751 South - City Council to Take Action June 27th
After previously deciding not to vote on annexation of the 751 Assemblage until the pending superior court case over the county’s rezoning is heard, the city council has now scheduled a meeting on June 27th to consider providing water and sewer to the project without annexation. (Update: They will also discuss voluntary annexation).
Recall how the developer bought up several low-priced properties within the watershed, zoned for low density housing specifically to protect our region’s drinking water. The developer then privately surveyed one arm of the publicly owned Jordan Lake to move their new property outside the watershed boundary, and had a former county Planning Director quietly approve it. A majority of our County Commissioners then obliged the developer by not performing an independent survey, and even rejected a citizen-paid survey! Suddenly the developer’s property allowed high densities and skyrocketed in value.
Rezoning the property for ultrahigh density demanded several tricks using the County Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the denial of citizens’ protest petition rights. That issue now sits before a Superior Court judge.
Meanwhile, the developers require several actions from Durham’s City Council. The first of many steps was shifting the Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundary where the city provides services. Once again Durham’s elected representatives could have said no, but with Council members Woodard and Catotti dissenting, the City Council favored the developer.
Sustainable development means protecting our drinking water and other needs, not just for the next 20 years, but for the next 200 years. People of this region will always drink the water from our reservoirs, including Jordan Lake, and increasingly that water carries many pollutants after running off paved surfaces or through sewage systems. Preserving the critical watershed protects our water resources from pollutants flushed from our clothes, bodies, and pavements.
The City Council can stop the damage this project will bring our region by refusing to supply water and sewer. The area’s soils can’t handle any more septic systems than the site’s original zoning allowed, and without municipal sewage treatment, density will be limited. That limitation will lessen the damage to our region’s water supply.
Please write Mayor Bell and the city council TODAY and ask that they vote NO on providing utilities without annexation. We ask that they postpone this vote until the Superior Court Case regarding the County’s rezoning has been concluded. [email protected], [email protected]
City council is scheduled to vote on this matter is at 3PM on June 27 in the Committee Room (2nd floor of City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza). Please mark your calendar and attend to speak against this if you are able.
The city should not provide water and sewer to an area that it is not guaranteed to annex. A thorough analysis of this project has concluded it will be a higher cost to the city than the money it will provide. This fact, in addition to it being an environmentally sensitive area and major water source for the Triangle, calls for a “NO” vote from City Council.
Recall how the developer bought up several low-priced properties within the watershed, zoned for low density housing specifically to protect our region’s drinking water. The developer then privately surveyed one arm of the publicly owned Jordan Lake to move their new property outside the watershed boundary, and had a former county Planning Director quietly approve it. A majority of our County Commissioners then obliged the developer by not performing an independent survey, and even rejected a citizen-paid survey! Suddenly the developer’s property allowed high densities and skyrocketed in value.
Rezoning the property for ultrahigh density demanded several tricks using the County Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the denial of citizens’ protest petition rights. That issue now sits before a Superior Court judge.
Meanwhile, the developers require several actions from Durham’s City Council. The first of many steps was shifting the Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundary where the city provides services. Once again Durham’s elected representatives could have said no, but with Council members Woodard and Catotti dissenting, the City Council favored the developer.
Sustainable development means protecting our drinking water and other needs, not just for the next 20 years, but for the next 200 years. People of this region will always drink the water from our reservoirs, including Jordan Lake, and increasingly that water carries many pollutants after running off paved surfaces or through sewage systems. Preserving the critical watershed protects our water resources from pollutants flushed from our clothes, bodies, and pavements.
The City Council can stop the damage this project will bring our region by refusing to supply water and sewer. The area’s soils can’t handle any more septic systems than the site’s original zoning allowed, and without municipal sewage treatment, density will be limited. That limitation will lessen the damage to our region’s water supply.
Please write Mayor Bell and the city council TODAY and ask that they vote NO on providing utilities without annexation. We ask that they postpone this vote until the Superior Court Case regarding the County’s rezoning has been concluded. [email protected], [email protected]
City council is scheduled to vote on this matter is at 3PM on June 27 in the Committee Room (2nd floor of City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza). Please mark your calendar and attend to speak against this if you are able.
The city should not provide water and sewer to an area that it is not guaranteed to annex. A thorough analysis of this project has concluded it will be a higher cost to the city than the money it will provide. This fact, in addition to it being an environmentally sensitive area and major water source for the Triangle, calls for a “NO” vote from City Council.
