Shopping Sites Open Brick-and-Mortar Stores - NYTimes.com

E-Commerce, With Bricks and Mortar, Too - NYTimes.com

Why not?

A Suburban Wasteland in Virginia Gets a Modern Urban Feel - NYTimes.com

How do we learn from projects like this one?

Jeff Speck's Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time | Congress for the New Urbanism

Reading the City - NYTimes.com

chapelhillnews.com | The view from Obey Creek

The view from Obey Creek

Roger L. Perry EAST WEST PARTNERS   Story Tools   Printer Friendly   Email to a Friend   Enlarge Font   Decrease Font   del.icio.us   Digg it More Guest Columns Advertisements Most Popular Stories   Emailed Last 24 Hours UNC tops ECU 93-87, but it feels like a loss Chapel Hill will review giant restaurant art Chapel Hill boys' basketball knocks off rival East Chapel Hill Chapel Hill boys' basketball knocks off rival East Chapel Hill Tigers get a measure of revenge Last 7 Days Drug smuggler? Victim of scholar envy? UNC prof in Argentine jail Chapel Hill police seek public's help in finding source of gunshots at apartments Mother says son kicked off school bus for autism Andrea Weigl: Chapel Hill woman selling English clotted cream Former Chapel Hill mayor to lead new U.S. 15-501 work group

BY ROGER PERRY

Almost three years ago, we presented a concept plan proposal to Town Council for the Obey Creek property located on 15-501 across from Southern Village.Around that time, our town leaders responsible for balancing the budget while providing a high level of municipal services foresaw troubling times. Without a significant increase in our commercial tax base and recapturing some of the sales tax revenue lost to Durham, Wake and Alamance counties, we would face increases to our state-high property taxes and/or budget cuts impacting our quality of life.
For those three years, this dynamic has not changed except the time we have left to address the issues.
Back then, the opposition to our proposal organized – largely consisting of neighbors outside town limits enjoying many of the benefits of Chapel Hill residence without the concerns about taxes.
They were understandably troubled by the suggestion that the downzoning of the Obey Creek property over 20 years ago might be overturned without a reasonable amount of public input.
We reached out to this group to initiate the dialogue they requested. Sadly, our offer was declined, and instead, they appeared at Council meetings to decry the lack of public input.
Ultimately, we were asked by town leaders and staff to wait while the Town commissioned various economic development studies and, eventually, a full update of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
After three years of the Town’s work, producing multiple studies and the Chapel Hill 2020 plan which included vast public input, we regrouped and did our best to combine these loosely guiding and often conflicting documents into a vision for Obey Creek.
We never expected to please everyone, but we delivered a plan that significantly scaled back the earlier concept, conformed to the Chapel Hill 2020 plan and would ultimately deliver a viable project that meets many of the Town’s stated goals. We again tried to start dialogue with the project’s opponents, but our offer was again declined while we faced more complaints about the lack of public input.
Part of the 2020 plan included a 15-501 South Discussion Group to gather public input on the area including the Obey Creek site.
We, as a representative of the area’s largest land owner, were given one of the 10 seats on the panel responsible for combining hundreds of public comments into a single set of design principals.
Also represented was a member of the opposition organization who lives outside the town limits.
However, our single voice out of 10 has been unfairly portrayed as proof of a bias during these discussions to question the validity of the outcome.
At recent Town Council meetings and in guest columns in this newspaper, it has been stated as fact that there was consensus that big box retailers be prohibited and that no building should be taller than any building in Southern Village. This is untrue.
Those opinions were present but clearly in the minority. There was broad consensus that any commercial development at Obey Creek should be experienced as an extension of Southern Village’s Market Street, and decisions on specific building height and large format retail design would be left to the Town’s professional staff and consultants after providing further opportunities for public input. References to big box retail and specific building height are conspicuously absent in these design principals.
As we have stated at previous hearings, we simply want direction from the Town Council and staff on how to proceed with an approval process that includes significant public participation and an opportunity to gather all relevant data in a transparent fashion. We are prepared to accept whatever comes out of that dialogue.
After three years of stalling, our town deserves a prompt and conclusive discussion.
In the meantime, Chatham County is doing everything it can to recreate 15-501 north of our town limits on the south side of our border, giving Chapel Hill all of the additional traffic with no ability to require good design or environmental protections – and none of the revenue.

Roger Perry is president of East West Partners.

chapelhillnews.com | Chapel Hill will review restaurant art

I wonder who East West Partners would make ten times larger than life at Obey Creek? Roger PERRY? I can think of a great shot of him from one of the Town Council videos that would be marvelous there - even better, a continuous replay of that video!

