The Durham County Board of Commissioners discussed two plans for zoning Northeast Durham Monday night, stirring debate among commissioners and residents alike.
County planning officials presented two land use plans to the board. The first plan divided the area into several residential zones with a proposed density of one to two homes per acre, and the second recommended a density of one to three homes per acre. Several dozen members of the Burton Road Neighborhood Association attended the meeting to protest the second plan. As residents who will be affected by the zoning decision, they said they felt their input had not been considered in the planning process and supported the first, less dense plan.
Some commissioners echoed that sentiment. County Commissioner Joe Bowser said that area citizens do not currently have adequate access to city water and that further development will only complicate the problem.
"This plan will not bring water [to the people] of this area," Bowser said. "These concerns are not addressed in this plan."
Commissioner Becky Heron said development in the area had already harmed the environment of two watersheds that provide a haven for wildlife. "When they let three to five homes to the acre go out there, many of us thought that was a big, big mistake," Heron said.
However, Richard Hails, interim director of Durham city-county planning and an architect of the plans, said the second proposal is more realistic than the first. Since several subdivisions in northeastern Durham already had a density greater than two homes per acre, he said it would be unwise to create a plan that would be unenforceable.
The commissioners told community leaders from Northeast Durham and planning officials to meet and synthesize a more agreeable proposal in the upcoming month.
The commissioners also discussed several bond issues, among them the reimbursement of school bonds in Durham County.
Some commissioners voiced concern that the money from the bonds would not be put to good use.
Bowser said he believed schools already had a large amount of unused resources and land and that he wanted to know the reasons behind the issuance of the bonds.
Commissioner Ellen Reckhow wanted to ensure that all relevant institutions were involved in the drafting of school construction projects to avoid confusion between county and school officials. "We don't want to micromanage the school board, but we want a commitment to a process," Reckhow said. The commissioners decided to consider the issue later once it becomes clear how the bonds are going to be issued and used.
IN OTHER BUSINESS: The commissioners covered a range of proposals that passed unanimously, including additions to a local fire department building and allocation of transportation funds.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.