The seasons, they are a changin'

Government Matters

September 24, 2013

Autumn leaves have begun to fall, and we begin to notice what comes as the seasons change. As the Town of Chapel Hill embarks on a season of aligning our zoning (LUMO) with our values (Chapel Hill 2020), consider attending one of the events during LUMO Launch Week. We're also in the middle of hurricane season, so ensure that your business is prepared for any disaster by signing up for our free seminar on Thursday. And as you know, it's campaign season! Mark your calendar for our candidate forums, 7-9 p.m., Oct. 2 and 3, and be sure you're registered to vote!

This land is your land

The Town of Chapel Hill is embarking on a process to "revise and modernize the 10-year-old zoning and codes rulebook that guides and directs the development of land in Chapel Hill." We know that the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) has a lot of problems, so this is our chance give feedback in hopes of improving and streamlining land use regulations. Plan to attend the LUMO Launch Event (Sept. 24) or Topic Stakeholder Meetings Sept. 25 (covering stormwater regulations) and Sept. 26 (covering signage and B&Bs). For more information, visit the Town's website, or let me know you want to be a part of changing these regulations.

Be prepared

Remember the floods of June 30? Make sure that YOUR business is prepared in case of another emergency. Join the Chamber, SCORE Chapel Hill, and The Carolina Club at 8:30 a.m. this Thursday (Sept. 26) for a free seminar on disaster preparedness, presented by Agility Recovery Solutions. Thank you to Carolina Club for hosting and providing breakfast. The seminar is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Register online here, or let a fellow business person know about this important event.

Going to the candidates' debate

Want to know where the candidates stand? The Chamber and the Orange/Chatham Sierra Club will host two joint candidate forums for Chapel Hill and Carrboro municipal candidates. The Carrboro forum is 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 2 at the Carrboro Town Hall Boardroom, and the Chapel Hill forum is 7 p.m., Thursday, October 3 at the Chapel Hill Public Library. Mark your calendars and plan to attend - and spread the word to your employees, colleagues, and neighbors! Have a question you think we should ask? Let us know!

I love Paris [of the Piedmont] in the fall

We're all excited about the Carrboro Music Festival this weekend, but do you want to know what else is going on in Carrboro, particularly as it relates to economic development? Join us 8 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 3 for our regularly scheduled Economic Development & Public Policy (EDPP) Committee meeting. We'll get an overview from Annette Stone, the town's director of community & economic development, in addition to updates on Carrboro's creative economy from the team at The ArtsCenter and on Lloyd Farms from The Design Response's Jack Smyre. Can't get enough Carrboro? Register for the NC Bike Summit, held by Hampton Inn, Carrboro's first hotel!

Save the date to advocate!

THIS WEEK: Launch Week for Land Use Management Ordinance Update
Tues., Sept. 24 - Land Development Code Kickoff Event
Wed., Sept. 25 - Land Development Code Event: Stormwater, RCD, and Parking Lot Landscaping
Thurs., Sept. 26 - Land Development Code Event: Bed & Breakfasts and Signage
Tues., Oct. 1 - Council Committee on Economic Development
Wed., Oct. 2 - Carrboro Candidates Forum
Thurs., Oct. 3 - Economic Development & Public Policy Committee Meeting
Thurs., Oct. 3 - Chapel Hill Candidates Forum
Wed., Oct. 16-Thurs., Oct. 17 - Department of the Navy Wounded Warriors Hiring Conference
Thurs. ,Oct. 17 - Early Voting begins - find Orange County early voting sites here
Fri., Oct. 18-Sun., Oct. 20 - NC Bike Summit