Etsy Crafts A Strategy For Staying Handmade And Profitable : NPR

How to make use of this story in evolving plans for Obey Creek? Are we more Williams-Sonoma or Target?

Criteria

I am increasingly of the view that the only rational way to proceed with Obey Creek is for the Town Council to determine if any change in current zoning should be considered (i.e., Town resources used in some way), and if the answer is yes to provide the Council's assumption as to the anticipated NET benefit to the Town of doing so. In other words, give us the basis for moving forward in any way to consider any change to current zoning. The answer would then help all of us know where to focus our attention either to agree or disagree with what is being requested.

More Shoppers Gravitate Toward 'Brand Stories' : NPR

We all need to go back to "school" to learn a lot more about the rapid evolution of retailing! But in listening to this story, it seems to me that we should really be pressing as hard as we can for any development at Obey Creek to be truly innovative. Other than the high building rating certification at East54, what are the most innovative buinsesses/services that Meadowmont and East54 have delivered to Chapel Hill?
How about Obey Creek having- or being dedicated to - a Bricks and Clicks Center where people could both browse and talk with live help people, order products and services, and receive or engage with them?

East 54

I look forward to contacting the residential and business associations at East54 to learn of their experiences with Roger PERRY as developer. Have all of the residential units been constructed? See this plan.

Meadowmont Community Association

I'd sure like to hear a lot from these people about their view of the purported developer of Obey Creek.

Barneys Remakes Itself for the New New York - NYTimes.com

I sure think we need to be out ahead of the hockey puck for anything in Obey Creek.

Reshaping the Triangle one brick at a time - Triangle Business Journal

East West Partners Club Management | Premier provider of management and consulting services to the club industry.

jcpenney - Women's Clothing, Men's Clothing, Boy's & Girl's Clothing, Furniture - jcpenney

There is a lot to be learned from what jcp.com is doing, and will do, in shaping the future of retailing. How to insert that into Obey Creek discussions?
Remember that the fellow running jcp.com came from Apple, if I recall correctly.

Solar Panels for Every Home - NYTimes.com

Where is solar in the Obey Creek planning? Consider the Obey Creek abutting business - Strata Solar

The People Who Make Our Clothes And The Conditions They Face | The Diane Rehm Show from WAMU and NPR

We really do not have any idea what retail stores could wind up in Obey Creek. The developer has suggested Target, but we really do not know, and he may not even know. The Town Council seems to dream about all sorts of new tax revenues from such stores, but I tend to have more nightmares than pleasant dreams. This is one of those. Imagine if "we" change the current zoning rules, only to enable a company that may engage in the practices discussed on this show to set up "shop" in our neighborhood. I, for one, would be ashamed with that result.

Chapel Hill International Center?

Why not think of Obey Creek as a potential international center for Chapel Hill. We already have the FedEx center at UNC, and perhaps a few others, but why not celebrate the diversity of who we are, our links to other places from birth through ancestry and business/professional? Give the place a real focus that ADDS more than automobiles to the life of Chapel Hill. The land owner gets to decide, so how about we encourage it (the company in Baltimore) to think other thoughts so "we" are all assured that every possibility has been considered, and the best option given a full chance to succeed?
Chicago Mayor Rahm EMMANUEL was on CNN this morning talking about the critical role of immigrants in Chicago city policy. Turning Obey Creek into a focal point for all things international relating to Chapel Hill would be a bold stroke in the same positive direction.

Meadowmont pedestrians across 54

I'd love to know more about how people, as opposed to cars, move from Meadowmont to the other side of 54. How often? How many? For what? We face the same sort of highway "wall" in connecting Southern Village with anything built in Obey Creek.

People who use parking lots

I'd love to know more about who the people are who use the parking lots around Market Street and the Southern Community Park. Where do they come from? Where do they go? How do they feel about Obey Creek or anything else in the area? How to reach them/talk with them?

Fire Safety in Garment Factories - NYTimes.com

If we are to consider having a major clothing retailer at Obey Creek, this needs to be part of the discussion.

Lighting

I was reminded tonight just how dark it is out on 15-501. In order to make Obey Creek a lively and connected place - to Southern Village and surrounding areas, it has to be illuminated very well, especially the stretch along 15-501. Who foots the bill for all of that?

For Pearl Brewing Company, a Second Life - NYTimes.com

For Obey Creek?

Retro Council | The WEEKLY Town Council Column by Nancy Oates - Chapel Hill Magazine

As I noted earlier, this decision - the successor to the outgoing cook - has the potential to have a big impact on the Obey Creek process. (I am astounded to read about the benefits we apparently give to county commissioners!)

