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Shawn Daley
Editor
Although it probably remains a few years away before any
action is taken, the town board took its first minor step toward
closing two roads leading into the downtown. The
commissioners adopted a resolution last week stating their intent to
close the railway crossings on Moore, Center or Chatham streets. The proposed closures are a result of the town’s desire to develop the 160 acres of land located near town hall. That
development, known as Trackside, would lead to the completion of the
Apex Peakway from Laura Duncan Road to North Salem Street. The Peakway
would require two new crossings over CSX rails. CSX
has told the town that it would need to close two existing public
crossings in town along with three private vehicular crossings within
the Trackside area. Late last year the board discussed the notion of closing the public crossings at Center and Chatham streets. But
Apex Construction Management Director Kent Jackson told the board that
downtown merchants had voiced concerns about closing Center Street. He
said a recent survey conducted by the town also showed that a majority
of residents would rather have Chatham Street closed while keeping
Center Street open. “The merchants were adamant about keeping Center Street open,” said Commissioner Doug Meckes. Commissioner Bill Jensen said he had a “problem” with closing Center and Chatham streets. “We would be doing our town a detriment,” said Jensen. Town
manager Bruce Radford pointed out that the resolution was an open-ended
statement about the town’s intent to close two roads. Public hearings
would be held before any closures were made and the board would have
the option of choosing the two roads. Jackson
also noted that the resolution didn’t start the closing process. The
form was simply a way of giving CSX and the NC Department of
Transportation Rail Division a written notice on the town’s intentions. He
said it was important that the town adopt the resolution now in order
to avoid any delays in the future should a developer take on the
Trackside project. “We don’t want to be the weak link in the chain when a developer presents a plan,” said Jackson.
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