| | | Three convenings of nonprofit homebuying counselors such as Empowerment Inc., Community Home Trust, Habitat for Humanity, etc. have taken place. Providers identified possible shared resources, barriers to home ownership, and discussed improvements to client experience. | | |
| | The Town conducted site assessments on four parcels town-owned parcels.
Town staff to work with affordable housing partners on the Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition (OCAHC)/Central Pines Land Study project to identify land throughout Orange County with the potential for affordable housing. Beta testing of the database tool is complete. | | |
Climate Action & Environment | | | The Solarize the Triangle campaign concluded in 2023. As a result of this campaign, which the town partnered with Central Pines Regional Council and other Triangle local government to implement in 2022 and again in 2023, 11 residents installed solar at their homes and many of those households also added battery storage. In total, over 114,000 kWh of clean, green solar energy will be produced every year as a result. That’s same amount of emissions as would result from driving around the earth over 7 times! In addition, the two-year campaign will save those residents over $14,800 per year for the next 20 years and resulted in over $200,000 in regional economic development. | | |
| | PZI actively reviews development permits involving renewable energy infrastructure, as permitted under Carrboro’s Land Use Ordinance. During some land use permit processes, particularly in the pre-application phase, staff and advisory boards may recommend incorporating renewable energy features into a project's concept plan.
Rezoning applications are evaluated for consistency with adopted plans and policies, including the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan and the Community Climate Action Plan, both of which outline specific goals and strategies for integrating renewable energy infrastructure.
The New Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) project may also offer opportunities to strengthen regulations or introduce development incentives that further support renewable energy integration. | | |
| | The Carrboro WISE program was successful in driving energy efficiency projects for over 100 residences and providing 5 small commercial loans. The projects were estimated to save 21% or more in energy savings and, on average, over $300 per year in energy savings. The grant used to fund residential energy upgrades was depleted and the residential side of the program was discontinued. All loans from the EERLF were repaid. | | |
| | After consulting with legal counsel, this project was deemed not possible under current state statutes. | | |
| | Climate Action is analyzing whether it makes sense to fold this initiative into WISE (Worthwhile Investments Save Energy) and EERFL (Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund) or how to partner with Central Pines Regional Council to implement the Electrify program - which provides technical assistance to residents to install fixtures in their home that reduce carbon emissions. CA has also reached out to the NC Clean Energy Fund, the organization coordinating Solar for All in NC, to explore how to leverage those funds for this program, WISE and EERLF. | | |
Transportation & Mobility | | | Town staff continues to participate in the workgroups for the Orange County Transit FY26 Plan and Chapel Hill Transit Plan which will explore potential projects/route updates to better serve current and future travel needs. | | |
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- Infrastructure Projects: Sidewalk projects are underway at various stages of design and construction across Carrboro, including Robeson Street, South Greensboro Street, Barnes Street, Jones Ferry Road, and Estes Drive. For more details, see the Transportation Projects report.
- Development Review: Town staff regularly meet with developers to ensure projects align with adopted town and regional transportation plans. Planning staff are also developing a toolkit to improve consistency reviews for large-scale developments.
- ADA Transition Plan: A staff workgroup is exploring methods to assess accessibility barriers along the Town’s 40+ miles of sidewalks. This effort may help identify network gaps and guide future sidewalk priorities.
- Safe Routes to School: The Town is updating its Safe Routes to School Action Plan to improve walking, biking, and rolling access for students. The plan includes evaluating current and planned pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure linking neighborhoods to school facilities.
- Maintenance Reporting: Public Works continues to use the Town’s "Report Streets & Grounds Issues" form to identify and address areas needing immediate attention.
