I apologize up front that this is a somewhat lengthy post….After the last meeting at town hall in May, I was very disturbed by what I witnessed from our elected officials and town staff. I wrote an email posing some questions and asking for an audience. I did hear back from Mr Graham and Mr Woods (met with both and didn’t receive satisfactory answers, particularly as it pertains to traffic). No response at all from the others, which in itself is disheartening. I have pasted the text of my 3rd email below and I would encourage each of you to send an email and/or call and encourage all you know to do the same. In my opinion, this is a disaster for the Town of Davidson.
Beth Folger Cashion I would have thought I would have heard back from you. Like I told Mr Graham the other day, when I was younger and would get all worked up about wanting to buy something, my daddy would say “if it’s a good deal today, it’ll be a good deal tomorrow”. So why the rush? If this plan is the right thing for the town today, it will be the right thing for thetown in 6 months after the residents of Davidson have had some time to weigh in on it.

Good evening everyone,
It appears email may be the best means to share my concern about, and pose questions related to, this project.
There are a myriad of concerns I have around this Beaty RFP and proposed development (should it be a park as originally intended, disproportionate amount of density west of the tracks, was the proper process followed, no public input prior to drafting the RFP, lack of open space west of the tracks etc). However, there is one that for me, looms largest. Traffic.

Can someone please share with me how we reconcile high density development in light of our desire to be pedestrian friendly? I can see that working in NY, but in Davidson, we rely on cars. With the high density as proposed on Beaty (as well as Potts), many more cars will come. I have heard no one dispute the assertion that traffic is already bad on Beaty, particularly during the morning and afternoon rush. What do you believe the outcome of adding 138 more residences (plus businesses) will be? Add to that the Potts/Sloan/Beaty connector and now it’s even more pronounced.

I have tried to look at this objectively and cannot come up with a good answer. Am I missing something? In NY, that model works because of the transportation infrastructure. Here, we don’t have that infrastructure.

The excerpt below is from the “Beaty Street Proposals FAQ” document updated February 20, 2017 Section I

We often hear from citizens about traffic issues. They hate traffic congestion and would prefer that traffic move freely so congestion doesn’t impede their own car trips or their ability to walk throughout town. But they don’t want traffic to move so fast that it makes walking less safe. Much of the traffic on our roads is regional and the most congested streets are those that traverse our jurisdiction. It is difficult to balance all those issues. Solving the congestion issue requires wider streets, which makes pedestrians less safe; our priority is keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe. We make car travel as convenient as we can for residents via connecting streets, installing roundabouts, and occasionally adding slip lanes. That means that cars (and their drivers) have to put up with congestion.
It also states: Knowing that the town would be under terrific pressure to grow, the board of commissioners years ago resolved that Davidson would be built for people rather than cars.

To me, therein lies the rub.
We have manufactured congestion with this policy. When do we say enough?
You are allowing for CONCENTRATED high density development (West of the tracks), which will bring cars to an already overburdened transportation infrastructure. The town has purposely designed the infrastructure so that it is pedestrian friendly (built for people, not cars), yet you are entertaining these very high density projects, which bring cars. It doesn’t add up.
I am fine with Davidson being pedestrian friendly as it’s one of the unique draws of Davidson. However, there is a tipping point and I believe we are there.

The amount of car trips that will be avoided because this is “mixed use” will be so small, it will be practically immeasurable. Our family lives within walking distance to town and shopping at Sadler Square and we love to be able to walk to get a meal, shop or see a movie. In reality though, we still use a car for 99% of our trips — school related activities, youth sports, work, church, gym, grocery shopping, eating out, visiting friends etc.

I respectfully ask that we put the brakes on this project. Davidson doesn’t need it and Davidson doesn’t want it. The only two parties I have seen speak in favor of it (outside of town hall) are Davidson Learns and the Developer.
If we continue on this path of CONCENTRATED high density development, the Davidson as we know it will be no more, and that uniqueness, which is such a draw for new residents, will be gone.

I welcome your response.

Thanks,
Ken Burnette