SAVE OUR SANDHILLS WILL SHOW GRIPPING DOCUMENTARY ON
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND SPRAWL
On April 28, Save Our Sandhills will show the breathtaking documentary The Unforeseen, which was produced by Terrence Malick and Robert Redford. This film questions what we – as members of communities around the country – are willing to sacrifice in the name of growth.
This 90-minute film depicts the transformation of thousand of acres of pristine hill country in Austin, Texas, into suburban development by an ambitious real estate developer. In the process, a nearby natural spring is threatened, community conflict ensues, land is devastated, and lives are ruined. The Unforeseen, beautifully crafted, explores in-depth all sides of this politically-charged situation, showing the effects of development and sprawl on landowners, developers, and members of the community.
This same struggle is playing out in cities and towns across the United States and, at this moment, it is playing out in Moore County, particularly in Area A, which is the fastest growing area in the county. Moore County has had – and continues to have – controversy surrounding projects known as Stonehill Pines, Dormie Club, Pine Forest, Pine Needles, and Tyler’s Ridge. The question this film poses, “What are we willing to give up in the name of growth?” is not rhetorical. It is based in a reality that we must ponder. What do we envision Moore County to become in the future? Will it resemble “Everywhere USA?” or will it continue to have the charm and ambiance that has brought people to visit and settle here for years?
Join us for an informative and provocative evening; refreshments will be served. We will meet Thursday, April 28 at 7 PM in the Southern Pines Civic Club at the corner of Ashe Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. All are welcome.
Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
9/29/2007
Conservation Insider Bulletin from Dan Besse
Conservation Insider Bulletin
Published weekly for the Conservation Council of North Carolina
Conservation News to Peruse & Use
Editor: Dan Besse, earthvote@ccnccpac.org
September 28, 2007
We consider new developments in environmentally significant local races, and take a look at power plant construction controversies, this week in CIB:
--Campaign Watch: Gantt Supports Transit Tax; More Triangle Endorsements
--Administrative Watch: Duke Hike Aimed at Residential Customers
--Around the States: Power Plant Building Frenzy Drawing Fire
Campaign Watch: Gantt Supports Transit Tax; More Triangle Endorsements
Gantt Supports Transit Tax: With a critical vote on the future of public transit coming up in a little more than a month, a key public figure in Charlotte has weighed in on the debate. Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt this week announced his support for maintaining the half-cent sales tax to support transit in Mecklenburg County. (Gantt was the first black mayor of North Carolina's largest city, and ran as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate against Jesse Helms.)
Gantt spoke at a news conference held to announce the formation of the African American Coalition Against Transit Tax Repeal. He is co-chair of the group, along with former Charlotte City Council Member Ron Leeper. The active support of prominent black leaders like Gantt could be crucial to the outcome of the referendum, since an August poll indicated that a majority of black voters were likely to support repeal. Gantt and others at the news conference this week said that they expected that to be reversed by an active educational campaign. Among other factors, they noted that nearly two-thirds of the revenue from the transit tax goes to support the bus system, which is used most heavily by minority residents who don't have easy access to private autos. Black voter dissatisfaction with the transit tax appears to be linked to concerns regarding where the initial light rail lines are being built and planned. (See Charlotte Observer, 9/26/07.) More information on the debate is also available at www.voteagainstrepeal.com.
In a relevant story, the Texas Transportation Institute's 2007 Urban Mobility Report (released last week) found Charlotte to be one of the nation's most traffic-congested medium-sized cities. Commenting on the study's release, the N.C. Public Interest Research Group noted that its findings indicated the need for more public transit (including light rail) in Charlotte. (Charlotte Observer, 9/23/07.)
More Triangle Endorsements: The Independent Weekly this week announced its endorsements for the October 9 municipal election primaries in Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. In both the Raleigh and Cary elections, the Independent's analysis framed the voting as primarily a choice between competing approaches to growth and development issues. In Raleigh, the paper said, the question is largely whether Mayor Charles Meeker will obtain a working majority on the city council for progressive concepts such as strong land-use planning, inclusionary zoning, transit corridors, and pedestrian-friendly development. Key races can be found in the at-large and District A and B primaries.