Housing And Community Development Funds at Risk
Our PA Housing Committee is working tirelessly So ALL can call Durham Home. They need your assistance with the following urgent action item:
On Monday, May 2nd, 7pm, at City Hall, please stand with the People's Alliance Housing Committee to support the Southside Neighborhood.
We will ask City Council to fully fund services & housing to revitalize the Southside Neighborhood, along side the redevelopment of Rolling Hills. The for profit developer hired by the City will just build in Rolling Hills. Durham nonprofits will work with the SouthsideNeighborhood.
Housing, jobs, and services are needed for real transformation of Southside for the people who live there. Southside is one of three target neighborhoods. Please ask the City to complete the revitalization of Northeast Central Durham and Southwest Central Durham.
In this recession, we should increase our commitment to house the homeless and prevent homelessness throughout Durham. SIGN THE PETITION!
Contact City Council at: 560-4333 or [email protected]
Please help us get the word out and take action today!
During this recession it is imperative that Durham maintain basic services that feed the hungry, house the homeless, and improve neighborhoods.
Please ask City Council to:
1- Keep funding basic human services.
2- Maintain the same level of affordable housing production.
3- Invest in all three target areas (Southside, NECD, SWCD) and their residents.
4- Call a "Summit" to develop a funding plan to continue basic services, housing, and other critical needs.
Contact City Council TODAY [email protected] and ask them to continue funding services for residents and continue to revitalize downtown neighborhoods.
SIGN THE PETITION! (and then pass it along!)
751 Assemblage - Fight It!
URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
751 Rezoning Petition - BOCC Needs to Hear from YOU!
Have you signed the petition yet? PA has been hard at work getting signatures on both our hard copy and online petitions urging our City and County Government officials to vote NO on the 751 rezoning case. The County Commissioners open hearings on 751 at7:00 p.m. on June 23rd. Please mark your calendar - we need to let them know that this is not a good plan for Durham - it is ALL PAIN, NO GAIN!
The 751 Assemblage (rezoning case number Z0800003 - changing land from rural low-density to mixed use high-density) is a $500 million, residential and commercial project proposed for 165 acres in the environmentally sensitive land adjacent to Jordan Lake, the plans for which include 600,000 square feet of retail and office space and 1,300 residential units.
This is NOT smart growth - This is growth REGARDLESS OF TAXPAYER COST! The bottom line- 751 is in the wrong place.
The only way to stop this is with YOUR help. First, Sign the Petition if you haven't already (and pass it on!) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/VoteNo751
Then please email, call, or write the County Commissioners and cc the City Council: [email protected] & [email protected]
This case should go to the City to work out water and sewer before any approval vote by the Commissioners. Tell the Commissioners to either VOTE NO on 751, or at the least pass on voting until the City has worked out water and sewer.
Please help us educate the citizens Durham -
Tell your friends and neighbors to take action today!
We also have some other exciting ways to get involved with this issue here at PA. Please email Kate at [email protected] to find out more.
751 Rezoning Petition - BOCC Needs to Hear from YOU!
Have you signed the petition yet? PA has been hard at work getting signatures on both our hard copy and online petitions urging our City and County Government officials to vote NO on the 751 rezoning case. The County Commissioners open hearings on 751 at7:00 p.m. on June 23rd. Please mark your calendar - we need to let them know that this is not a good plan for Durham - it is ALL PAIN, NO GAIN!
The 751 Assemblage (rezoning case number Z0800003 - changing land from rural low-density to mixed use high-density) is a $500 million, residential and commercial project proposed for 165 acres in the environmentally sensitive land adjacent to Jordan Lake, the plans for which include 600,000 square feet of retail and office space and 1,300 residential units.
- The developers do not commit to assisting with transportation. No buses = no jobs for urban Durhamites who need them most.
- The developers do not commit to affordable housing.
- The developers do not commit to meeting proposed new regulations for Jordon Lake water quality - posing the question - who will pay the cost of the retrofits which will be in the millions?
- The developers do not commit to restrict retail to fewer than 75,000 square feet; there is nothing to stop this from becoming more big-box sprawl.
- The project further imperils the already impaired water quality of Jordon Lake
- The project will contribute to air pollution with an estimated 40,000 new trips a day.