Bangladesh Fire Exposes Safety Gap in Supply Chain - NYTimes.com

Depending on what commercial activity may wind up in Obey Creek......

Nextdoor Southern Chapel Hill: News

Polks Landing

We sure need to know a lot more about this project, down 15-501 about opposite Harris-Teeter.

Neighbors, city officials hit pavement for walk audit | The Herald-Sun

How do we do a "walk audit" of 15-501 all along Obey Creek?

Air quality and noise

Shouldn't the Town insist on an air quality analysis on and hear Obey Creek before thinking about degrading that quality as a result of any new construction? Don't we need to know where we are so we can even begin to think about where we might want to go?
And the same goes for noise levels. Don't we need to know now what the existing noise levels are before adding more noise? Isn't this something we expect our government to do or that our government, under its supervision, requires any developer to do?

Transparency, etc.

Terry, I'm happy to help however I can regarding documentation of meetings and information about obey creek and staff meetings. I'll talk with our town staff and attorney today. -Lee 

On Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 12:07 PM, Terry MAGUIRE <tmaguire@newspaper.com> wrote:

Dear Lee,

I am awaiting a response to my last e-mail to you.

Once you have done that, please tell me that you will support me in seeking access to all meetings, records, information, exchanged, considered or in any other way brought before the Town of Chapel Hill by the developer of Obey Creek or his agents or representatives.

Please respond as soon as you can. This is going to get very messy and lead to a lot of unneeded unhappiness if you and the other Council members do not act courageously and correctly in the name of transparency and good government.

Regards,

Terry

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 12:02 PM
To: 'Sabrina Oliver'
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Dear Sabrina,

I am afraid that you are triggering a very nasty fight over Obey Creek. It is needless.

But to allow the developer to meet freely with Town staff with no public presence, access, or reporting is simply intolerable.

Others, I expect, are likely to agree when I lay it all out, and an unfortunate dispute is, as I said, needlessly in the making.

What an awful reflection on Town government to allow such coziness to be cloaked in complete secrecy.

Regards,

Terry

From: Sabrina Oliver [mailto:soliver@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 11:41 AM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Mr. Maguire:

Staff meetings are not open to the public. Staff meetings that include developers or their representatives are not open to the public. And there is no public records entitlement to the subject matter of staff meetings or staff meetings with developers or their representatives.

Sincerely,

PARTICIPATE! Join us on social media.

www.townofchapelhill.org/socialmedia

Sabrina M. Oliver

Communications and Public Affairs Director

Town of Chapel Hill

405 Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

(919) 968-2757

(919) 967-8406 (FAX)

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 1:44 PM
To: Sabrina Oliver
Subject: FW: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

PS

I would also like to know if any of those staff meetings include the developer or any representative of the developer. And I would like to know the subject matter of all contacts between the developer, or any representative of the developer, and Town staff since the 5 November 2012 Town Council meeting.

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 5:08 PM
To: 'Sabrina Oliver'
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Dear Sabrina,

Are those staff meetings open to the public? If so, when is the next one? If not, why not?

Cheers,

Terry

From: Sabrina Oliver [mailto:soliver@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 3:30 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Mr. Maguire:

This matter is a work in progress and we are meeting as a staff to discuss what are the appropriate steps to take in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Town Council. 

Sincerely,

PARTICIPATE! Join us on social media.

www.townofchapelhill.org/socialmedia

Sabrina M. Oliver

Communications and Public Affairs Director

Town of Chapel Hill

405 Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

(919) 968-2757

(919) 967-8406 (FAX)

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 9:00 PM
To: Sabrina Oliver
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Dear Sabrina,

If the Town is doing any work whatsoever that involves anything to do with retaining a consultant to work on Obey Creek, then, by definition, there ARE answers to my questions. If you can assure me that no one in Town government is working on any aspect of retaining such a consultant, then you will be correct.  Which is it?

Cheers,

Terry

From: Sabrina Oliver [mailto:soliver@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 3:34 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Mr. Maguire:

There are no answers to your questions at this time because the process outlined by the Council is underway. I’ve included a link to the November 5 meeting so you can view/hear the Council’s discussion on the Obey Creek and Glen Lennox sites.

http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=1662 Click on Item 9 in the agenda box below the video box. It will take you to the beginning of the discussion by the Council of the Obey Creek and Glen Lennox item.