In Cary, the paper said, the key question was whether voters would reject the current mayor and board's tendency to override the town's own plans in development/zoning cases. Prior to the election of four years ago, Cary had developed a reputation as a strong land-use planning-oriented city. It could regain that reputation.
For details of the paper's analysis, and its corresponding candidate recommendations, go to www.indyweek.com. The paper also endorsed passage of the upcoming Wake County bond referenda, including the proposed $50 million for continuation of the county's open space acquisition program.
Administrative Watch: Duke Hike Aimed at Residential Customers
In its request to the N.C. Utilities Commission for an electric rate hike, Duke Energy has asked for permission to hit residential customers the hardest. Duke says that it wants to boost residential rates by 6.8 percent, and industrial rates by only about 2 percent. Duke Energy Carolinas president Ellen Ruff denied that this rate "rebalancing" was aimed at hurting residential customers in favor of business customers (Raleigh News & Observer, 9/20/07.)
Duke now projects a net income in 2008 of $1.55 billion, up from $1.47 billion estimated for 2007. (Winston-Salem Journal, 9/12/07.)
Around the States: Power Plant Building Frenzy Drawing Fire
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board of directors voted this week to pursue a license for its first new nuclear power plant in 30 years, at a site in northeastern Alabama. Previously, Dominion Virginia Power had announced plans to build a new coal-fired power plant in southwest Virginia. Both proposals were the subject of public interest group opposition reported this week.
A coalition of environmental groups has filed a challenge to the Dominion plans with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (that state's equivalent of the N.C. Utilities Commission). The coalition criticizes the proposal for its addition to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as its potential to encourage further mountaintop-removal coal mining in the state. (Associated Press, 9/27/07.)
In immediate response to the TVA nuclear decision vote, a representative of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offered both public-safety and cost concerns. He also criticized the decision as reflecting "amnesia" regarding the utility's history of problems with its nuclear construction program. (Associated Press, 9/28/07.) (TVA experienced serious fire damage to a partially completed plant at Browns Ferry, which prior to the Three Mile Island accident was the most notorious safety incident at a U.S. commercial nuclear plant.)
Clean energy advocates recall the 1970's-80's era of enormously expensive overconstruction by electric utilities, and fear that the industry may be entering into another period of excessive predictions of future electric demand growth.
Published weekly for the Conservation Council of North Carolina
Conservation News to Peruse & Use
Editor: Dan Besse, earthvote@ccnccpac.org
September 28, 2007
We consider new developments in environmentally significant local races, and take a look at power plant construction controversies, this week in CIB:
--Campaign Watch: Gantt Supports Transit Tax; More Triangle Endorsements
--Administrative Watch: Duke Hike Aimed at Residential Customers
--Around the States: Power Plant Building Frenzy Drawing Fire
Campaign Watch: Gantt Supports Transit Tax; More Triangle Endorsements
Gantt Supports Transit Tax: With a critical vote on the future of public transit coming up in a little more than a month, a key public figure in Charlotte has weighed in on the debate. Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt this week announced his support for maintaining the half-cent sales tax to support transit in Mecklenburg County. (Gantt was the first black mayor of North Carolina's largest city, and ran as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate against Jesse Helms.)
Gantt spoke at a news conference held to announce the formation of the African American Coalition Against Transit Tax Repeal. He is co-chair of the group, along with former Charlotte City Council Member Ron Leeper. The active support of prominent black leaders like Gantt could be crucial to the outcome of the referendum, since an August poll indicated that a majority of black voters were likely to support repeal. Gantt and others at the news conference this week said that they expected that to be reversed by an active educational campaign. Among other factors, they noted that nearly two-thirds of the revenue from the transit tax goes to support the bus system, which is used most heavily by minority residents who don't have easy access to private autos. Black voter dissatisfaction with the transit tax appears to be linked to concerns regarding where the initial light rail lines are being built and planned. (See Charlotte Observer, 9/26/07.) More information on the debate is also available at www.voteagainstrepeal.com.