- Low wage, low skilled workers will not be able to get to, or afford to live in, 751 South
- The infrastructure to support the project is a drain of tax dollars, and certainly no gain for Durham taxpayers: for the first 10 years, new county taxes will cover building a new school only; and new estimated city revenues may not cover the development's need for police, fire, garbage, recycling, street maintenance, storm water monitoring, parks and rec.
This is NOT smart growth - This is growth REGARDLESS OF TAXPAYER COST! The bottom line- 751 is in the wrong place.
The only way to stop this is with YOUR help. First, Sign the Petition if you haven't already (and pass it on!) http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/VoteNo751
Then please email, call, or write the County Commissioners and cc the City Council: [email protected] & [email protected]
This case should go to the City to work out water and sewer before any approval vote by the Commissioners. Tell the Commissioners to either VOTE NO on 751, or at the least pass on voting until the City has worked out water and sewer.
Please help us educate the citizens Durham -
Tell your friends and neighbors to take action today!
We also have some other exciting ways to get involved with this issue here at PA. Please email Kate at [email protected] to find out more.
HELP STOP THE 751 ASSEMBLAGE!
Sign the petition; contact your elected officials!
Please mark your calendar for the BOCC hearing on July 26th at 7:00 p.m., 200 East Main Street, Second Floor (Old Courthouse)
The County Commissioners needs to see YOU and hear from YOU (can thousands of Durham voices be louder than these developers?)
The 751 Assemblage (rezoning case number Z0800003 -changing land from rural to mixed use) is a $500 million, high-density residential and commercial project proposed for 165 acres of land in the environmentally sensitive land adjacent to Jordan Lake.
URGENT ACTION IS REQUIRED! The Board of County Commissioners needs to hear from you today! Click here to find out more about how you can help stop this wrongly-located development! And sign our petition!
Please mark your calendar for the BOCC hearing on July 26th at 7:00 p.m., 200 East Main Street, Second Floor (Old Courthouse)
The County Commissioners needs to see YOU and hear from YOU (can thousands of Durham voices be louder than these developers?)
The 751 Assemblage (rezoning case number Z0800003 -changing land from rural to mixed use) is a $500 million, high-density residential and commercial project proposed for 165 acres of land in the environmentally sensitive land adjacent to Jordan Lake.
URGENT ACTION IS REQUIRED! The Board of County Commissioners needs to hear from you today! Click here to find out more about how you can help stop this wrongly-located development! And sign our petition!
PA members passed a resolution on electronic billboards
PA members passed a resolution on electronic billboards
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Specifically, it calls on the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners to oppose any changes to the UDO that would allow for electronic billboards.
WHEREAS electronic billboards waste energy, pose safety challenges for nighttime drivers, and reduce the quality of life in affected neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS federal law requires that if citizens of Durham ever decided to remove billboards, we would have to reimburse the billboard company for the cost of the billboard, and
WHEREAS Durham would also have to reimburse the billboard company for any future revenue the billboards would generate, and
WHEREAS if electronic billboards are allowed, we could never afford to remove them; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Durham People's Alliance opposes the billboard industry's efforts to change our ordinance to allow electronic billboards in Durham, and be it further
RESOLVED that Durham People's Alliance opposes any changes to the current language of the UDO related to billboards, especially that language related to the relocation or renovation of billboards beyond what is currently permitted, and be it further
RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be speedily transmitted to the City and County Managers, and to members of the City Council and Board of County Commissioners, as well as to the news media and other interested parties.
Adopted by the membership of the Durham People's Alliance
January 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Specifically, it calls on the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners to oppose any changes to the UDO that would allow for electronic billboards.
WHEREAS electronic billboards waste energy, pose safety challenges for nighttime drivers, and reduce the quality of life in affected neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS federal law requires that if citizens of Durham ever decided to remove billboards, we would have to reimburse the billboard company for the cost of the billboard, and
WHEREAS Durham would also have to reimburse the billboard company for any future revenue the billboards would generate, and
WHEREAS if electronic billboards are allowed, we could never afford to remove them; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Durham People's Alliance opposes the billboard industry's efforts to change our ordinance to allow electronic billboards in Durham, and be it further
RESOLVED that Durham People's Alliance opposes any changes to the current language of the UDO related to billboards, especially that language related to the relocation or renovation of billboards beyond what is currently permitted, and be it further
RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be speedily transmitted to the City and County Managers, and to members of the City Council and Board of County Commissioners, as well as to the news media and other interested parties.
Adopted by the membership of the Durham People's Alliance
January 13, 2009