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