	Sabrina M. Oliver Communications and Public Affairs Director Communications and Public Affairs Town of Chapel Hill 405 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Chapel Hill, NC 27514-5705 Phone: (919) 968-2757 Cell: (336) 264-0495 Fax: (919) 967-8406
Help create a new Comprehensive Plan at www.townofchapelhill.org/2020.

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 11:23 AM
To: Sabrina Oliver
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Dear Sabrina,

This is NOT a response to my questions. Clearly, the questions I raised are ones that the Town will not answer, and so I am afraid we will need to take all of this to another level. Such a shame to force me and others into a fight for what ought to be fully transparent.

Regards,

Terry

From: Sabrina Oliver [mailto:soliver@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 11:04 AM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: FW: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Mr. Maquire:

In response to the following questions:  As part of this, I would like to know who comes up with the names of the potential consultants? Will suggestions be solicited from outside the staff of the Town of Chapel Hill? Will the developer be entitled to suggest anyone? Will this be the subject of a request for proposals from consultants? Must the developer approve of the choice? Does he get to comment on the possible choices? And, finally, will all meetings involving the consultant who is selected and the developer, or his agents, be publicly noticed and open to any member of the public who wishes to attend?

To address those questions, I am providing the link to the two certified resolutions regarding both the Glen Lennox site and the Obey Creek site:

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER AND TOWN ATTORNEY TO DEVELOP A PROCESS FOR INITIATING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS FOR GLEN LENNOX SITE (2012-11-05/R-11a) (PDF)

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER AND TOWN ATTORNEY TO DEVELOP A PROCESS FOR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS FOR OBEY CREEK SITE (2012-11-05/R-11b) (PDF)

Sincerely,

	Sabrina M. Oliver Communications and Public Affairs Director Communications and Public Affairs Town of Chapel Hill 405 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Chapel Hill, NC 27514-5705 Phone: (919) 968-2757 Cell: (336) 264-0495 Fax: (919) 967-8406
Help create a new Comprehensive Plan at www.townofchapelhill.org/2020.

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 1:42 AM
To: Sabrina Oliver
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Dear Sabrina,

Thank you. By what date do you expect to have answers?

Has the final text of the resolution from the Town Council meeting last week on Obey Creek been released?( Until it has been approved AND MADE PUBLIC, I don’t believe the Council or the Town staff has any authorization to proceed on any matter related to it.)

Cheers,

Terry

From: Sabrina Oliver [mailto:soliver@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 10:52 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Mr. MaGuire, I’ll forward these questions along with the others.

Sincerely,

	Sabrina M. Oliver Communications and Public Affairs Director Communications and Public Affairs Town of Chapel Hill 405 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Chapel Hill, NC 27514-5705 Phone: (919) 968-2757 Cell: (336) 264-0495 Fax: (919) 967-8406
Help create a new Comprehensive Plan at www.townofchapelhill.org/2020.

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2012 4:57 AM
To: Sabrina Oliver
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Dear Sabrina,

Thanks once again. As part of this, I would like to know who comes up with the names of the potential consultants? Will suggestions be solicited from outside the staff of the Town of Chapel Hill? Will the developer be entitled to suggest anyone? Will this be the subject of a request for proposals from consultants? Must the developer approve of the choice? Does he get to comment on the possible choices? And, finally, will all meetings involving the consultant who is selected and the developer, or his agents, be publicly noticed and open to any member of the public who wishes to attend?

Much appreciated,

Terry

From: Sabrina Oliver [mailto:soliver@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 4:53 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Mr. MaGuire:

I am in receipt of your request. I will get back to you once I have gathered answers to your questions.

Sincerely,

	Sabrina M. Oliver Communications and Public Affairs Director Communications and Public Affairs Town of Chapel Hill 405 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Chapel Hill, NC 27514-5705 Phone: (919) 968-2757 Cell: (336) 264-0495 Fax: (919) 967-8406
Help create a new Comprehensive Plan at www.townofchapelhill.org/2020.

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 4:01 AM
To: Sabrina Oliver
Subject: FW: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

PS

In addition, I would like to know how the consultant for Obey Creek will  be hired? How will that person be selected? From what group? Who makes the choice using what criteria? And, very important, what is the budget for the consultant and any other expenses that the Town might incur in pursuing this matter as a result of the resolution on 5 Nov?

Thanks again.

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 4:48 PM
To: 'Sabrina Oliver'
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Dear Sabrina,

Thanks. I cannot begin to tell you how unacceptable that situation is, for so many reasons. It is no way to run the Town of Chapel Hill, its Council, and most important, its top decision-making body. And I am sure it is a giant embarrassment to many of you.

