorton.org Brian Voyce www.yourvoyce.org Frank Abernethy *Joal Broun _ *Dan Coleman www.alderdan.com Board of Aldermen (You may vote for up to Sharon Cook www.cookforcarrboro.com four candidates) . .. . r~T T T Lydia Lavelle www.lydialavelle.com Katrina Ryan www.katrinaryan.com *denotes incumbent Carrboro Survey Results 1.) Is increasing the commercial tax base in Carrboro an important priority for you? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates ——] Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan position Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 2.) Would you support shortening thetime it takes to have a project approved or denied in Carrboro if the quality of the development and level of citizen input remained high? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates ———t Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan Position Y N Y/N Y U U Y Y ~ Y Y 3.) Would you support creating a set of criteria for desirable development projects and then expediting the approval process for projects that meet those established objectives? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan Position Y N Y/N Y U U Y Y ~ Y Y 4.) Do you support land use regulations and regulatory practices that promote workforce hous ing and residential density along transportation corridors? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates — r— ———i Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan Position Y Y Y Y Y Y Y U ~ Y ~ Y 5.) Would you support a cap on the privilege license tax? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates r— 1- Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan Position NUNYUY Y U Y ~ Y 6.) Do you think a healthy growing economy is an equally important component of community sustainability as environmental protection and social equity? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates - ■ ■ ■ — Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan Position Y Y Y Y U Y Y U Y Y 7.) Do you generally support the concept of developing the Horace Williams Tract into a mixed use research park (Carolina North)? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board ofAld&men Candidates Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan po S j t j on Y Y Y U U Y U Y Y Y 8.) Do you agree with the town's stated goal of doubling commercial density? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board ofAld&men Candidates 1 I I I I “T Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan po^ Y Y Y/N Y Y Y Y ~ Y Y Y 9.) Will you vote to identify an additional commercial node in Carrboro? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan position YYY/NYYY 1 Y 1 Y Y Y 10.) Do you believe the town should consider extending its moratorium in the Northern Study Area if it has not completed its rezoning process by its expiration in October? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates ■■ ■ " "t Chamber Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan position YYYNYU | Y | Y Y N 11.) Do you think the town needs to do more to make sure its committees and taskforces include more representation from the business community where there is currently very little? Mayoral Candidates Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates Chilton Morton Voyce Abernethy Broun Coleman Cook Lavelle Ryan posrtjon N Y Y Y U U Y U Y Y This material is also available online at http://www.carolinachamber.org/elections/ Chapel Hill 1 Cmfcoro Chamber 2007 Carrboro Elections Summary For the following question, candidates were asked to limit responses to SO words. 12. List up to three specific things you would do to make Carrboro a better place to do business. _____ Mayoral Candidates Chilton Morton Voyce 1) Be less restrictive of home-based 1) Affordable housing. 1) Eliminate the privilege tax. businesses. , , , , ... 2) Increased commercial space. 2) Address inadequate commercial 2) Increase the number and variety of parking, childcare options available to Carrboro „ , „ workers in order to make childcare more Quantify the financial impacts of affordable Carolina North on local businesses. 3) Create more commercial space in which Carrboro businesses can expand and new businesses can get started. 13. List up to three specific things you would do to make Carrboro a better place to do business. Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates Abernethy Broun Coleman 1) Complete the new fire station. 1) Increase and maintain affordable 1) Continue to aggressively pursue 2) Maintain upkeep of sidewalks and housi " 9 ' increased commercial density dovrmtown increase parking. 2) Increase the commercial tax base to and develop a meaningful long-term 3, Acw police to enforce federal detainer , l aws payer. 2) Identify appropriate sites for transit -3) Ensure that the town will have sufficient revenue to meet its capital improvement 10 norther " Carrbofo and ****** needs H appropriate zoning. 3) Foster a strong, sustainable economy by supporting entrepreneurship, business alliances and a "think local first" economic development strategy. Cook Lavelle Ryan I will continue to work to identify 1) Identify areas for commercial growth, 1) Repeal the Privilege Tax. properties along Carrboro's main transit especially in the northwest area. „ , ... corridors which will best meet the needs Work to put commercial zoning on the of retail, office and light industrial business 2) 10 ' 6 revisin 9 the Land Use Ordinance ground in Northern Carrboro. developers. I will look at addressing “* at * is sea,chable and easier ,0 3) Rework the VMU ordinances so that impediments to business development, mixed-use developments must include such as costly and lengthy rezoning 3) Meet w jth existing business owners to retail and office space in proportion to constraints, currently faced by business hear their ideas and discuss ways to the size of the development, developers. enhance the “Shop Orange” education effort. The following is the Chamber's commentary on each of the Carrboro candidates based on his/her survey responses and interviews: Mayoral Candidates Chilton Morton Mark Chilton, an attorney and Realtor, is seeking reelection for Chuck Morton works for a local delivery service and has lived a second term as mayor of Carrboro. Mr. Chilton is running in Carrboro since 1992. Having served on the Appearance for mayor to continue working on his top priorities—making Commission since 1999, Mr. Morton demonstrates a strong Carrboro more pedestrian and bicycle friendly and expanding the understanding of local issues and community design. He is commercial tax base. He is generally supportive of the Carolina prioritizing downtown redevelopment and affordable housing in North development and, with appropriate pedestrian planning and his campaign. Mr. Morton agrees with doubling the commercial scale, Mr. Chilton would be a proponent of the project. In terms tax base and plans to do so by locating a commercial node in the of the development process, he is supportive of streamlining the Northern Area and promoting redevelopment in the downtown, system to expedite development contingent on a project meeting He also believes Carrboro should continue to be inclusive