Council Debates Apartments Near Sandy Creek Park and Hears Budget Priorities

The council completed action on a contentious zoning change near Sandy Creek Park, weighing affordable housing against environmental concerns. A resolution on foreign aid was passed, highlighting North Carolina's role in international development. The meeting also included dozens of residents sharing priorities for the upcoming budget, with calls for increased funding for festivals, transit, and eviction diversion. 46mins

Arts & Culture Budget Health Housing Policy Planning & Zoning
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Original Meeting

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Durham City Council on YouTube
Monday, March 17th, 2025
17961.0
Full Meeting on YouTube
Video Notes

Welcome to the Durham City Council meeting for March 17, 2025.

To view the meeting agenda, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/AgendaCenter.

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To contact City Council members directly, visit https://www.durhamnc.gov/1323

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Alex Rosen
Durham, North Carolina
As the Executive Director of See Gov, I focus on how to best achieve our mission of expanding thoughtful and consistent participation in democracy. I develop See Gov's technology, work to grow our impact, and find ways to sustain our nonprofit. I live in Durham, NC and make highlight reels for Durham and other See Gov pilot communities.
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In This Video
  • Council Member Rist highlighted the achievements of the Durham CROP Hunger Walk, including its significant fundraising efforts and its status as the largest walk in the nation in 2024. 
  • A speaker emphasized the importance of supporting the Durham CROP Hunger Walk, highlighting the event's schedule and the urgent need for participation due to ongoing hunger issues. 
  • Brianna Clark-Schwelm discussed the negative impacts of defunding American foreign aid, including job losses in North Carolina and the cessation of global infectious disease monitoring and response efforts. 
  • Mayor Williams presented a resolution urging the lifting of the stop work order on foreign assistance programs and reopening USAID, highlighting North Carolina's significant role in international development and its economic impact. 
  • Mayor Williams expressed gratitude to community members for their contributions before a motion passed unanimously. 
  • A request for a zoning map change was submitted by Pamela Porter of TMTLA Associates to rezone four parcels totaling 24.13 acres on Chin Page Rd from Industrial Park and Residential Rural to Plan Development Residential, allowing for up to 360 multifamily dwelling units. 
  • Nil Ghosh presented a proposal to rezone a site from industrial to residential, highlighting changes in the area's industrial use and committing to increased affordable housing and open space. 
  • Council Member Caballero expressed gratitude to the applicant for making additional commitments, aligning the project more closely with the comprehensive plan, and indicated support for the project. 
  • The council passed the request with a 7-0 vote. 
  • Senior Manager Cain presented a zoning map change request for five parcels on Pickett Rd, proposing up to 140 apartments with commitments to energy efficiency, accessibility, and community contributions. 
  • Nil Ghosh discussed improvements to the Pickett Road project, including commitments to bird-friendly design and connectivity to Sandy Creek Trail, with funds redirected to the Durham Parks Foundation. 
  • William Schlesinger highlighted the ecological significance of Sandy Creek Park, expressing concerns about the potential impact of nearby apartment construction on its biodiversity and wetland habitats. 
  • A speaker from the New Hope Bird Alliance warned that the proposed development near Sandy Creek Park poses a significant threat to its status as a top birding hotspot and natural habitat, urging the council to reject the project. 
  • Jessie Birkhead, identifying as a member of the Feminist Bird Club and a certified wildlife biologist, supports affordable housing but stresses that new development should occur as denser infill away from Sandy Creek Park to protect its natural heritage. 
  • Dan Ellison highlighted the environmental risks of a proposed rezoning, emphasizing its potential negative impact on water sources, protected habitats, and existing residents. 
  • Adam Braude from Durham Academy expressed disappointment with the developer's lack of engagement in ensuring connectivity to the Sandy Creek Trail, urging the developer to present solutions before rezoning is granted. 
  • Nil Ghosh defended the development proposal near Sandy Creek, emphasizing that the floodplain would remain untouched and addressing concerns about connectivity with Durham Academy by suggesting funds be redirected to the city for broader use. 
