Comments from the AURA Petition

Send us your opinion! info@estesneighbors.org

  • “It’s perplexing and disturbing that the Town is not following through on commitments made for studies and is ignoring its own plan for the area adopted with citizen input. There is such a history of Council and staff disregard for commitments made to citizens. Please change this pattern by rejecting this zoning request.”
  • “I used to live blocks from this corner and the traffic was already terrible. This huge density multi use would be the worst possible proposal to approve.”
  • “As a frequent walker by the corner of MKL Jr & Estes, I’ve noticed some anti-Aura signs. Today, I’ve noticed that all those signs have been removed. I hope that you have some idea of this.  As a local resident I have grave concerns about the Aura development.”
  • “Too much of Chapel Hill has become over crowded and impassible.  A development like this should be located at the edge of town, not in a residential district. I object to this use of this available parcel.”
  • “Before March 2020 my daily commute to work was from Weaver Dairy road to Carr Mill Mall. Coming home after 4 pm on most days I would sit at the traffic light at N. Estes and MLK sometimes for 3 light changes to make a left onto MLK. Traffic increased tremendously in the 5 years of my commute. How can what is being proposed be good for the neighborhoods surrounded by this development? The beauty of all the trees along these roads is slowly disappearing.”
  • “This development will add a tremendously negative burden on the community and the established neighborhoods surrounding the area. A huge retirement center has already been built in that immediate area, and more development will continue to degrade the quality of life for the citizens who will have to deal with this excess on a daily basis.”
  • “This will basically cut off Estes as a route for us to go anywhere. I am totally opposed to a large apartment complex on the corners of MLK and Estes.”
  • “Bus Rapid Transport financed by the town should eliminate the need for so many parking spaces and vehicles.  Supply more trees instead of destroying them.”
  • “Estes Drive is a narrow street with no room for expansion. We use it to get to the library, to friends living in the neighborhoods off Estes Dr. and to get to Franklin Street from our house in the Timberlyne neighborhood. It can not handle more traffic. And there are other places to build.”
  • “The last thing Estes Drive needs is 423 residential units and 658 parking spaces needing to enter & travel on Estes! It defies both common sense and public safety!”
  • “As a resident affected by Blue Hill development, I can attest that traffic congestion, stormwater control and lack of affordable housing are all community costs that are being ignored.”
  • “Follow the approved Small Area Plan for Central West. Require many fewer parking spaces since this development is on the BRT route. Require (incentivize) affordable units in this complex. Estes Drive is overly used as is, and this development will overwhelmingly increase the traffic problems on Estes.”
  • “I work at the corner of Franklin & Estes. Traffic is already a nightmare at Estes & MLK. This plan is insulting, and the developer is being willfully blind to the realities of life in our town.”
  • “Density on Estes Drive needs to be minimized to allow a busy intersection and conduit between East Chapel Hill and North Chapel Hill to continue to be functional.”
  •  “The development would help to alleviate some of the current traffic concerns for the area by improving surrounding infrastructure…The developers have met with Town engineers and their own consultants to resolve the traffic issues, and that they are 100 percent in agreement with the community.” Quote from Ryan Stewart, Carolina region managing director of Trinsic Residential Group, The Daily Tar Heel, 3/30/21

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