The Orange/Chatham Chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina and the North Carolina Family to Family Health Information Center of the Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center will hold a free parent training tonight (Thursday) from 6 to 8:30 at Extraordinary Ventures on South Elliott Road.

The training, called Public Health Programs 1, will feature discussion of public programs, including CAP waivers, Medicaid, SSI, EPSDT, Medicare and NC Health Choice.
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For Kinnaird

It’s unfortunate that we must choose between two fine public servants, Ellie Kinnaird and Moses Carey. Both have served us well for many years. Both are willing to raise controversial issues. Both are Democrats with liberal leanings. I missed their debate, but I heard it wasn’t much of a debate because they agree on most of the issues. It’s unfortunate that this race not only divides our community, but I see where it has divided households too. So how will you make your decision if you haven’t already? For me the choice is clear. I grew up with Ellie’s sons and much later I watched Ellie as mayor of Carrboro help shape it into the vibrant, unusual town that it has become today. There are many reasons Carrboro is a great place to live. Ellie Kinnaird is one of them.

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With former Carrboro Board of Aldermen member Diana McDuffee asking for help and noting that real estate interests are “spending a small fortune statewide” in an effort to defeat it, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted 6 to 1 to officially support a real estate transfer tax.

At its meeting Tuesday night at Town Hall, McDuffee said the tax is for now the best alternative the county has to take some of the pressure off rising property taxes.

“I believe it is the most progressive option for paying for schools and parks,” she said.

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The Carrboro Board of Aldermen meets Tuesday night at Town Hall. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Links here. Items on the agenda include:
1. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public Hearing on a Land Use Ordinance Text Amendment to Modify Impervious Surface Limitations for Day Care Uses in Village Mixed Use Developments

2. OTHER MATTERS
1. Consideration of a Resolution in Support of the Orange County Real Estate Transfer Tax

2. Annual Update of the 2005-2010 Consolidated Housing Plan for Orange County

3. Review of Advisory Board Appointment and Training Processes

The Board of County Commissioners and the Chapel Hill Town Council will meet for a joint planning public hearing on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center on Homestead Road. Here’s the agenda:

Map of Items for Consideration

Public Hearing Items

1. Homestead Twin Towns Zoning Atlas Amendment and Conditional Use Permit

Request by Capkov Ventures, Inc. to rezone 21.5 acres of land at the southwest corner of Homestead Road and Seawell School Road from Residential-2 (R-2) to Residential-4-Conditional (R-4-C).

This request is located in the Chapel Hill Joint Planning Transition Area and requires the approval of the Chapel Hill Town Council and Orange County Commissioners.

2. Animal Services Facility Zoning Atlas Amendment

Request by Orange County to rezone 5.96 acres of property on the south side of Eubanks Road west of Millhouse Road from Residential-1 to Office Institutional-1 Conditional to accommodate the construction of an animal services facility.

This request is located in the Chapel Hill Joint Planning Transition Area and requires the approval of the Chapel Hill Town Council and Orange County Commissioners. More »

Here’s the agenda for Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting:

1. Explanation of OWASA’s Plans to Increase Connection Fees for New Customers for Water and Sewer Services
   • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
2. Report on the Revolving Loan Fund
   • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
3. Discussion of Leadership Advisory Committee Final Report
   • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
4. Appointments to the Board of Adjustment
   • Additional Agenda Item Attachment

The Town Council meets Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chamber on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The town’s ordered list code is being a little tricky, so if this looks confusing, you can also find the agenda here. Here’s the full agenda:

1. Ceremonies:
   1. Visitor’s Bureau Branding Campaign.
2. Public Forums and Hearings:
   1. Public Forum: NC 86/Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Corridor and Town Wide Pedestrian Safety Evaluation Draft Study (Presenter: David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Coordinator) [Estimated Time: 15 minutes]
   2. Public Hearing: Public Art Contextual Plan [Estimated Time: 15 minutes]
      1. Introduction to Public Art Contextual Plan (Staff Presenter: Bill Webster, Interim Parks and Recreation Director)
      2. Chapel Hill Public Art Contextual Plan (Presenter: Kate Flory, Executive Director, Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission) (R-1). More »

The Orange County Assembly of Governments meets Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill. The town boards of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough will meet with the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Here’s the agenda:

1) Sustainable economic development

a. Update on EDC strategic plan and overview of work plan for 2007-2008

b. Discussion of economic development throughout the county

2) Sustaining and maintaining affordable housing

3) Shearon Harris update

4) Future school site collaboration/placements/land-banking

You can find the full, 68-page version here (pdf).

Here’s the agenda for the Board of Aldemen meeting for March 27:

1. Public Hearing on the Temporary Street Closing Permit Application for the Carrboro Classic Duathlon
   • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
2. Public Hearing on a Conditional Use Permit Request for the Morgan Glen Subdivision
   • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
3. Public Hearing on a Draft Ordinance that Establishes a Six-Month Development Moratorium in Carrboro’s Northern Study Area
   • Additional Agenda Item Attachment

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen meet Tuesday ,March 20 at Town Hall, 301 West Main Stree. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Audio, video and action summaries for past meetings are available on the town’s Web site within 12 to 18 hours at http://www.townofcarrboro.org/BoA/Agendas/boaAgendas.htm.

Tuesday’s agenda includes:

1. REQUESTS FROM VISITORS AND SPEAKERS FROM THE FLOOR
2. RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
3. CONSENT AGENDA
   1. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings
   2. A Request to Dispose of the House on the MLK Park Property by Private Sale
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   3. Request to Set a Public Hearing for the Permanent Closing of the Todd Street Right-of-Way
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   4. Appointment to the Appearance Commission/NPDC
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   5. Award of Contract for the Bolin Creek Watershed Study
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   6. Additional Appointments to the Smith Level Road Task Force
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   7. A Request to Approve a Budget Amendment for Facilitation Services from the Dispute Settlement Center
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
4. OTHER MATTERS
   1. Presentation by “Signal: The Southeast Electronic Music Festival”
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   2. Report on Chapel Hill Transit Operations and Planning
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   3. Request to Set a Public Hearing on a Land Use Ordinance Text Amendment to Establish Urban Amenity Space Requirements for Developments in the Downtown
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   4. A Report on the Ecosystem Enhancement Program’s BMP Conceptual Plan for the Roberson and Carrboro Tracks Sites
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   5. Discussion of Possible Revisions to the Draft Ordinance to Establish a Six-Month Moratorium on Many Development Projects in the Northern Study Area
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   6. Additional Appointments to the Northern Study Area Plan Implementation Review Committee
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
   7. Discussion of an Appointment to the Planning Board
      • Additional Agenda Item Attachment
5. MATTERS BY TOWN CLERK
6. MATTERS BY TOWN MANAGER
7. MATTERS BY TOWN ATTORNEY
8. MATTERS BY BOARD MEMBERS