Clarify one thing for me (I am out of the country)? In addition to Ed HARRISON and Lee STORROW, which other Council Members voted in favor of the resolution on Obey Creek? Please provide me with a copy of the final resolution, as approved.

I wasted far too long watching the video; it is an extremely inefficient way to learn the details of what was decided, and the resolution I am requesting is a good example of it just not working at all – I never saw the final resolution on video – only indecipherable discussion among the town’s lawyer and Council Members over a something on another screen that was not included in the video.

I could write the minutes in an hour. Why doesn’t someone ask for volunteers?

And, while I am writing, I want to know who will hire the consultant who is to be retained on Obey Creek? The Town? Some joint entity with the developer? And for whom does the consultant work? Only the Town? For the developer too? The developer pays and normally that’s who people think has employed them. How will this work?

Thanks,

Terry

From: Sabrina Oliver [mailto:soliver@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 4:03 PM
To: tmaguire@newspaper.com
Subject: RE: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

Mr. Maguire:

Please use this link to view the meeting. You can click on the agenda located beneath the video box to advance to agenda item you are interested in. http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=1661 The meeting materials can be viewed by clicking on the item in the agenda located on the right on the video page. This is the record of that meeting that is available immediately. You may also view all additional materials submitted for the meeting by clicking on the drop down arrow beside the “Documents” box.

The minutes will not be completed and approved by the Council for weeks. This is due to the length of the meetings we have and the lack of resources. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

Sincerely,

	Sabrina M. Oliver Communications and Public Affairs Director Communications and Public Affairs Town of Chapel Hill 405 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Chapel Hill, NC 27514-5705 Phone: (919) 968-2757 Cell: (336) 264-0495 Fax: (919) 967-8406
Help create a new Comprehensive Plan at www.townofchapelhill.org/2020.

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 3:14 AM
To: Info - CAPA
Subject: Minutes - 11/5/12 Council meeting

When will minutes of this meeting be available?

Lee STORROW

Dear Lee,

Thanks.

I’m afraid it is. You voted FOR the resolution on 5 November, and have given NO REASON for doing so. What is it? Don’t answer that it is better than a SUP application. That is not a reason for doing anything at all, unless you have decided that current rules must change. Have you? Why should you and the Council spend any resources we have contributed in taxes to the secret work – and yes, it is secret, I have been told – that you authorized in that vote? What is the prima facie case for doing this? The only thing that is apparent is that a developer has said he does not like current restrictions and wants them changed; like those proverbial dogs, the Council simply responds by saying, ok, sure, let’s spend some money on this instead of demanding that prima facie case be presented by the developer and subjected to public review and comment. Ask your lawyer to explain what “prima facie” means if you do not know.

Cheers,

Terry

From: Lee Storrow [mailto:leestorrow.ch@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 7:26 AM
To: Terry MAGUIRE
Subject: Re: FW: FW: 11/5/12 Additional Materials

Terry, 

I don't think this discussion is as simple as you outline in your two options below. I do believe that we need a credible, fully factually-supported case before we approve a re-zoning. As I've said before, I think there are multiple ways to gather that information, and I don't want to close options. 

I think the concerns that you are vocalizing are related to concerns I've heard from other residents that there is something inevitable about approval of a new development at Obey Creek. I can only speak for myself, but even IF we do move forward with a development agreement, If I'm unhappy with the outcome, I will vote against the project. I voted against the first development we reviewed when I came on council (Unfortunately it sounds like Charterwood may still be built.) I can't speak for my colleagues, but I'm not afraid to vote against Obey Creek as well. One value to not using the SUP process is that there are some strict restrictions in how the council can communicate with the public since an SUP is a quasi-judicial hearing. 

All this being said, I'm still not convinced that a development agreement is the correct way to proceed. I'm very concerned about the traffic implications of this project, and I've been talking with staff about how we can address some of these concerns. It may be that we need to have a traffic impact study done prior to the start of a development agreement, and as you allude to below, hold some more extensive community conversations. One of the things I've learned during this first year on council is that we make the best decisions when we stay open to all options. During my campaign when I was door-knocking, I consistently heard from residents that there thought that our development process was broken and that we needed to find ways to reform it. I'm still not convinced this is the project to totally change things up, but I want to keep the conversation going. -Lee 

On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 1:26 PM, Terry MAGUIRE <tmaguire@newspaper.com> wrote:

Dear Lee,

We are not making much progress on this.

Let me give you an easy choice.

