Take action
If you have questions or concerns after learning about the proposed
Westpoint development, there are things you can do:
NEW!! VOLUNTEER for a 3-hour shift manning our COMMUNITY ACTION BOOTH at the EnoFestival in West Point Park on July 2nd or 3rd. See the top of the "HOME" page above for the sign up link!
Support us with a contribution
Please Send Emails Copying These Key City Leaders
We strongly urge community members to WRITE EMAILS that outline your concerns to key Durham city leaders and decision makers. Even short emails can make a huge difference! Many of these leaders may not have sufficient awareness of the community outcry regarding this development, or they may not understand the severe impacts posed by this particular development given such a high density of homes, and the close proximity directly overlooking the flagship Westpoint on the Eno City Park and the Eno River itself.
We highly recommend you include the following in your SUBJECT line or first sentence:
Re: Durham Development Case No. D1900225
(Black Meadow Ridge Site Plan Review)
In your FIRST paragraph, please state that:
-
You request that your letter/email be placed in the OFFICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD case file for the ABOVE Case No. D1900225
AND:
-
You believe it is essential that this case cannot be treated as a "minor administrative site plan review", but rather the City must require that the developer submit a full development plan for comprehensive review by the Planning Department, with a vote of the Planning Commission and City Council, including proper public notice and public hearings.
Follow the above with additional paragraphs summarizing all your key concerns about the proposed development and your support for preservation of Black Meadow Ridge.
Note that it appears the planning department has a standard response they are sending to most emails, but rest assured that they REALLY ARE reading them. It is critically important to GET AS MANY LETTERS AS POSSIBLE on the administrative record of this development case number, so keep sending them!
We recommend that you direct your correspondence to the following
Planning Department and City Council email addresses (feel free to cut and paste as follows):
PLANNING DEPARTMENT:
Sara.Young@DurhamNC.gov (Planning Director)
Bo.Dobrzenski@durhamnc.gov
Danny.Cultra@DurhamNC.gov
Paul.Wiebke@durhamnc.gov
CITY COUNCIL & MAYOR:
Council@durhamnc.gov (Reaches entire City Council and Mayor)
Wanda.Page@durhamnc.gov (City Manager)
DURHAM PARKS DIRECTORS: (highlighting concerns about West Point Eno Park)
Wade Walcutt, Director of Durham City Parks: email to Lynda.Merritt@durhamnc.gov
Joy Guy, Assistant Director of Durham City Parks: email to Joy.Guy@durhamnc.gov
DURHAM STORMWATER DIRECTORS: (highlighting concerns about flooding & water quality)
Marvin G. Williams, Director of Durham Stormwater Management
email to marvin.williams@durhamnc.gov
Paul Wiebke, Assistant Public Works Director
email to Paul.Wiebke@durhamnc.gov
NEWS MEDIA:
Please also copy ("CC" or "BCC" or forward copies of your emails)
to key local news/media outlets at the following addresses:
today@wncn.com
iteam@abc11.com
info@bullcityrising.com
Investigations@newsobserver.com
togburn@newsobserver.com
opendurham@preservationdurham.org
MORE DETAILED CONTACT / PHONE NUMBER INFORMATION FOR INDIVIDUAL KEY DECISION MAKERS
Sara Young, Planning Director
101 City Hall Plaza, Ground Floor, Suite G500
Durham, NC 27701
919-560-4137 Ext. 28273
Bo Dobrzenski, AICP, CZO
(Co-Leader of this Development Case Review Team)
Senior Development Services Manager
Durham City-County Planning Department
Bo.Dobrzenski@durhamnc.gov
919-560-4137 ext. 28230
Pete Sullivan AICP
(Co-Leader of this Development Case Review Team)
Senior Development Services Manager
Durham City-County Planning Department
Pete.Sullivan@durhamnc.gov
919-560-4137 ext. 28214
Danny Cultra, Senior Planner
919-560-4137 Ext. 28238
Paul Wiebke
Assistant Public Works Director
Stormwater & GIS Services
(Oversees Eno Watershed Critical Area Protection Plan)
Phone: 919-560-4326
The area WARD 1 Elected City Council Representative is:
DeDreana Freeman
dedreana.freeman@durhamnc.gov
919-560-4396, ext. 10272
Details on Other Durham City Council Member Can be found at:
https://durhamnc.gov/1396/Council-Members
Sign the Petition!
Please take a moment to sign the PETITION collecting signatures of community members concerned about the proposed "Westpoint" development. The petition advocates for protection of the Black Meadow Ridge parcels through a comprehensive full development plan review process, including hearings with public input, and votes of the Planning Commission and City Council.
SIGN IT HERE:
https://www.change.org/SaveBlackMeadowRidge
Support us with a contribution towards legal fees
We are working hard to publicize concerns about this particular development plan and to encourage the city to do a more comprehensive review. As part of that, we have retained legal counsel at The Brough Law Firm, PLLC.
Legal fees add up pretty quickly and so we are seeking contributions large and small to help us pay for the assistance we need. If you can help, visit our GoFundMe page, or use the PayPal button:
Thank you!!
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