“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work, reporting or approval of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to [email protected].
Our Town Does It To Us, Not With Us: Preserve Mendel Drive Forest Path From Paving
A perspective from Edward M. Marshall
About a week ago, I was walking my puppy through the woods at the end of Mendel Drive Extension in the Old Forest Creek neighborhood, as I and others do every day. The path goes through a beautiful forest over to the Timber Hollow apartments on MLK Blvd. There are many paths through the forest all the way down to Booker Creek, where children ride bikes, paint rocks and create forts, and seniors go to enjoy peace and quiet.
All of a sudden, as I was halfway down the dirt path, 12 people tumbled out of 2 Town vehicles and walked toward me. Having lived here for 16 years, and having had the Town attempt to pave our path twice before (2017, 2023) I thought, “Here we go again! Really?! Why?” I waited and decided to stand my ground. I asked them who they were and why they were there. There was no obvious leader, but the Office of Mobility & Greenways (OMG) leader Bergen Waterson was kind enough to speak up. They were “assessing” 11 sites for their E2E plan; this was the first.
I told them we had been through this twice before and that WE DON’T WANT it paved or graveled. That it isn’t necessary. That this path goes nowhere. That Old Forest Creek is 100 homes in circle, with one way in and one way out. Booker Creek is on the other side. There’s nowhere to go! They were unphased. So I made it simple:
LEAVE US ALONE! We don’t need it. We don’t want it, and a forthcoming petition will make that clear.
www.change.org/p/leave-us-alone-preserve-mendel-drive-extension-path-from-paving
Additional reasons to leave us alone:
No Consultation: the Town did not directly consult with us in advance—not at all! They never do. Unclear Motive—Why Us? The Everywhere 2 Everywhere plan is in its final phase; our path goes No Where. So why are they doing this? To check off a box? I’m sorry that’s an insufficient reason for us No Need: The Timber Hollow residents already have direct access to MLK and Piney Mountain Road and don’t need this pathway for that purpose Our Forest Would Be Ruined: To pave or gravel this path, bulldozers would have to take down trees and because our dirt path is riddled with tree roots, they would dig them up resulting in more dead trees Climate Crisis: We need our trees, our riparian forests, and dirt path to absorb heat and water; the Town needs to plant trees, not bulldoze them Adamant Resident Opposition: A majority of our neighborhood is adamantly opposed, especially the 2 neighbors that live on either side of Mendel Extension. Let’s hear what one of them said:I grew up in OFC; I now realize how much I benefited from living in a neighborhood that was nestled in the woods without prioritizing through traffic. It meant my friends and I could play basketball/ football in the cul-de-sac, ride our bikes without worry, and walk our dogs along the trails in peace. Connectivity shouldn’t come at the expense of tranquility. It’s character, safety, and tranquility that make neighborhoods like OFC (and Chapel Hill) special. I also hope that we’re thinking beyond transportation metrics – it should be about making nuanced decisions that reflect the priorities of the people who live there every day. From what I’ve seen, the neighborhood overwhelmingly opposes this connection, and the design doesn’t provide any benefit to residents of the apartment complex.
A TOWN GOVERNMENT THAT DOES IT TO US, NO WITH USThere’s a bigger issue here—Mendel Drive is just a symptom of a town-wide problem. Our Town Government doesn’t listen to us. Yes, they have public hearings (if you know about them), and you can speak for 2 minutes at a Council meeting. They are going to do whatever they darn well please, our voices be damned. I have lived here 35 years and regardless of the issue, in the last 10-15 years, they don’t listen and they don’t consult us in advance of actions. To wit:
Mendel Drive Extension: 3 times in 8 years; no consultation Booker Creek: the Town was going to cut down 70 acres of riparian forest and pave it with concrete; we just happened to find out 1 week ahead; it was an election year; our team of experts used date to show them it was a bad idea; no consultation Coal Ash at the MLK Police Station: coal ash is toxic; 60,000 tons is about to be dug up to build a new municipal center—the Council refused to listen to 3 national experts on the topic. When it is dug up, the coal ash dust (mercury, lead, & other toxins) will impact passersby, walkers on Bolin Creek, low income residents across MLK, high income residents above, and water in the creek that flows to Jordan Lake; denial; it’s immoral; did not listen Residential Zoning: the Town got rid of single home zoning over our objections, which means equity firms from Atlanta, Boston, or Chicago can purchase our homes and build multi-unit structures, destroying the character and quality of life in neighborhoods like Old Forest Creek; did not listen Carolina North: we live ½ mile from the hundreds of acres of trees to be cut down for a basketball stadium and commercial entertainment zone in the last large forest in Chapel Hill; No consultation, of course. They should be planting trees, not destroying themThere is a basic rule of democracy here we need to remember:
Those most directly affected by the Town’s actions have a right to be involved in the decision.
That rule is violated every day in Chapel Hill’s now autocratic government. We’re no longer the Town of Howard Lee and direct democracy. It’s shameful. Leave Old Forest Creek’s Mendel Drive Extension forest path alone!
— Dr. Edward Marshall, Old Forest Creek Drive Neighborhood, Duke University Adjunct Professor Leadership (Ret)
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
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