By Lynda-Marie Taurasi
WCHL Reporter

Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton said traffic is one of his bigger concerns regarding UNC’s Carolina North. The development extends 300 acres into Carrboro land.

Wednesday night, Jack Evans, executive director of Carolina North, presented a development agreement draft during a public information session in Chapel Hill. Chilton says he is more concerned about making sure that the University builds Carolina North in a way that minimizes traffic impact than he is with the “nickel-and-dime” financial impacts.

Chilton says the University’s study of the fiscal impact of Carolina North suggests that there will be a net benefit Carrboro to the tune of approximately one-and-half million dollars during the next fifteen years.

Chilton says the focus should be on building park-and-ride lots on the edge of both communities and bicycle and pedestrian connections should be developed to Carolina North, so that people who live in surrounding neighbors in both Chapel Hill and in Carrboro can get to work without relying on cars.