Digital Billboards: Durham Council Unanimously Rejects
Big win!
Here's the news, via Bull City Rising:
Next up: the issue moves to the Durham County Commissioners, who control signage rules outside the city limit.
Here's the news, via Bull City Rising:
City Council was pressing well into the 11 o'clock hour last night by the time the procedural event happened: City Councilman Mike Woodard made the motion for a vote on the billboard industry's rezoning proposal, while Cora Cole McFadden seconded the item.
By this point, the outcome was clear -- enough Council members had signalled during discussion that they'd oppose the measure to make its failure a foregone conclusion. The only question was the margin of victory/loss, depending on your point of view.
Mayor Bill Bell opened the vote, and all eyes turned to the big-screen TVs mounted on the wall. A sea of reds, red for "Nay" -- save for one green mark next to Farad Ali's name.
"Uhhhh... uhhhh..." Ali stammered, clearly flustered at a mis-vote. To much laughter, Bell reminded Ali that he'd opened the vote, but hadn't closed it. Quickly, Ali's green box flipped to red.
Half the audience erupted in anticipated cheers; the other, stood silently and smoothed out their sports coats and dresses in preparation for a grim walk out of the chambers.
To organizers of the billboard measure's opposition, the outcome was expected coming into the night, if their assurances from the close-held lobbying of Council members held. But it wasn't clear until the very last whether it'd be unanimous or not.
That unanimity? It came down to a variety of factors, including the overwhelming differential in emails and letters from citizens; concerns over job and tax numbers; concerns over reopening the door on a legal matter long-fought with a seven-figure litigation bill by the City; and the surprise presence of an influential speaker for the opposition.
Next up: the issue moves to the Durham County Commissioners, who control signage rules outside the city limit.
Thank You Runners and Supporters!
PA members rally at the tag-up point in front of the County Commissioners offices.
From Left: Steve Bocckino, Pat Bocckino, Bob Healy, Stacy Miller, John Kent, Carol Anderson, Kate Fellman, Page McCullough, Chana Kraus-Friedberg, Nancy Cox, Dave Austin, Fran Hadden, Gordon Mantler.
We would like to thank all who participated and supported our Relay Race for a Paycheck! The race went smoothly and stayed on course thanks to many volunteers. Although it was HOT, we stayed cool in our green shirts and helped spread our message: the jobs developers claim 751 S will bring to Durham are in the wrong place, and 751 S will cost Durham taxpayers millions, not to mention the cost to Jordan Lake water quality.
Click to see more pictures on our Facebook page!
There's more!
Make sure to mark your calendar for Monday, July 26th.We'll need even more energy at 200 E. Main St. as the County Commissioners hear the rezoning case. Sign up to speak starting at 6:30, meeting begins at 7:00. We'll have signs!
People’s Alliance Economic Justice Committee Report on Jordan Lake Development
The Economic Justice Committee of the Durham People’s Alliance has researched the supposed economic benefits of the 751 Assemblage, the proposed mixed-used development in southern Durham County. Its proximity to - and environmental impact upon - Jordan Lake and the region's drinking water supply is reason enough to halt this project, but the PA Economic Justice team debunks the economic benefits that the developers are touting.
The core question over the past year has been whether to approve the developer’s application to redraw the critical watershed area in order to permit a dense development on this property. Logically, this should be a question of whether the UDO permits this, what precedent it sets for the rest of our drinking water reservoirs, and how this fits with our long-term water planning.
But let’s face it – the real discussion has centered on the promise that county residents will get jobs and grow our tax base if only we’ll move that watershed boundary. With that in mind, the People’s Alliance Economic Justice Committee, co-chaired by Carl Rist of the Corporation for Enterprise Development, gathered a team of economists and other individuals with experience in this area, to give a close look at that promise. Mr. Rist, for example, is an expert on business climate issues and is a co-author of CFED's widely acclaimed 1994 report, Bidding for Business: Are Cities and States Selling Themselves Short?
The team finds that the developer’s economic projections have some big holes.
Durham needs more than empty promises – it needs smart growth that uses our existing infrastructure, rather than costing taxpayers more to build a new hub to compete with downtown.
Contacts:
Carl Rist, co-chair; (202) 466-5923; [email protected]
Kathryn Spann, member; (919) 477-5653; [email protected]
The core question over the past year has been whether to approve the developer’s application to redraw the critical watershed area in order to permit a dense development on this property. Logically, this should be a question of whether the UDO permits this, what precedent it sets for the rest of our drinking water reservoirs, and how this fits with our long-term water planning.
