Massive Southwest Durham development encroaching  upon Southeast Chapel Hill residents in the Oaks and Meadowmont neighborhoods and Chapel Hill Country Club members.

You may not be aware but there are a series of very dense developments, totaling ~4,800 units and commercial space all within a one square mile on our southeast border that will have significant environmental and traffic safety impacts that will affect our quality of life.

While all the tax benefits from this development will be enjoyed by the city of Durham, we risk changes in the flood plain along  the Little Creek Bottomlands and trails making us more prone to flooding, increased pollution and endangering the wildlife and forest.

Durham’s own calculation of 1.6 car trips per day per housing unit could result in  a ten (10) fold increase in traffic running through a newly connected Lancaster Drive into the Oaks and Meadowmont if the most recently proposed Enclave development is approved..

What you need to know.

• A massive ~4800 units and commercial real estate being developed within less than a one square mile radius without access to public transportation will generate ~ 10,000 additional car trips per day through Chapel Hill neighborhoods without infrastructure to ensure safety of residents. Of note, George King Rd. will remain a narrow partially gravel street unable to absorb additional traffic, further exacerbating the impact on Chapel Hill to maintain their  roads and provide a safe environment for residents to navigate these residential neighborhoods
• Immense increases in impervious surfaces creating unchecked stormwater and runoff pose an unacceptable flood risk to the Chapel Hill Little Creek Trails and Bottomlands, and surrounding neighborhoods This area frequently floods, a portion of which is now closed due to the Chantal storm last summer. Even during droughts there is standing water close to streets and homes that border these wetlands.
• The Little Creek watershed, an EPA designated impaired waterway, is subject to increasing urban runoff, impacting water quality and flow. This highly sensitive watershed also contains state designated Natural Heritage Program Significant Natural Heritage Areas that the Enclave developer plans to build on

The Durham City Council has already approved annexation and rezoning of multiple  properties on our Southeast border. The Enclave proposal which will connect Lancaster Dr. to all the new development, traffic, pollution and encroach on our wetlands is on the Durham City Council agenda for May 4th at 7 PM at the Council Chambers at 101 City Hall Plaza.

Expert land use legal counsel has emphasized that a large turnout of opposing neighbors significantly impacts these Council decisions. All we ask is you attend this meeting to support those planning to make comments.

We will provide free private bus transportation departing from Lancaster Drive by the Chapel Hill Country Club at 6 PM on Monday, May 4th. All bus riders need to RSVP to info@oaksaction.com by EOB on April 27th.

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