and feels certain sustainability criteria. He also expresses openness to some housing should be built inexpensively in order for it to stay examining alternative ways to structure the privilege license tax inexpensive. Mr. Morton is also a strong supporter of full review but does not believe the tax should be capped. In the Northern of all development and is not supportive of streamlining the Study Area, Mr. Chilton wants to see some mixed use commercial development process for exceptional projects; a potential conflict development in specifically targeted areas. The Chamber views with achieving more affordable housing. We are impressed with Mr. Chilton as a very knowledgeable candidate, interested in Mr. Morton’s commitment to Carrboro and economic development the Chamber's priorities, and supportive of the local business and hope if elected, he will reexamine the importance of a faster, community. more certain development process. Voyce Brian Voyce, an attorney, says he is running for mayor of Carrboro in order to raise awareness of the Rogers Road trash transfer _ - _ . V ifATlU#*> site. Stopping Orange County's use of this land as a transfer site EARLY VOTING: is Mr. Voyce's number one priority. In terms of the development on6-StOD VOtlflQ EfldS IPM NOV. 3 process, Mr. Voyce believes the town should be dearer in defining f~ what type of development it wants and where development should occur. He is very supportive of growing the commercial ElfiCtjon Day: tax base in particular areas and eliminating the privilege license Tneerlau Nmmmhor 6th tax. Mr. Voyce would like to see some commercial development lueauay, twvctiiuw out in Carrboro's Northern Area but on a neighborhood scale and in environmentally appropriate locations. While the Chamber's T _ camnlo haiint nloaca wiclt* objectives are not foremost in Mr. Voyce's campaign, the Chamber 10 ° . VIML does see him as a strong candidate for quality economic development. L ■—— _ Carrboro Board of Aldermen Candidates Abernethy Broun Coleman Frank Abernethy is running for office in Joal Broun is an attorney in the Secretary Dan Coleman is a database software order to provide a fresh, new perspective of State's office and has sewed on the developer running fot the first time for a on the Board of Aldermen. Generally, Mr. Carrboro Board of Aldermen for nine years. seat on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. Abernethy believes growth is a good thing Top priorities for Ms Broun, if reelected, Having recently moved to Carrboro, so long as there is adequate infrastructure are increasing the stock of affordable Mr. Coleman was appointed to the to support the new development. He is housing and maintaining affordability in Aldermen in 2006 to fill the remainder also supportive of mixed use development current neighborhoods. In order to do of an unexpired term. Mr. Coleman's in the Northern Area and wants to expand this, Ms. Broun expresses an openness main priorities include neighborhood the commercial tax base in order to ensure to zoning for more density. She is also protection, environmental protection, the long-term success of Carrboro. Mr. interested in expediting the approval housing affordability and strengthening Abernethy is generally supportive of the process for projects that meet an objective the tax base through the support of Chamber's goals but did not demonstrate checklist of development criteria. Ms. local small businesses. Mr. Coleman's a deep understanding of local issues. Mr. Broun is supportive of Carolina North if strengths include his long history of Abernethy is not the most experienced it includes affordable housing, schools, community and dvic participation and a candidate and lacks concrete objectives commercial and retail along with mass well researched, strong command of the but displays a willingness to learn about transportation components. Ms. Broun issues. His business-friendly responses issues and engage with local businesses. expresses genuine and strong support for during his interview and to the Chamber economic development and doubling the survey, however, must be considered in commercial tax base, though, unfortunately the context of his long history of public little progress has been made in these criticism of business and university leaders areas during her term in office. and his past criticism of the Chamber's work, which make him less attractive as an Alderman candidate. Cook Lavelle Ryan Sharon Cook is an active community Lydia Lavelle is an attorney who moved Katrina Ryan, a small business owner, is volunteer whose home was annexed into to the Northern Area of Carrboro in a resident of Carrboro's Northern Area Carrboro in 2004. The primary reason 2004. In 2005, Ms. Lavelle was a finalist and is running for the Board because she Ms. Cook is running for office is to ensure for appointment to the Board after Mark is not happy with how Carrboro is being that there is representation of Carrboro's Chilton's seat was vacated. Having served governed and how its citizens are being Northern Area on the Board. Ms. Cook is on the Carrboro Planning Board, she represented. Ms. Ryan believes the Board knowledgeable about local planning issues demonstrates a detailed understanding of of Aldermen are too focused on mkro and the environment and is committed to the development process and expresses an level issues and not focused enough on growing Carrboro's economy. She views interest in seeing the process streamlined larger issues and delivering key services, the privilege license tax as a “hidden" tax and the land use ordinances more clearly She is a strong proponent of doubling that does not generate significant revenue laid out. Ms. Lavelle's passion for the the commercial tax base and other top and believes it should be abolished. Asa environment is dear, though in the priorities including getting commercial member of the Carrboro Planning Board, Chamber’s estimate, she is pragmatic in zoning on the ground and growing and Ms. Cook is supportive of streamlining the balancing that interest with expanding the expanding businesses in Carrboro. Ms. development process and creating a set commercial tax base and needs of local Ryan also wants to repeal the privilege of objective criteria that would expedite businesses. She is open to potentially license tax. She has a very strong desirable projects, both goals of the capping the privilege license tax and command of the issues, is well researched Chamber. On the issue of Carolina North, expresses an interest in working with the and would be an excellent representative Ms Cook is supportive of the proposed business community to improve business of business and community interests in development but believes the town should success in town. Overall, Ms Lavelle is a Carrboro. be careful to understand the full impacts very attractive choice as a candidate for of the project on traffic congestion and Alderman, the environment. The Chamber thinks Ms. Cook is a strong candidate for Carrboro and Carrboro businesses. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007 7
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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