I have a piece of paper with two columns on it. One column is for Council members who believe that the developer of Obey Creek is somehow entitled to build more than current zoning permits and wants to “work” with him to make that happen. The other column is for those Council members who believe that the zoning restrictions in place should stay there until or unless a credible, fully factually-supported case is presented to the Council; only then should any “process” proceed that would review possible development in excess of current zoning.

In which column do I put your name?

If you pick the first column – favoring more development – I promise to continue hounding you until you provide a REASON for taking that position. If you pick the second – no changes until a fact-based case is presented – you will get my thanks instead.

Which is it?

Cheers,

Terry

From: Terry MAGUIRE [mailto:tmaguire@newspaper.com]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 1:51 PM
To: 'Lee Storrow'
Subject: RE: FW: 11/5/12 Additional Materials

Dear Lee,

Thanks.

I appreciate your taking the time. I returned from almost two months overseas last night.

Let me make several brief points?

One, you talk below about having a lot of conversation and “then move into a development agreement”. Lee, that is at the core of what I have been saying to you. I worry about the mentality that takes us from a developer wanting to build more than current zoning allows to the almost inevitability of that happening or a development agreement softening the blow en route. WHY does anything have to happen automatically here just because a developer wants MORE? If I want to build an extension to our house in back, I cannot because the current rules bar me from doing so. Just because I want to do that … does that mean that the Town will start a proceeding to consider a change in the rules so somewhere down the line I pay more real estate tax? I don’t think so. Same here, UNLESS there is a REASON to do more. What is your REASON for doing more than telling the developer to build in accordance with current rules? I asked this earlier and will press you until you either answer or refuse to do so. The political consequences of the latter choice could be serious.

The developer seems to have a cozy relationship with one or more Council members and I find it highly distasteful. If he did not think he had it “in the bag” with the Council, why would he not do the logical thing and create a website for Obey Creek, invite questions, comments, ideas, suggestions, etc. and hold some meetings of his own with anyone who wants to attend to see if he can work with the community to come up with a workable plan. His failure to do this strikes me as saying a tremendous amount about his attitude and my unease with the developer/Council relationship. I and others will be demanding records of telephone conversations, notes, agendas, reports, correspondence and more from the Council Members in order to get to the bottom of this.

Why don’t you simply step forward and say there is no need to devote Town resources to this until the developer returns with the results of a highly inclusive digital/inperson program as outlined above to solicit and interact from/with the community. Don’t bother us and Town resources until you have done that; or just proceed to develop a project that fits current rules.

That would be impressive if you took that route.

Cheers,

Terry

From: Lee Storrow [mailto:leestorrow.ch@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 12:38 PM
To: Terry MAGUIRE

Subject: Re: FW: 11/5/12 Additional Materials

Terry,

I think Sabrina's answer to your questions was not 100% definite because we are treading on some new ground with this discussion. I have heard feedback from various residents who support having the town pay for a consultant and I've also heard from people who believe that the developer should pay for it. We are trying to gain maximum citizen input, so rather than determine which scenario we will work under, the staff is putting together a possible proposal for the council and public to review on December 3rd and provide input. I've had several conversations with concerned citizens recently about the possibility of a development agreement, and I'm less and less convinced that it is the right way to go. I don't want to stop the conversation, but I still need to be convinced that enough work has been done to warrant a development agreement. Maybe we could think about an extended community conversation to firm up expectations about the property, and then move into a development agreement. As I said, I don't want to stop the conversation, but we have to make sure we have the right safeguards in place as well. -Lee

On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 3:08 PM, Terry MAGUIRE <tmaguire@newspaper.com> wrote:

Dear Lee,

I expect your support in getting an answer to my questions and I would urge you to consider objecting to the draft resolution on Obey Creek until and unless these questions are answered fully.  Picking the consultant/attorney and who interacts with her/him is critical, and we all have a right to know precisely how this will work.

And one more – I have seen no projected cost for this. It is not good government practice to engage someone as this plan envisions without knowing the risk to which the Town is being put unless the developer is required to escrow the anticipated consultant fees. You need to protect the interests of the Town first and foremost and I would expect that to be part of any procedure.

Thanks.

Bon weekend,

Terry

Conservation Trust for North Carolina | We Save The Places You Love

I'd sure love to know what they think of the Obey Creek property.

Our Team | Scott Murray Land Planning, Inc.

This appears to be the purported development company for Obey Creek.

Development Activity Report | Town of Chapel Hill

There is a lot of out-of-date information here.

Town of Chapel Hill : Obey Creek Mixed Use Development

Why is this so apparently out of date?

Town of Chapel Hill : 123 West Franklin (aka University Square) Mixed Use Development

What to be learned from this?

