Trinity’s Center City plan would create a new downtown area in Old Town, which runs along N.C. 62 between Sealy Drive and Trinity Community Park. This would not only protect the city’s rural character, it would correct two ‘freak historical occurrences.’

“Two freak occurrences are all that stopped Trinity from developing like many other small towns,” Craig Lewis, lead planner for The Lawrence Group, told the Trinity residents at an informational meeting Sept. 8. “If Trinity College had stayed five more years or if the train station had been a more permanent stop, this would have happened 100 years ago.”

“This” refers to the Center City plan that could create a traditional downtown area in Old Town, which extends along N.C. 62 between Sealy Drive and Trinity Community Park.

According to the Lawrence Group, a firm of architects and town planners contracted to design Trinity’s future downtown, the plan will affect only that area of the city.

Included in the Center City area is the city’s 27-acre property. While the land will eventually be home to more city government buildings, a public park will include bike and walking paths, a veterans’ memorial, preservation of the bathing rock used by Trinity College students and an ampitheatre.

On Sept. 8, Lewis presented an overview and answered questions about the Center City plan. Approximately 30 people attended, but few voiced comments or asked questions. However, some residents grumbled softly about wanting Trinity to remain a rural community, while others smiled or nodded to show support.

Lewis assured the audience that the plan would not be overwhelming to the city. Properties outside of the Old Town area will not be affected at all.

“How does this (new downtown plan) help taxpayers?” resident Steve Lawing asked.

“Because development keeps the residential tax burden low, while allowing property values to increase,” Lewis responded.

It’s all about managing growth, Lewis told the audience. More growth means more businesses, which translates into more sales tax revenue for the city. That allows residential property taxes to remain low, or even decrease.

“The plan is part of a long-term investment (growth) strategy for one area of the community,” Lewis explained. “The changes proposed by the plan will define how part of the city will grow over the next 25 to 50 years.

“Sheetz went to Finch Farm Road for three reasons — money, houses and traffic. Growth follows sewer, and it’s already happening all around you. This plan is about managing that growth.”

The area along N.C. 62 from Sealy Drive to Hopewell Church Road will have sewer in the ground by 2011, he continued. This will make the area more attractive to businesses while preventing haphazard growth.

City Manager Ann Bailie agreed.

“Once the sewer system is in the ground, growth will follow — there are no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Bailie told the NEWS. “Trinity voters approved a referendum in 2004 to continue sewer expansion. If the city did not want to grow, we should not be spending $20 million for sewer.

“Trinity needs growth. If we do not have growth, property taxes will go up.”

Trinity’s sewer system is being funded through grants and loans. Sales tax revenue, not property tax dollars, funds the sewer loan repayments.

Kevin Varner, who lives on N.C. 62, agreed that a plan was needed to manage future growth in the Old Town area.

“Plenty of people who own land in this area want to build anything, and as soon as sewer goes up they will build anything,” Varner commented. “I live in a beautiful old house, and if they tear down the woods (next to me) I want to know that what goes up will be something I can stand to look at.”

Trinity’s Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing to consider the plan at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at City Hall. Residents are encouraged to attend. The Sept. 8 meeting was informational only and was not required by law.