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| | Projects Initiated (Planning)
- Estes Dr. Extension Bike-Ped Improvements (EB-5886A)
- Bike Plan Priorities (BL-0149): Bundle of bike plan projects programmed for federal funding along Shelton Street, Maple Avenue and East Poplar Avenue
- Reimagining East Weaver Street
Projects Under Design (Analysis)
- Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at Homestead Rd and Hillsborough Street/McDougle Southeast Dr
- Jones Creek Greenway (C-5181)
- Morgan Creek Greenway Phase 1 (EL-4828A)
- South Greensboro St. Sidewalk (C-5650)
- North/South Greensboro Street Resurfacing
Projects Under Construction (Implementation)
- Bike Loop Detection: Detectors to be installed at three key intersections downtown and at West Poplar/NC Hwy 54
- NC 54 Pedestrian Improvements (BL-0044)
Projects Completed (Completion)
- Roberson Street Resurfacing
- Jones Ferry Road Resurfacing
For more details, see the Transportation Projects report. | | |
| | Analysis Town was not awarded funding from the Inflation Reduction Act grant for EV charging stations. Continues to look for other funding opportunities in collaboration with Finance and Climate. | | |
Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Water, & Energy | | | o No Progress / Planning – Strategy needs to be reassigned, or authority needs to be communicated to the Utility. Buffers are currently under PZI guidance. The Utility would encourage undisturbed heathy ecosystems located adjacent to our waterways as one strategy to assist minimizing excess nutrients from entering the ecosystem.
o Active - Street trees throughout the community are pruned as part of routine maintenance to ensure their health.
o No Progress / Planning - Comprehensive Plan states plant and maintain the tree canopy along “identified” roads. Have specific roads been identified? | | |
| | Without a plan and resources for active maintenance of these areas there would be limited benefit. Discussions around maintenance and standard specifications still need to happen prior to implementation. The Stormwater Utility plans to advocate for expanded Right of Way (ROW) and standard streetscape design to be included in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) rewrite. It should also be noted that the Right of Way (ROW) on most Town Roads is very narrow so there is limited width available to accommodate Stormwater treatments as part of traffic calming efforts. | | |
| | Town infrastructure retrofits, Fire Station 1 Retrofit is at 100% design and the Stormwater Utility plans on construction beginning in Fall 2025. The Westwood Cemetery Rain Garden Retrofit is designed and will be funded with loop road construction. The Stormwater Utility continues to look for opportunities in the community for retrofit opportunities on Town owned Properties. We also included in the Capital Projects funding to buy a parcel for future stormwater Retrofit in Downtown Carrboro.
Stormwater Utility staff have been assigned the deliverable of developing a Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Playbook to educate the public. The playbook will closely integrate with the Residential Assistance Program and work toward sharing the successes of GSI implementation within our community. Materials will be shared with Stormwater Advisory Commission as they are competed for feedback and adjustments. | | |
| | Residential Assistance program is active– New position filled. Second year of site assessments and technical advice are being completed. Funds have been set aside for first year of cost-share. | | |
| | The Stormwater Utility is currently reviewing all development and infill applications. We strongly advocated for addressing stormwater when development and redevelopment is occurring on a parcel but are restricted by state statute with what would be required for the development to proceed. | | |
Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources | | | | | |
| | Staff continues work with Communications and Engagement to highlight our park facilities, we have a quarterly publication. | | |
| | Implementation Ongoing improvements to greenways, trails, and open space. Combo of other transportation and mobility summaries.
o Planning – The Utility is available and seeking grant opportunities for potential stream restoration projects and enhancements in areas adjacent to the Greenway network. Often these types of projects can coordinate and work in economies of scale during the construction process. | | |
| | Staff will be using funding from the 203 project to install art in the Drakeford building and looking into ways to add more public art through the budget process. There will also be a 70x10 mural on the Drakeford building. We are in the final section stages of that process. | | |
| | | Downtown Area Plan (Analysis)
- The full draft of the Downtown Area Plan is now under public review. It will be presented to the Joint Advisory Board for recommendation on October 9, ahead of the Town Council public hearing and potential adoption on October 21.
NC-54 Small Area Plan (Planning)
- Town Council approved FY25–26 funding for the NC-54 Small Area Plan.
*The Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan identified a need for small area plans to assess the Rogers/Homestead/Old NC 86 and Estes/North Greensboro corridors for future growth and development. These plans have not yet been initiated. | | |
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