Walmart

Be sure to take a look at the growing Walmart fortress down 15-501. We should be able to do some comparisons and contrasts with what has been suggested by the developer for Obey Creek.

A day in the life

I wonder if there is not a knowledgeable environmental person who could describe for us a day in the life of the natural area of Obey Creek today. With so few of us ever having visited the land - I have not - I would love to understand better what grows and lives there and how all of that piece of our area ecosystem really works.

Underpass for vehicles

I think we should ask for careful consideration of requiring, as a condition of any development authorization in excess of current zoning, that the developer pay for 15-501 to be "buried" at the crest of the hill that now has the turn off for the Southern Community Park. That's a high spot right there and would allow vehicles to move beneath ground while allowing an esplanade with additional park space - or at least a level "bridge" - for pedestrians.

Provide REASON!

Change.org|How to Start a Petition

Oakleaf | Fine dining in Pittsboro, NC

It seems to me that we ought to be imagining the sorts of places we might like to see in Obey Creek if it were developed within current zoning restrictions. I think it would help us imagine how this land could contribute most to making this a better place to live. Of course, the developer gets to decide - within those zoning limits, but I would think some indication of the local market's interest ought to be important to a smart developer.

The Hotel at Southern Village

This site says that they plan to file their application in "early December" and that they want "strong neighborhood support". I'd be a lot more willing to provide that if they would entertain questions on their site and provide answers there as well. I suggested this months ago and their failure to do so suggests to me a weak commitment to keep us all informed. They would prefer, it appears, to divide and conquer. Well, we'll see how that works out for them.

The Daily Tar Heel :: Hotel construction concerns neighbors

We need to know a lot more about the evolving hotel market in Chapel Hill - occupancy rates, trends, etc. - for this new hotel, the one at East54, the relatively new one on Franklin, the one proposed for 15-501/Southern Village, and the older properties.

chapelhillnews.com | Obey Creek betrays process

I keep coming back to one core question - what is the case, the facts, supporting any consideration of any change in current zoning? It is a giant waste of everyone's time to embark on any "process" without some prima facie showing of why this is warranted. I have seen none other than that the developer wants to build more than current law allows.

Local goods

People feel differently through their opinions and actions when it comes to local products and services. Some feel passionately about this and act accordingly. Others may express support and act differently. Whatever one's persuasion, facts ought to control. In looking at a Target flyer in the paper today - and another for Walmart - I saw nothing to indicate that either store offered us consumers anything local. Also in the paper this morning - the Durham Herald-Sun - is an advertisement for King's, north of Durham. I have been tempted to go there because of its advertising, but have not yet done so. The advertisement is full of references to local products from Counter Culture coffee to locally made honey and locally grown turnips. For me, I'd much rather see a store of that type in Obey Creek than one cut simply with a national cookie cutter. I say that recognizing that additional competition could pose both risks and opportunities for Weaver Street Market. For me, competition is good when neither competitor has huge market advantage but rather when the competitors simply approach a challenge from different perspective and business plans.

The Herald-Sun - Process to fill Chapel Hill council vacancy under way

This selection, as noted earlier, could be of great importance in determining what is made of Obey Creek. Note that the Herald-Sun reports that: "Kleinschmidt responded that whether the council places a value on past experience “will be determined by the vote of individual council members.”He said residents will have an opportunity to comment on applicants before the council names the selection."
I sent this note to Chapel Hill staff yesterday:
"Dear Sabrina,

Will comments about candidates be accepted from Chapel Hill Town voters? If so, how – directed to whom? Will everything filed by applicants be available online immediately following the 7 Jan deadline?

Thanks,

Terry

From: info@townofchapelhill.org [mailto:info@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2012 5:26 PM
To: tmaguire@newspaper.com
Subject: Town of Chapel Hill: Applications Accepted for Vacant Council Seat

Applications Accepted for Vacant Council Seat

Posted Date: 12/4/2012"

The Herald-Sun - Greenfire Development gets another delay on Liberty decisions

I am a firm believer in the idea that he who ignores history is destined to repeat it. This applies, it seems to me, to the decisions taken by the Chapel Hill Town Council in the past and how that has "worked out" for them and for us. If anything is to be learned from the Greenfire debacle it is that we must all be highly skeptical and questioning of all assertions made by any developer.

Q&A With Sally Greene - Chapel Hill Magazine

GREENE is one of the self-proposed candidates for the open seat on the Chapel Hill Town Council. In this "interview", she says that " My commitment to neighborhood protection would probably find its first expression in the Obey Creek discussion: the prospect of so much new traffic threatens to make bad conditions much worse and must be dealt with now, at the beginning of the process."