  • Council Member Baker expressed support for tall buildings near large parks, advocating for development that integrates the built and natural environments to enhance accessibility and proximity to nature. 
  • Council Member Baker highlighted the benefits of the rezoning proposal, noting its decent offers of affordable housing and contrasting it with less sustainable suburban sprawl projects, emphasizing the positive impact of public scrutiny on decision-making. 
  • Council Member Baker expressed concerns about the rezoning proposal's consistency with the comprehensive plan, suggesting improvements for better alignment and indicating a preference for delaying approval until enhancements are made. 
  • Council Member Caballero expressed support for a rezoning proposal, emphasizing the developer's good faith efforts to address community concerns and highlighting the environmental and affordability commitments made in comparison to what could be built by right. 
  • Council Member Freeman shared concerns about inadequate infrastructure leading to environmental issues, emphasizing the importance of protecting sensitive areas like Sandy Creek Park. 
  • Council Member Rist expressed frustration over the lack of consensus on the development proposal, acknowledging the applicant's efforts to address bird-friendly design and pathway concerns while emphasizing the need to balance housing and environmental priorities. 
  • Mayor Pro Tem Middleton expressed confidence in the development proposal near Sandy Creek, emphasizing the balance between urban growth and environmental protection, and indicated support for the project. 
  • Council Member Cook expressed reservations about supporting the development proposal due to concerns about safety, connectivity, and the high vacancy rate for apartments in Durham, despite a personal commitment to affordable housing. 
  • Mayor Williams addressed concerns about the floodplain and bird sanctuary, citing staff assessments that the development proposal would not cause harm. 
  • The council approved the development proposal with a vote of four to three, with Council Members Baker, Cook, and Freeman opposing. 
  • Mayor Williams and Director Riordan outlined the process for the upcoming budget hearing, emphasizing that it is a listening session without council responses, and noted the reassessment of property values and the development of a revenue-neutral tax rate. 
  • Council Member Rist emphasized the critical need for $400,000 in funding to sustain Durham's festivals and creative economy, warning that without it, the city's cultural vibrancy and growth would be severely impacted. 
  • Cynthia Williams, representing the Coalition for Affordable Housing and Transit, presented budget requests including maintaining free fares for GO Durham, funding the HEART program, increasing affordable housing units, and supporting lead remediation and tax credit programs. 
  • Joseph Jordan, Chair of the Durham Cultural Advisory Board, presents an overview of the Board’s 12‐year funding history for festivals and arts, underscores the significant economic impact, and requests that the city continue awarding the current $400,000 funding. 
  • Gerald Wallce discussed the urgent need for safer street designs, highlighting recent traffic accidents and advocating for prioritizing funding to address high-risk areas and achieve Vision Zero goals. 
  • Charles Campbell, a volunteer at Trinity Ave. Presbyterian Church Emergency Assistance Ministry, urged the city to allocate significant funds for eviction diversion and rental assistance to prevent homelessness, citing increased demand and the drying up of federal funds. 
  • Sarah D'Amato discussed legal services for eviction diversion. The remarks stress the importance of legal aid in preventing homelessness and urge the council to continue funding these services. 
  • Gregory Williams from the Transit Equity Campaign requested $1.5 million from the Durham County Transit Tax to keep Go Durham fare-free, advocated for livable wages for city staff, and urged full funding for the Vision Zero Action Plan to enhance street safety. 
  • Karthik Sundaramoorthy, from the Recreation Advisory Commission, speaks in support of increased funding and staffing for Durham Parks and Recreation. 
  • Allan Freyer, president of the Durham People’s Alliance, outlines key budget priorities from a recent request. Their remarks emphasize keeping buses fare‐free with dedicated funding, extending living wage policies to all staff, establishing a permanent guaranteed income line, and removing barriers to down payment assistance, while also suggesting a reexamination of the living wage policy. 
  • Robin Gunn, a member of Trinity Ave. Presbyterian and a parent, speaks about housing insecurity. They share a personal encounter and stark statistics about eviction’s impact on children, advocating for robust funding of eviction diversion programs and rental assistance initiatives. 
  • Stella Adams, a Durham resident, urged the council to allocate $5 million for park contamination remediation. 
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