Background
Reaching back. Leaning Forward
In 2020, the Town embarked upon a comprehensive planning process – the first in over 20 years. The goal was to inspire extensive and active community involvement and to establish a framework for achieving the community’s vision, expectations and guidance for growth and development/redevelopment, and town services over the next 20 years. Plan policies aim to address land use regulations and decisions, which serve as the foundation for economic development/fiscal stability, as well as the Town’s ability to provide direct services and support other initiatives.
The Town worked with a team of consultants to facilitate an inclusive, equitable, and diverse public engagement process from start to finish, including utilization of both traditional and innovative outreach methods and working with existing community organizations and resources. The goal was to provide a space for all residents, organizations, businesses and other stakeholders from throughout the Town – from multiple generation families to students and new residents; from younger to older; all races, ethnicities and genders to participate in the process of shaping Carrboro's future.
This plan is about our people, community and togetherness to form a vision and the tools to implement that vision. Whether it is addressing the urgency of climate change or overcoming the legacy of racial and ethnic barriers, the planning process aimed to bring the spirit of our community together across a broad spectrum of interests, passion and expertise.
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A comprehensive plan provides a guide to coordinated, long-range growth and development. The plan will provide the goals, policies and projects to implement the Town’s vision. The Town Council has laid out planning themes including climate action, addressing race and equity, economic sustainability and the need for affordable housing and addressing income inequality.
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT:
Patricia McGuire · Planning Director, Town of Carrboro, pmcquire@carrboronc.gov (919) 918-7327
Meet the Team
Creating a comprehensive plan takes a team effort and the most important member of that team is you. Yes, YOU!
The Carrboro Connects Approach is based on equal parts community outreach, policy development and creative solutions. One of the main goals is to ensure everyone in Town has a chance to participate! The aim is to go beyond a typical planning process, to reach and inspire residents to form new relationships and deepen old ones. To instill a spirit where artists, students, residents, business owners, climate activists, and people of all races and ethnicities will feel comfortable listening, learning and crafting ideas together.
TOWN OF CARRBORO
The plan is being coordinated out of the Planning, Zoning & Inspections Department. Patricia McGuire, Planning Director is leading the effort with the close cooperation of all of the Town’s department heads and staff – from Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources to Public Works to Economic Sustainability, Police, Fire and all other departments.
THE TESKA TEAM
Teska Associates, Inc. has been retained by the Town of Carrboro to lead the planning and community engagement efforts along with Lockamy Consulting and Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). Our team brings together both experience and a listening and learning approach to create a dynamic process that can lift up great ideas that come through outreach and offer tools, best practices and grounded research for those ideas to be implemented.
Teska Associates, Inc. will manage the process and lead land use, economic sustainability, affordable housing aspects. Teska’s experience in innovative planning, community development and urban design will bring a creative approach to both outreach and policy development.
Lockamy Consulting, based out of Greensboro, will support community outreach.
Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) will be leading environmental sustainability, transportation and infrastructure. As one of the leading non-profit organizations in the U.S. promoting livable and sustainable urban communities, CNT will bring innovative solutions that address climate change and race and equity to help fulfill the Town’s vision.
CARRBORO CONNECTS TASK FORCE
A 29-member task force made up of at-large community members and advisory board representatives was been formed to aid in the outreach, visioning, and development of Carrboro's first Comprehensive Plan in over three decades