In a relevant story, the Texas Transportation Institute's 2007 Urban Mobility Report (released last week) found Charlotte to be one of the nation's most traffic-congested medium-sized cities. Commenting on the study's release, the N.C. Public Interest Research Group noted that its findings indicated the need for more public transit (including light rail) in Charlotte. (Charlotte Observer, 9/23/07.)
More Triangle Endorsements: The Independent Weekly this week announced its endorsements for the October 9 municipal election primaries in Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. In both the Raleigh and Cary elections, the Independent's analysis framed the voting as primarily a choice between competing approaches to growth and development issues. In Raleigh, the paper said, the question is largely whether Mayor Charles Meeker will obtain a working majority on the city council for progressive concepts such as strong land-use planning, inclusionary zoning, transit corridors, and pedestrian-friendly development. Key races can be found in the at-large and District A and B primaries.
In Cary, the paper said, the key question was whether voters would reject the current mayor and board's tendency to override the town's own plans in development/zoning cases. Prior to the election of four years ago, Cary had developed a reputation as a strong land-use planning-oriented city. It could regain that reputation.
For details of the paper's analysis, and its corresponding candidate recommendations, go to www.indyweek.com. The paper also endorsed passage of the upcoming Wake County bond referenda, including the proposed $50 million for continuation of the county's open space acquisition program.
Administrative Watch: Duke Hike Aimed at Residential Customers
In its request to the N.C. Utilities Commission for an electric rate hike, Duke Energy has asked for permission to hit residential customers the hardest. Duke says that it wants to boost residential rates by 6.8 percent, and industrial rates by only about 2 percent. Duke Energy Carolinas president Ellen Ruff denied that this rate "rebalancing" was aimed at hurting residential customers in favor of business customers (Raleigh News & Observer, 9/20/07.)
Duke now projects a net income in 2008 of $1.55 billion, up from $1.47 billion estimated for 2007. (Winston-Salem Journal, 9/12/07.)
Around the States: Power Plant Building Frenzy Drawing Fire
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board of directors voted this week to pursue a license for its first new nuclear power plant in 30 years, at a site in northeastern Alabama. Previously, Dominion Virginia Power had announced plans to build a new coal-fired power plant in southwest Virginia. Both proposals were the subject of public interest group opposition reported this week.
A coalition of environmental groups has filed a challenge to the Dominion plans with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (that state's equivalent of the N.C. Utilities Commission). The coalition criticizes the proposal for its addition to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as its potential to encourage further mountaintop-removal coal mining in the state. (Associated Press, 9/27/07.)
In immediate response to the TVA nuclear decision vote, a representative of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offered both public-safety and cost concerns. He also criticized the decision as reflecting "amnesia" regarding the utility's history of problems with its nuclear construction program. (Associated Press, 9/28/07.) (TVA experienced serious fire damage to a partially completed plant at Browns Ferry, which prior to the Three Mile Island accident was the most notorious safety incident at a U.S. commercial nuclear plant.)
Clean energy advocates recall the 1970's-80's era of enormously expensive overconstruction by electric utilities, and fear that the industry may be entering into another period of excessive predictions of future electric demand growth.
4/18/2007
Saving Some Trees, April 24
The Concerned Citizens of Pinehurst are planning a "picnic in the park" to be held Tuesday, April 24 at 11:30 AM, in the triangle area on Rt 2, across from the tennis courts.
People are asked to bring their own lunches. Shirts have been made (dark green with white lettering -- Concerned Citizens of Pinehurst on front and a big roundabout with an "X" thru it on the back). Participants are asked for a $20 donation for the first shirt, with each one thereafter $10.
John Marcum has arranged for the TV and news media to be there. The group will then go to the Village Hall for a 1 PM meeting. John is asking for the group to be put on the council agenda.
If you need more information, call John, 295-6304.
People are asked to bring their own lunches. Shirts have been made (dark green with white lettering -- Concerned Citizens of Pinehurst on front and a big roundabout with an "X" thru it on the back). Participants are asked for a $20 donation for the first shirt, with each one thereafter $10.
John Marcum has arranged for the TV and news media to be there. The group will then go to the Village Hall for a 1 PM meeting. John is asking for the group to be put on the council agenda.
If you need more information, call John, 295-6304.
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