Public Dispute Resolution

 

Recent Projects

Mecklenburg County Endangered Species Mediation
Ends Without Agreement

I must report that my batting average as a mediator has dropped a bit. In the October 2001 E-Bulletin, I reported that I was co-mediating a dispute involving the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department, Town of Mint Hill and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. A proposed water supply expansion for part of Mint Hill could create negative effects on the habitat of the Carolina Heelsplitter mussel, a federally protected species.

A draft agreement was prepared, but further questions and concerns could not be addressed, and the mediation ended without agreement.

Similar concerns are on the table for a proposed regional wastewater treatment plant. The plant's operating permit will require an environmental impact statement [EIS], and thus the outcome of the EIS study will probably involve the participants in the mediation as well as other government officials in Cabarrus, Union and Mecklenburg counties.

Million Acres of Open Space Preservation

In response to the Governor Jim Hunt's call for business leaders, environmentalists, and government entities to collaborate on preserving one million acres of open space over the next ten years, the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources [DENR] sought input from interested parties in a variety of ways. As part of DENR's outreach effort, the Institute of Government and the UNC-Chapel Hill Environmental Finance Center developed two forums for public input. I facilitate the February 29th and March 10th, forums; the latter of which involved four facilitators from DENR and two colleagues from the Environmental Finance Center. The forums attracted about 140 people. DENR presented its plan to Governor Hunt March 31, 2000 and the N.C. General Assembly endorsed the approach in June 2000.

Land Use Planning in Coastal Communities

Since July 1999, I have been facilitating a 12-person Review Team creating recommendations to change the land use planning review process and requirements covering the 20 coastal counties in the state. Made up of environmentalists, planners, and city, county and state leaders, the goal is to present changes to the Coastal Resources Commission in July 2000. The group meets twice a month in New Bern, and the meetings are open to the public and offer a brief public comment period.

Mediation of Dispute over Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ):
Town of Southern Shores and community of Martin's Point

At the request of a Dare County Commissioner, I assessed, designed and facilitated between the eight-member board of the Martin's Point Homeowners Association, Southern Shores Town Council, and two county commissioners on May 17, 2000. The outcome of the meeting was to defer legal action and special local legislation in order to seek a way to modify the ETJ to satisfy each side's interests. As of late August, several follow-up meetings have been fruitful and are moving forward favorably in the eyes of Martin's and Southern Shores' representatives.