On June 16, the Town Council voted 5 – 3 in favor of the Aura permit. For a rezoning, the law requires a super majority or two votes with a simple majority. Here is how they voted. How they Voted.
On June 28 the the Town Council will vote a second time on the permit. Estes Neighbors have identified these issues with the final permit and how they can be fixed. AURA permit.problems. The amended permit with conditions the Council will vote on is found here:Revised Ordinance A. An interesting read are the staff answers to Council questions here: Council Questions with Staff Response 06.16.
The town needs to invest in a serious round about for the intersection at MLK with dedicated slip lanes (right turn lane at each corner designed such that the only time a vehicle needs to stop is when there is a pedestrian crossing. This will fix the Estes / MLK traffic flow and can not be easily done after the corner of built up. The building will be too close to the roads to build an adequate roundabout with pedestrian paths for bikes and waking.
Invest in the infrastructure before the buildings. The town has kicked the football for too long.
Additionally, we should consider a park and walk/shuttle for the middle schools.
Imagine a small road side
Kiss and go where parents can drop their kids for school, and know they will be safely escorted on a dedicated walk way, or shuttled in an electric bus, directly to or from Estes Hills and Phillips.
There is no imagination and no investment coming from town authorities elected or otherwise. The actions are reactions to the whims of out of state investors who are basically “flipping” Chapel Hill.
A vote of NO is not forever. It’s more of a, No for now… And “let us get our infrastructure act together”.
Please display courage and leadership and put the interests of the town ahead of out of state investors who will happily work with us if you push them to.
Please stop giving our town away for piddly concessions. Think bigger. Act bolder. Vote NO. We can do better.