Red flags went up for me when I got the email about a meeting to introduce an initiative called “Neighborhood Character Standards.” Not so much because of its title that evoked right-wing conservative ideology, and not because of anything in the standards themselves. What caught my attention was that the email, in a chipper tone, […]
All posts in category Uncategorized
What defines character?
Posted by NancyDon on August 3, 2015
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2015/08/03/what-defines-character/
Parks ahead? Slow down
So many Orange County commissioners may show up for a tour of potential park sites on Millhouse Road and Twin Creeks on New Year’s Eve that the photo op has been deemed a special commissioners’ meeting. If a majority of commissioners attend an event, state law considers it an official meeting and must give the […]
Posted by NancyDon on December 29, 2014
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2014/12/29/parks-ahead-slow-down/
An end, and a new beginning
Compromise, a concept not usually synonymous with Town Council, ruled the day during the approval of a plan for Central West. Council members did so many things right during last Tuesday’s meeting that it’s hard to know where to begin. Town staff set the stage by reconfiguring the room to allow increased occupancy of 130; […]
Posted by NancyDon on December 2, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/12/02/an-end-and-a-new-beginning/
ETJ and trust
At its Oct. 21 meeting, Town Council will preside over a public hearing to consider expanding the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction north of town. The proposed plan would incorporate the historic Rogers Road area, the old landfill, Northwood and a large chunk north of Eubanks Road into the ETJ. Accepting this proposal would allow the town to […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on October 13, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/10/13/etj-and-trust/
At first glance
The Friends of Downtown held a sneak preview of the candidates for Town Council last Thursday. I sat in the audience next to Julie McClintock, which didn’t seem like a mistake at the time, until Mark Kleinschmidt, running unopposed for mayor, got up to speak and made mention of the “constant contrarians.” And suddenly, all […]
Posted by NancyDon on September 2, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/09/02/at-first-glance/
Budget busters
The town can’t afford to keep the larger library open as many hours a week as the pre-renovated space without raising taxes or cutting other services. From the beginning the plan for funding the increased operating costs was to raise taxes, but the economy hasn’t exactly bounced back. Now state laws are hitting some of […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on June 10, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/06/10/budget-busters/
It’s wonderful — and tax deductible
Every time I see a long line of Chapel Hill residents queued up at Town Council meetings to give an impassioned speech about some project or issue dear to their hearts, I’m reminded of what an overall pretty good place Chapel Hill is to live. All of those people wouldn’t be spending their discretionary time […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 28, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/11/28/its-wonderful-and-tax-deductible/
Keep talking
A certain peevishness has settled over Jim Ward this term. He snaps at his colleagues and makes motions and calls for votes before discussion has barely begun. It may be a manifestation of what many of us felt upon turning 50 and realizing that after working for 30 years, we’re tired, and we still have […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 12, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/11/12/keep-talking/
What’s the rush?
Southern Area resident and CH2020 participant Jeanne Brown has this to say about the proposed Obey Creek development near Southern Village: As has become a common theme in the two-and-a-half-year-old Obey Creek discussion, area residents found that Monday night’s Town Council agenda included another Obey Creek twist: The resolution before Town Council combined discussion and […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 8, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/11/08/whats-the-rush/
Good neighbor in good faith
The IFC has a Good Neighbor Plan and a lease for its Homestead Road facility. And Lee Storrow came into his own at last night’s Town Council meeting, standing up tentatively but tenaciously for certain safeguards to be added into each document. Homestead Road neighbors have held IFC’s toes to the fire throughout the process […]
Posted by NancyDon on June 12, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/06/12/good-neighbor-in-good-faith/