The Elon Town Council received an annual update from the Sustainability Committee, held public hearings for a Land Management Ordinance text amendment and Elon University text amendment and addressed proposed ordinances and resolutions in chapters 13 and 17.
There were no participants in the public comments portion of the agenda.
Discussion
Dennis Pagano, chair of the Sustainability Committee, led a presentation outlining the energy audit and resulting recommendations.
In the audit, Pagano noted that buildings like Fire Station 18, Fire Station 8 and the Town Hall were some of the highest energy consumers in town.
The audit resulted in a series of proposed energy efficiency upgrades, including occupancy sensors, HVAC sensor adjustments, automation systems to schedule HVAC and lighting, retro-commissioning of buildings, installation of low-flow plumbing fixtures and installation of solar photovoltaic systems, which Pagano acknowledged as the most effective for a long-term sustainability effort.
To maximize cost effectiveness and timeliness, Pagano suggested that installation of solar panels be added to the budgeting process of new buildings, such as the new Town Hall at 112 Orange Dr., at around $80,000 to $100,000 overall. This would be a part of a proposed sustainable purchasing policy that pushes for the council to consider environmental impact and life-cycle when purchasing equipment for the town.
Monti Allison, mayor pro tempore, questioned the return on investment the town would get by installing solar panels. Council member Steve Exum clarified Pagano’s suggestion, noting the estimated time on payback.
“It’s eight to ten years. It depends on the system you put in, how much it generates, how big it is, what it costs, and then you can do some math,” Exum said.
Monti Allison, mayor pro tempore during the Feb. 10 meeting of the Elon Town Council.
Mayor Emily Sharpe agreed that considering sustainability during purchasing was necessary but noted that at this time, some of it is not financially feasible. Town council member Randy Orwig concluded that the town would have to be selective about its investments, focusing on where the most impact could be made. He emphasized a flexible and gradual shift towards sustainability.
“We were very realistic to understand that we could only do so much,” Orwig said. “It’s about, are we moving in that direction? Are we making that a priority? Are we moving to make that happen as it’s able to do? It’s more framework until we come up with and say, ‘Yes, we accept this, and we want to make this a priority’”
The council also held two public hearings on text amendments.
One of which centered around planning for the opening of Roberts Academy.
Roberts Academy is scheduled to open this fall for grades three to four, which they hope to later expand to grades one through six. Trollinger House was set to be a temporary school for the students.
Upon going through the LMO, it was discovered that there are specific use conditions being violated. Elon University, represented by Preston Mitchell, requested an amendment to the LMO ordinance to expand the definition of “elementary school” to include small-scale instruction centers for specialized programs. The school further called for a section about new development and existing development in the downtown zoning district for repurposing the space for elementary schools of less than 50 students. These amendments would make opening the academy earlier possible.
Other Items:
Ordinance resolutions were suggested and made to Chapter 17, concerning food trucks and food distribution, as illegal food trucks have become an increasing issue over the past couple of years. Chapter 13, which outlines what is considered a public nuisance and the violation fees that go along with that. The town realized in review that the deadline to fix a violation was shorter than the deadline to appeal it, and therefore has made adjustments, cleaning up timing and language.
The meeting ended with a closed session following a report of events council members have attended and future scheduled events.