But let’s face it – the real discussion has centered on the promise that county residents will get jobs and grow our tax base if only we’ll move that watershed boundary. With that in mind, the People’s Alliance Economic Justice Committee, co-chaired by Carl Rist of the Corporation for Enterprise Development, gathered a team of economists and other individuals with experience in this area, to give a close look at that promise. Mr. Rist, for example, is an expert on business climate issues and is a co-author of CFED's widely acclaimed 1994 report, Bidding for Business: Are Cities and States Selling Themselves Short?
The team finds that the developer’s economic projections have some big holes.
- The developer expects to directly employ 2,400 people in construction jobs over the 10 year buildout period, paying $110 million. But these aren’t jobs that last 10 years – each trade comes for a little while, does its part, and is finished. The mean wage for a construction job in Durham County is $33,520. At that rate, each of these jobs lasts just over a year, or the developer is counting each job that lasts more than a year as two jobs.
- This kind of double counting shows up again and again in the developer’s economic projections. They assume that their project won’t take business from downtown or other parts of the county. Unless there is some pent up demand for office/retail/residential space, we must expect the 751 development will compete with downtown revitalization efforts.
- For example, the developer projects that it will create almost 3,000 all-new jobs. If 3000 people dropped out of the sky and started working for businesses that also appeared from thin air this might be the case. In reality, some of the jobs will go to people who now work downtown or other parts of Durham.
- The developer also double-counts when they project new consumer spending in the shops they plan to build. To the extent that the residents of the new development are folks who live in Durham already, those people are already doing their buying at the stores we have now. Those stores will lose business to stores at the new development, and Durham’s sales tax revenue just moves, rather than getting an all-new source.
- The developer’s consumer spending projections also depend on their assumption that household incomes for the single-family houses will be $235,000 a year, $145,000 a year for the townhouses, $116,000 for the condos, and $62,500 for the apartments. These numbers are awfully high in a county where the household median income is $48,830.
- Along the same lines, if current Durham residents buy the new houses, what will that do to the market for existing housing stock?
- On top of this double counting, the developer claims that there will be a multiplier effect increasing the benefit of the construction, office and retail jobs, by more than 50%, and increasing the benefit of consumer spending by a third.
- While the developer double-counts the projected upside, it has ignores the costs to county taxpayers. Taxpayers will have to foot the bill to extend massive water and sewer infrastructure -- not to mention roadways, traffic improvements, and additional school and police/fire service -- to supply the proposed 1,200 homes and 500,000 square feet of commercial space. The developer promises a tax contribution of $7 million from the project – but the new infrastructure will cost many times this much. The proposed school alone will cost approximately $50 million. Why would we approve such costs at the same time our County Manager is anticipating the need to cut county staffing for next year’s budget?
- Ongoing services for the proposed high-density development will further drain our tax base. Cost of community services studies in the Triangle show that residential developments cost more than $1.40 in taxpayer-funded services for every tax dollar they contribute. In other words, the developers of this project would make money, while the taxpayers foot the bill.
- We could be spending this money to continue our good efforts to boost downtown and Southside, where we already have the water and transportation infrastructure.
- There’s plenty of history to guide us. Last week, as you may have heard, Dell announced that it is closing its North Carolina facility – which came to the state just two years ago, after the state awarded it $250 million in various incentives, based on Dell’s promise that the facility would generate 8,000 direct and indirect jobs. The plant ultimately employed only 900 employees, and those jobs will be gone in a month.
Durham needs more than empty promises – it needs smart growth that uses our existing infrastructure, rather than costing taxpayers more to build a new hub to compete with downtown.
Contacts:
Carl Rist, co-chair; (202) 466-5923; [email protected]
Kathryn Spann, member; (919) 477-5653; [email protected]
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.
Durham People’s Alliance Schwagg, Available at CafePress
From Pillows to Coffee Mugs, from T-shirts to buttons, there are plenty of ways for you to show your support for the Durham People's Alliance.
Check out our CafePress store, where you can buy DPA merchandise.
Make great gifts!
Check out our CafePress store, where you can buy DPA merchandise.
Make great gifts!
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 Quarterly Membership Meeting
Please mark your calendar for the upcoming Membership Meeting. The PA Housing Committee will bring present a proposal for support of a Rental Inspection Program to ensure that all rental homes meet the Minimum Housing Code in the City of Durham.
