Flaw in Compass Committee draft

I hope this will be shared with the Compass Committee.

There is a glaring and grievous omission in the drafts that I see on the Committee’s page on the Town of Chapel Hill website.

Nothing directly addresses the most important question that precedes all others:

Why – specifically – should the Town consider any change in the current zoning of Obey Creek? What is the rationale for any change? What, specifically, would be gained from any change and why is it important?

For example, if the Compass Committee believes that the land on the east side of the creek must be preserved in its natural state, and says why, that may be a reason to change the current rules which would now permit development of that area. It is NOT a reason to move automatically to consider the fancy drawings and representation laid in front of you by the developer. There are other ways in which that preservation objective could be realized.

What, specifically, does the Committee feel is NEEDED for and on that land that would come in the from a zoning change?

I believe you need to do first things first. Why is it that the current zoning rule is no longer acceptable? What is the NEED for change?

Make that case convincingly, and some of us who are skeptical of the benefits to be realized will more likely come onboard.

Fail to make that case and to make it convincingly would simply convince us that the Committee is just a “cover” for the owners/developer to reap the greatest benefits THEY can from the land.

You must connect those dots from current zoning to the bulk of what I see on a quick review of the drafts. The developer has shifted your eyes from the question above to his plans, and you should not let that happen, or continue.

Terry MAGUIRE

From: Development Agreement [mailto:developmentagreement@townofchapelhill.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 3:41 PM
To: Development Agreement
Subject: Save the Date for next Compass Committee Meeting: Nov. 20 6:30-9:00pm

Obey Creek Compass Committee Meeting

Date: 11/20/2013 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Chapel Hill Public Library Meeting Room B

100 Library Drive
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Add to my Calendar

The Obey Creek Compass Committee will meet on November 20 at the CH Public Library from 6:30-9:00pm to continue working on their draft report to Council.

Please note that the first 30 minutes of this meeting will be dedicated to public comment.

While they are very preliminary working drafts, the components of the report currently under discussion can be found on the Obey Creek Compass Committee's webpage under the heading for their November 9th meeting.