Elementary and Phillips Middle School families, thirteen+ neighborhoods, and commuters will be harmed by traffic at AURA and future projects.
Aura is a major housing development proposed by Trinsic Residential Group, a Texas- based developer, for the clear-cut land (15 acres) on the northeast corner of the Estes Drive and MLK Jr. Blvd. intersection.
Estes Neighbors represents a group of neighbors organizing to address community concerns about the proposed Aura development. More information about these concerns can be found at estesneighbors.org.
Trinsic’s permit application will consist of 98% residential units: a multi-building complex that is 98% residential: 423 residential units – 90% rental apartments and 10% for-sale townhouses – and a small amount of commercial space (12,000 sq ft). Over 66% of the original tree farm will be impervious surfaces bringing potential flooding. The largest concern with this proposal is increasing congestion on Estes Drive, a major east-west connector, that also accesses two schools, the Town library, Amity Church, and a number of neighborhoods.
The Aura, or 1000 MLK, development permit application proposes to add over 600 parking spaces to the 400+ residential units making this a very “Vehicle Oriented Development” right next to the planned Bus Rapid Transit on MLK Jr. Blvd. Aura will be accessed primarily by an Estes Drive entrance located just 800 feet from the MLK Jr. intersection.
On Monday, March 29th at 6:00 pm a Town consultant from HNTB will present the new town-wide traffic model. This model will “provide real-time information on traffic measures such as level of service, delay, and capacity levels of street networks for vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and transit.” This model shows how new development in one location in Town impacts traffic at intersections all over Town, such as the one at Estes/MLK. Register for the Town Traffic Model zoom meeting on Monday March 29 at 6 pm here.
On Tuesday, March 30th at 6:00 pm the Town mobility consultants from VHB will discuss using this new “Town-wide traffic model and traffic impacts of the Aura development at 1000 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.” Register for this Aura Traffic Model Presentation here.
This is the opportunity for all Estes Drive drivers to ask questions. Here are some questions to pose. After attending, write the Town Council with your concerns.
All Chapel Hill residents are encouraged to attend these virtual meetings by registering at the links provided. The Town Council will review the AURA proposed project on Wednesday, April 21st. Stay tuned.
Aura’s most recent plan plan shows 650 parking spaces and a major entrance on Estes Drive.