Chapel Hill Police Move After Years of Search

Earlier this month, the Department of Environmental Quality held a meeting to discuss a draft agreement between the developer and the city that would limit coal ash at the site by diverting the area’s surface water and using material to retain the ash. The city has not yet chosen a solution to the problem.

ALex Carrasquillo, Media Manager for the City of Chapel Hill, said The brownfields agreement is separate from resettlement.

“The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is working to finalize the brownfields agreement with the city, so that will happen at City Hall and then the next steps will come from there,” Carrasquillo said. “So this is something completely different.”

Despite the challenges posed by the move, Lehew said the department is optimistic.

“I think everyone is very excited,” Lehew said said.

Keith Wallace, regional vice president of Merritt Propertiesthis is the company that rents the property to the department, said that office buildings are not suitable for modern police departments.

“It’s nice to have a ground-level, single-story building that allows for garage doors in the back and a large office in the front, as well as plenty of parking,” Wallace saysHelp. “I think Chief Lehew really liked the fact that the building could accommodate the police department’s parking needs.”

Wallace said The company is excited and honored to host the police department.

“We are very excited about the team’s upcoming collaboration,” said Lehew said. “I can’t express enough what great partners they have been.”

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