Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Despite a few reservations, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the 300 East Main Street project, one of the largest commercial developments in Carrboro history.
The 507,500-square-foot project is on 5.24 acres extending from the intersection of Main and Boyd streets near Nice Price Books to the present municipal parking lot on the corner of Main and Roberson streets. It includes a 150-room hotel, a five-story parking deck, a central pedestrian plaza, three large commercial buildings and extensive changes for Cat’s Cradle and The ArtsCenter.
The developer, Main Street Properties of Chapel Hill LLC, first brought a site plan to the board in 2004. The board postponed a vote on the project earlier in September, saying they had additional questions about the development.
Board member Jackie Gist said the project didn’t fit with her vision for Carrboro and that she had heard from many residents who did not support the project, but that she would vote for it because the developer had complied with the ordinances and made all the changes the board asked them to make.
“I’m not very happy with this project. In my heart of hearts, I want to vote against it,†she said. “I’m going to vote for it, and the reason I’m going to vote for it is that it meets the letter of the ordinance as it now stands.â€
Gist expressed concern particularly regarding the hotel and it’s sign. Developers had said the hotel in the project would be a Hilton Garden Inn, but said Tuesday that it could be a Hampton Inn. Both Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn are run by the Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Laura Van Sant, the lead spokesspokesperson for the developer, assured board members that the hotel building would be the same regardless.
“Hampton is a couple steps down from Hilton Garden Inn,†Gist said. “I haven’t seen any Hamptons I would like in Carrboro.â€
Regarding the hotel’s sign, board members decided they would review a potential ordinance for hotel signs in the downtown area at a later meeting.
Board members had also been especially concerned about their oversight of buildings D, E and F in the project, which have not yet been designed and are included in the development as placeholder buildings.
As part of the conditions of their approval of the project, board members required that the buildings be subject to the building ordinance at the time the designs are submitted for approval, and indicated they would consider changing the ordinance to give the board the final approval of proposed buildings.
Several board members said they heartily supported the project, citing the need to increase the tax base in Carrboro, as well as the benefits of a hotel.
“As we look down the road, Carrboro cannot rely on the residential tax base alone,†board member Joal Hall Broun said.
Board member Lydia Lavelle agreed.
“We really view our role as good fiscal stewards very seriously,†she said. “To not find a way to pass this project would have been just fiscally irresponsible.â€
Lavelle said that she was excited about the hotel.
“It’s going to be such a plus,†she said. “I hate [that] people come to Carrboro and they can’t stay here overnight.â€
Lavelle added that despite the risks involved with the development, “It’s my belief that years from now we’ll look back on this decision and realize that its one of the best decisions that we could’ve made.â€
Construction is scheduled to begin on the project in early 2009, with completion of the first phase, including the hotel and 18,500 square-feet of retail space, by 2010.