I have no idea what that means, but it sounds like she is prepared to assume that something more than current zoning is going to be permitted at Obey Creek, and that the "process" of getting there from here needs to address traffic issues. Duh....... I am looking for a candidate who does not assume any process until and unless some clear and compelling case is presented for considering change. None exists so far.

NIMBY

There is always a NIMBY concern when people speak up about something closest to them. But thoughtful people care about what is closest and put their concerns in a community context. I surely see that happening with Obey Creek.

What matters most to you?

What is the most important subject or issue or service or problem related to Obey Creek in YOUR eyes?

Positive benefits

We need to demand that we see a concrete list of benefits coming out of Obey Creek development, at any level.What, precisely, are the promised positives?

How to make it fit?

I fear that without some really creative planning, whatever goes into the Obey Creek space, that it will become an island, connected only to the rest of Chapel Hill and surrounding areas by automobile and the occasional bike and adventuresome walker. 15-501 is not just a highway; it's a wall of isolation. How can we deal proactively with this? Bury 15-501 under an esplanade? Construct an esplanade over it? I do not think it is imaginable to think that a mere pedestrian crossing is going to address the island problem. We need a creative conversation NOW about this.
To see what I think we want to avoid, go spend a few minutes opposite East 54 and think about how pedestrian friendly are the crossings to the other side.It's as though pedestrians are asked to play a game of Russian Roulette hoping to make it across to the other side safely.

The Daily Tar Heel :: Town development approval process triples length of peers’

What matters in the end is that the right decisions get made. Sometimes the best decisions simply take longer to make.

New Town Council member

The future of Obey Creek depends in large part on who is either Mayor or a member of the Town Council when it comes time to vote. One of those votes is now in the process of changing, with the departure of Penny RICH. Several people have expressed an interest in filling that seat, and I hope each will tell us what he or she thinks about Obey Creek before the Town Council chooses one of them.

Plug & Play coworking with onsite hourly childcare | Plug & Play | Austin TX

This was mentioned on Marketplace the other day. One of those creative ideas that ought to find a home in Obey Creek?

A Georgia Main Street Paved in Red Carpet - NYTimes.com

I am not sure that we want a movie set on the Obey Creek land, but I think we merit something better than a cookie cutter Target store, no?

Medicare: Get the Facts - Health Care Costs, Out of Pocket, Costs - AARP

I am adding this because the television commercial from AARP does a good job of focusing on the need for everyone to have all the facts about Medicare. So, too, with Obey Creek, we need a great many more facts, transparently presented to all of us.

chapelhillnews.com | Chapel Hill road work costs rising

I'd sure like to understand these costs better and what they tell us about bus v. auto traffic around 15-501.

chapelhillnews.com | Chapel Hill stormwater fee reviewed

We need to understand exactly how this would affect Obey Creek.

Texas Business Incentives Highest in Nation - NYTimes.com

It is up to us as citizens to be sure that none of this happens here with Obey Creek or any other project in Chapel Hill.

Plant inventory

I wonder if the NC Botanical Gardens might be willing to help us do a plant (trees, shrubs, everything growing there) inventory of Obey Creek so that we can all know exactly what is there and what might be sacrificed depending on level of development? Surely there must be some techniques that can be used that would not require noting each and every living thing there.

Emissions of Carbon Dioxide Hit Record in 2011, Researchers Say - NYTimes.com

Isn't it most in the public interest to insure that whatever is done with Obey Creek contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide? This is from the EPA: "The combustion of fossil fuels. such as gasoline and diesel to transport people and goods is the second largest source of CO₂ emissions, accounting for about 31% of total U.S. CO₂ emissions and 26% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. This category includes transportation sources such as highway vehicles, air travel, marine transportation, and rail."
This would include both the construction and the operation of anything constructed there, AND upfront consideration of how much the project would add to CO2 emissions through vehicular traffic.

As Companies Seek Tax Deals, Governments Pay High Price - NYTimes.com

I'd like to see a full tax history of Obey Creek. How much has been paid in taxes in the past, how much is currently paid and then how much would be paid under various scenarios including the existing land use. In addition, it seems to me that we all have to be especially vigilant with respect to any discussion with the Town or the County that might result in tax incentives for this parcel.

Developer contact with Town

We should be able to get from the Town a rundown of all meetings, all telephone and other contact between the developer and Town staff. Why not?

Town of Chapel Hill : General Policies & Procedures

Note selection process for architectural and other professional services. I wonder if any of that is being applied to whatever the Town is doing behind closed doors on Obey Creek.