- Address climate change through practical town policies.
We galvanized support for an overhaul of the Chapel Hill Tree Ordinance by gathering signers to a petition to the Town Council. We’ve advocated for parks such as Legion Road and more green space requirements for new development. We’ve pressed the council to improve our stormwater ordinances to reduce incidences of flooding. We’ve advocated for the conservation of Natural Heritage areas at Meadowmont and Eastowne, as well as increasing open space requirements. - Support policies that ease traffic congestion.
We’ve advocated for transportation infrastructure that serves our economic centers and the transit needs of our residents by holding forums and vigorously advocating for Bus Rapid Transit. The demise of the wasteful 3.8 billion dollar light rail project has freed up local transit dollars to use to expand local bus service and to plan for regional connections. We’ve advocated for transparency in government deliberation and decision-making in transit decisions. We joined forces with other community groups to press for affordable transit that would serve many Orange County residents. See https://www.affordabletransitforall.com.
- Press for adequate infrastructure for new development.
For example, the Master Plan for the new UNC Health campus at Eastown must build in the infrastructure such as frequent bus service, dedicated bike lanes, safe sidewalks, as the project grows. 15-501 already is congested. Development approvals must be linked to improvements that will mitigate the impacts to traffic congestion and affected neighborhoods. - Improve code for Ephesus Fordham “Blue Hill” District.
We continue to advocate for changes in the form-based code. The Code has encouraged lots of new apartment buildings, each with a parking garage which discourages walking. The Code has encouraged land speculation bringing higher taxes and rents for local long time local business to hang on. Residences in general do not help our net revenues. - Advocate for development that will pay its way. For decades the Town established a reputation for making careful development approvals which meant among things ensuring adequate infrastructure as the Town grew. When the Carolina North Development Agreement was approved, the Town and University established a contract that required transportation improvements as the new campus grew. That approach changed in 2014 when the Town Council substituted a new form of zoning called Form Based Code for existing town ordinances. Gone were public hearings and careful review; the Town no longer required measures to address the new traffic burdens and even borrowed money to pay for some mitigation measures. CHALT continues to demand concurrency in every new development proposal.
- Advocate for Town policies that provides affordable living for residents. Gentrification – the removal of older affordable housing units replaces by new expensive units – has dramatically reduced affordable rentals in Chapel Hill. We actively supported the town participating in a subsidized rental program. A pilot is underway at Glen Lennox.
- Conserve important land tracts. We are actively supporting the conservation of the 20 acre Natural Heritage area in Eastowne, and the development of the Legion Road property as a park. Our parks and greenways have made Chapel Hill a special area in which to live and we need to preserve tree canopy and our green spaces for future generations.
- Raise awareness and advocate for a safe and environmental solution to Chapel Hill’s Coal Ash Dump.
Updated June 2021
What can you do to help?
- Contribute your ideas by joining a team to work on one of these issues.
- Help us to build community by signing up people for our newsletter info@chalt.org.
- Participate in our CHALT discussion group and advocate for ways to improve our town.
- Support our Speakers Series with a contribution. See donate button at bottom of main page. The Leaderhip CHALT PAC is active only during election cycles and gets out the word on our candidates.
- Volunteer to plan a program on a topic you think people need to know about at info@chalt.org.
Contact us if you would like to help on any of these projects. info@chalt.org