The meeting will be held Monday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
The Kings Daughters Inn
204 North Buchanan Boulevard
The meeting will be held Monday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
The Kings Daughters Inn
204 North Buchanan Boulevard
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
Help local dogs in distress with your gallon jugs and 2-liter bottles!
Animal Control (560-0630) collects clean containers to use for giving water and food to dogs who have nothing when they come to investigate or check up again on animals that have been reported.
Ideal are the water jugs b/c there will definitely be no smell, but cleaned-out milk jugs are good, too. They also use 2-liter juice bottles--the ones that have the black bottoms are the best, because they are more stable.
Also it would be great to help out by cutting them down to 5 inches high so that there is no handle (for gallon); 6 inches high (for juice).
We now have a neighborhood drop-off point (see below); but if you call them, they will pick up from your house. (In this case, please put the bottles in bags and mark them: For Animal Control pickup.)
You can also leave them outside the Animal Shelter (2117 E. Club Blvd.) if Animal Control is not open.
DROP OFF The Lakewood United Methodist Church (corner of Huron St. and Chapel Hill Road) has kindly allowed us to be a drop-off point.
From the Huron St. side there is an entryway (greenish door). The brown 30-gal. container for the jugs is on the right side of the door. Please put your jugs in plastic bags (no marking necessary).
NOTE ROAD CONSTRUCTION THERE: UNTIL AUG. 24, which prevents accessing the church from CH Road. At the moment, you can access Huron from either Wa Wa Ave. or Ward Street.
On Huron at the intersection of Wa Wa and Huron, you'll see "street closed" barriers. Just go in between them and you can get nearly to the church, which is on the right-hand side.
Thanks!
Some advice on cutting the bottles: I find that if I hold the handle and use a large serrated knife pointing slightly downward, I can cut most of the way through. Then I take scissors and do the rest, and go around the edge to make it smooth so it won't hurt the dog. Leaves about 5 inches of container. Takes less than a minute. Then you can easily wash it.
Please pass the word around.
THANKS!
Ideal are the water jugs b/c there will definitely be no smell, but cleaned-out milk jugs are good, too. They also use 2-liter juice bottles--the ones that have the black bottoms are the best, because they are more stable.
Also it would be great to help out by cutting them down to 5 inches high so that there is no handle (for gallon); 6 inches high (for juice).
We now have a neighborhood drop-off point (see below); but if you call them, they will pick up from your house. (In this case, please put the bottles in bags and mark them: For Animal Control pickup.)
You can also leave them outside the Animal Shelter (2117 E. Club Blvd.) if Animal Control is not open.
DROP OFF The Lakewood United Methodist Church (corner of Huron St. and Chapel Hill Road) has kindly allowed us to be a drop-off point.
From the Huron St. side there is an entryway (greenish door). The brown 30-gal. container for the jugs is on the right side of the door. Please put your jugs in plastic bags (no marking necessary).
NOTE ROAD CONSTRUCTION THERE: UNTIL AUG. 24, which prevents accessing the church from CH Road. At the moment, you can access Huron from either Wa Wa Ave. or Ward Street.
On Huron at the intersection of Wa Wa and Huron, you'll see "street closed" barriers. Just go in between them and you can get nearly to the church, which is on the right-hand side.
Thanks!
Some advice on cutting the bottles: I find that if I hold the handle and use a large serrated knife pointing slightly downward, I can cut most of the way through. Then I take scissors and do the rest, and go around the edge to make it smooth so it won't hurt the dog. Leaves about 5 inches of container. Takes less than a minute. Then you can easily wash it.
Please pass the word around.
THANKS!
Help on Development Issues
Every month numerous tracts of land are rezoned, usually to allow for denser residential development. If it's happening in your neighborhood you may not know where to turn. There's an easy-to-read and informative website you should check out:www.swdurham.org
How to pay for new development is a very contentious issue. Taxpayers subsidize new development by paying up to 80% of the costs of infrastructure (roads and utilities). For more information check out this website in Wake County:www.wakeupwakecounty.com/
In particular read the tab on "Hot Topics."
How to pay for new development is a very contentious issue. Taxpayers subsidize new development by paying up to 80% of the costs of infrastructure (roads and utilities). For more information check out this website in Wake County:www.wakeupwakecounty.com/
In particular read the tab on "Hot Topics."