RTP growth spills into area BY ANDREW DUNN Tewraen'tlong ago that Apex had Justa Handeck and a Sen's Galary Foods to its name and Cary was & tiny rslread and tobacco town. ‘Many of the formerly rural communities surrounding Raleigh have seen triple-digit population growth during the [past few decades and commercial expamsioas to match. ‘A reaction to that growth was evident in this month's Wake County municipal elections, as several incumbents, including Cary’ mayor, were booted out of ‘office in fvor ofeandidates taking, tougher stance toward, Chapel Hill and Carrboro have also experienced a high level of growth with controversies to ‘natch, induding Carolina North, the Chapel Hill Greeabridge development and Carrboro “Alberta condominiums. But professors and politicians say difreaces between Wake and ‘Orange countise will ely prevent such asea change from occurring inthe Nov.6 municipal elections. “The electorate in Chapel [HUI moved here because of spe cial characteristics” said Ferrel Guillory, director of the UNC Program on Public Life. “Chapel Hills self-image is of university town, avilage? He said heennse ofthat percep ‘tion, both Chapel Hil and Carrboro SEE GROWTH, PAGE 9 GROWTH Hill and Carrboro elections said _ “You're in farmland within 10, they fear the Orange County 15 minutes max,’ said William Fre Fase region could be on the path of Robe, director of the Ceater for hhavetaken stepstolimit growth. Wake County’ small towns. Urban and Regional Studies at Thetownshave placed amorato- _ Cary saw the influx of growth UNC. "Were going to lose some of rium on detelopment inthe north- first becauseit lies adjacent to the that attractiveness” cer part ofthe area,andeach tovn park's —andRakighs — borders. The entire region, Chapel Hill thas built ina rural buffer. “Since 1960, Cary’s population ond Carrboro incluted, wll kel see “Carboro and Chapel Hill have has at least doubled each decade’ morethan a million new residenisin been developing mechanisms to saidtowa publicinformationoficer the area by 2030, Rohe said, eting control growth forthe past 20 years?) Susen Morar, also fingering RTP as StateData Center projections Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman the foree behind growth. ‘wrote in ane-mall. “By ‘Wake County is playing catch-up.” jycompurison, WhileCaryhas argelyembraced almost doubled since 19 the growth in the past, Guillory 26,199 toaboat 50,000, ‘Chapel Hill’ population has 0, from Guillory said Wake County in saidthattheshiftfrom pro-expan- _-Carrboro'shas morethan tripled «general and Raleigh in particular siontopro-limitemovements isthe in that time, groving from 5,058 are more diverse communities cen- latest ina pendulum of reactions _ in 1970 to 18,500 this year tered around goverament and the that Orange County hasnt seen. While Orange County growth Research Triangle Park ‘Meh like the Orange County _ is als» in part spurred by business As Wakehas expanded, many of rural buffer, vestiges of Apex and expansion and RTP, the University its former sina farm towns hare Cary’ past sill pop up. isstillthemain draw and therefore sexnslorocicting ppultons Down Apexs main street from remains @ focal point. “When I mores here in 1987... where afour-story office building “The polities of Chapel Hill is, Tm notsureyou could bay decent was proposed liesthehouse where much mere dominated by tovn= meal,” said Apex Mayor Keith a man was found with more than gown relations,’ Guillory aid. Weatherly. Youcould buy lard,hog 70 sheep living in his home. “That one reason why the pro- jjowls and bib overalls. Those were And chickens living on a small posal of Carolina North, asatellite the shops” peach orchard on Highway 64now research facility, has carried such Aper's population has increased strut under a sign promoting the weight. Otherconcerns acbalanc- from 2.234in 1970 t0 30,000. future Orchard Villas lnsury con- ing economic growth, residential The primary driver of growth in dominium complex. Wake, Weatherly said, isRTP. expansion and infrastructure. g hag 2 cay ign oy sotys . son “ rayayzains* a, SCURCE GOOLE mFS “We know that people are still ‘moving to our area,” Chapel Hill ‘Town Council candidate Penay Rich stated in an e-mail, “i we stress our resources such ‘as water, schools and roads, we become the nest Cary, and I know the citizens of Chapel Hill and the surrounding Orange County folks are trying to avoid tha Contact the State & Notional Editor atstntdesk@unc.edu. Some candidates in the Chapel