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<br />that directly affected our way and quality of life, so this plan was developed out of our desire to 1
<br />be proactive in the inevitable. 2
<br /> We expected that once the contaminated wells were replaced with city water, old 3
<br />septic tanks replaced with city sewer, the stench, vultures, wild dogs, rodents, noise of big 4
<br />trucks and blasting from the landfill becomes no longer an issue, we knew that having an 5
<br />infrastructure in place would attract all kinds of interests in the Greene Tract, as well as in our 6
<br />properties. As we made plans for the future of our community, high on our list of priorities was 7
<br />to permanently preserve and protect the most sensitive areas of the Greene Tract, as well as 8
<br />reserve a portion of the land for developing mixed income housing. As you may already know, 9
<br />this community existed in the 1700’s and many families served as slaves to the plantation 10
<br />owners. Even with this dark era of history in mind, the Greene Tract is still near and dear to so 11
<br />many generations of Historic Rogers Road Community Members, both of African and Native 12
<br />American decent. We believe that it is our responsibility to permanently preserve a portion of a 13
<br />place that holds memories of harvesting fruit, nature walks, playing, etc., as well as to take this 14
<br />very unique opportunity to reserve a portion of the land in order to develop mixed use housing 15
<br />to accommodate people who are employed here, but cannot afford to live here. This would 16
<br />provide an excellent opportunity for organizations such as Empowerment, Habitat for Humanity, 17
<br />Community Home Trust, etc. to partner with Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County in 18
<br />providing mixed income housing. 19
<br /> Believe it or not, two times each weekday, seven Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School 20
<br />Buses (bus numbers 95, 79, 151, 37, 247, 28 and 43) successfully drive through our narrow 21
<br />streets, not to mention the occasional activity or field trip bus. We currently have access to city 22
<br />bus services, with the exception of adjusted schedules “to accommodate the University of 23
<br />Chapel Hill’s breaks” (summer, winter and spring). Ridership of the residents would greatly 24
<br />increase, if they could depend on the city buses keeping a consistent schedule throughout the 25
<br />year. Although the nearest grocery store is located miles away, members of the Historic Rogers 26
<br />Road Community, as well as members of the one hundred fifty Habitat households surrounding 27
<br />our community manage to find ways to get to and from grocery stores, appointments, and 28
<br />errands. 29
<br />Concerns of building mixed use housing next to a “landfill” was mentioned at one Chapel 30
<br />Hill Town Meeting, but for many years Historic Rogers Road Community Members and 31
<br />community supporters fought to have the landfill as we knew it closed! Due to years of 32
<br />determination and perseverance, it is now closed and serves as a transfer station. So, the 33
<br />proposed development of mixed income housing would not be built next to an active “landfill,” 34
<br />but next to a piece of land that the landfill uses to provide cover dirt and at some point, it too will 35
<br />cease to be used as cover material. 36
<br /> 37
<br />Thank you in advance for your consideration. 38
<br /> 39
<br />Sincerely, 40
<br />Karen Reid 41
<br /> 42
<br />b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 43
<br /> 44
<br />3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 45
<br />Commissioner Bedford said she attended the first meeting of the Orange County 46
<br />Behavioral Health Task Force, which was created to develop a transportation plan for those 47
<br />who are involuntarily committed. 48
<br />Commissioner Dorosin said the County is in the midst of its 2019 Community Health 49
<br />Assessment, where residents are surveyed on health issues, which drives the Health 50
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