I support smart growth in appropriate venues, a minority position among many of my peers. I’d like to be able to lobby for high-density projects, but when a developer seems to portray a project as something it isn’t and smacks down moderately priced housing for a half-mile stretch, that makes the task all the harder. […]
Sharp eye on Flats
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 23, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/04/23/sharp-eye-on-flats/
Windfall
I’ve read about people who come into money and then the trouble starts. Town Council showed a hint of that at Monday night’s meeting when they began talking about how to spend the money from the sale of “two-thirds” bonds. These bonds don’t need voters’ approval, but council does have to approve the sale. The […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 19, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/04/19/windfall/
Back from break
Town Council resumes meetings tonight, presumably refreshed and rarin’ to go after its 3-week spring break. Tonight’s agenda includes a number of interesting items, and perhaps a little gift. Community Home Trust starts the festivities with a petition for the town to commit to designating 13 of its parking spaces at 140 West Franklin for […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 16, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/04/16/back-from-break/
Keeping up with campus
Five of nine council members made sure we now have a law banning some people from talking on cell phones while driving (although those five council members are exempt). The law will cost taxpayers an undetermined amount of money in an extraordinarily tight budget year. It will be impossible to enforce, according to police, and […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 5, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/04/05/keeping-up-with-campus/
Decision by Ouija
I don’t think I ever went to a slumber party as a kid that someone didn’t bring out a Ouija board to divine answers to life’s mysteries of who liked whom and would I ever be kissed. I don’t recall at what age I finally figured out that the little plastic table wasn’t picking out […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on April 2, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/04/02/decision-by-ouija/
Exceptions to the rule
The vote hadn’t even been taken last night before cell phone ban supporters on council began jockeying for exceptions for their constituents unhappy with a ban. First, a couple of ham radio operators made a last-minute plea to exempt federally licensed amateur radio operators. So Jim Ward moved that the cell phone ban ordinance be […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 27, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/03/27/exceptions-to-the-rule/
Save all of us from ourselves
The town has confidence in us to use our handguns responsibly in public parks, and perhaps to use our cell phones responsibly on public roads (unless we are single or in a marriage not recognized by the state or are childless or orphaned), but not to make decisions in the best interest of health regarding […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 26, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/03/26/save-all-of-us-from-ourselves/
Dividing a small pot
Frank McCourt’s memoir “Angela’s Ashes” shares the experiences of a family that coexists with poverty, not letting it impede them as they live their lives. In one scene, a father is ready to go from Ireland to England to find work to support the family. (Forgive me if I’ve gotten some of the details wrong; […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 22, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/03/22/dividing-a-small-pot/
Why not live here?
At last night’s Town Council meeting, town business management director Ken Pennoyer and a band of technology professionals waxed eloquent on the wonders of Gig U, the ultra-high-speed connectivity coming to town. Following the presentation that detailed ways the new service would improve our lives, Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt crowed, “Why doesn’t everyone want to live […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 20, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/03/20/why-not-live-here/
Price of free speech
My column in The Weekly last week offended some Hilltop Condo owners. I had chastised the senior citizens who made multiple pleas to council to retain two rogue parking spaces residents had created in a driveway curb cut on W. Barbee Chapel Road so they wouldn’t have to drive two-tenths of a mile to the […]
Posted by Nancy Oates on March 16, 2012
https://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/03/16/price-of-free-speech/