Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton is reminding Occupy Chapel Hill members to obey the law when they protest a local condominium board’s decision to remove a nonprofit serving area Latinos and Burmese immigrants.

“Just a quick reminder that the Abbey Court Condominium is private property,” Chilton said in a memo sent to Occupy members. “The Town Commons, Jones Ferry Road and the other streets and sidewalks adjacent are public spaces where anyone is welcome to conduct a march/protest. The Carrboro Police Department will be on hand to deal with traffic issues only.”

The homeowners association board voted 2-1 this week to give the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Human Rights Center until March 1 to find a new home. The board said the nonprofit, which runs an after-school program and offers other services, was violating its rules by operating programs in a residential setting.

Occupy Chapel Hill has a small encampment outside the Franklin Street post office and plans a 3:30 p.m. march on the Jones Ferry Road complex this afternoon. A march last month against the Nov. 13 police raid to remove occupiers of the old Yates Motor Co. building drew more than 100 people and briefly blocked traffic.

“It seems likely that if protesters cross on to Abbey Court's property that Abbey Court management will ask to have trespassers removed from their property,” Chilton said in his email. “If that happens, then as government officials we have a sworn duty to uphold North Carolina law. In that event, I promise you the Carrboro Police will respond in as calm and measured a way as possible. I want both protesters and police officers to be non-violent.”

Chilton, who supports the goals of the Occupy movement, reminded members that police “are a part of the 99% too.”

“Please bear in mind that when they carry out their job, they are only trying to feed, clothe and house their families, just like the rest of us. I guarantee that many of Carrboro's police officers share our concerns about how Abbey Court (or the whole world for that matter) is run, but that doesn't mean they can violate their sworn oath to uphold the law.”

The Chapel Hill Police Department’s heavily armed raid on a group of squatters in a vacant building on Franklin Street last Sunday has caught elected leaders’ attenion in neighboring Carrboro.

On his Facebook page and local blog orangepolitics.org this week, Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton posted a 3,000-word essay on the challenges of being committed to non-violence while still being in charge of a police force. Chilton decided last week to send Carrboro police to assist Chapel Hill in case violence erupted. And while he supports the police, he also worries what impact the tactical team response may have.

“Now I fear that Sunday's display of force from CHPD will entrench many of the protesters in their rejection of non-violence as a basic organizing principle,” Chilton wrote. “This is what Dr. King meant when he so famously said "Violence begets violence." Each new act of violence only encourages the other side to escalate. And where does it all end? And what does it all accomplish?”

From correspondent Tammy Grubb

The Carrboro aldermen voted last night to prohibit residents from feeding deer but postponed deciding whether bow hunters can cull local herds until early next year.

The feeding ban comes in response to concerns about the town’s growing deer population and the effect on landscaping, gardens and public safety. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission estimates Orange County has 30 to 44 deer per square mile.

The new ordinance prohibits residents from placing fruits, vegetables, salt and other materials outdoors on public or private property to feed or attract deer. The law does not apply to natural vegetation, crops or feeders used for domestic animals or livestock. The town will give violators 48 hours to remove illegal food or feeding devices before levying a $25 fine.

A group of hunters and residents also petitioned the board Tuesday to revisit its October 2010 decision to focus on public education about deer management and give new consideration to letting bow hunters harvest deer within town limits. If bow hunting is allowed, the board also would have to change a town ordinance that currently bans the discharge of any projectile, including arrows.

While some aldermen said they are open to hearing both sides of the issue, they also said they remain concerned about public safety and animal welfare. A public hearing on the issue could take place in January.

“I think this is one of the issues where we need to hear from more residents,” Mayor Mark Chilton said.

What do you think the town should do about the deer population? Tell us here or at editor@nando.com. Please state your name and town or township of residence if you'd like us to consider your comments for publication in the print newspaper.

From correspondent Tammy Grubb

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen unanimously approved rezoning and a conditional use permit Tuesday night for the eco-friendly Veridia subdivision proposed for two parcels at 810 Old Fayetteville Road.

Mayor Mark Chilton, who worked with developer Sustainable Properties LLC on the project, abstained from the discussion and subsequent vote.

Veridia will replace 37 mobile homes and one house in the Pine Grove Mobile Home Park with two- and three-bedroom homes. The plan saves another house at the front of the property for a community clubhouse. About 31 percent of the 4.66 acres will be open space.

Architect Giles Blunden’s initial drawings show single-family, millhouse-style homes. A 100-kilowatt solar array will generate roughly 135,000 kilowatt hours each year for sell to local utilities. The proceeds – possibly $13,000 to $24,000 annually, will be used to maintain the system and reduce homeowner’s association dues.

The project also includes a rainwater capture system that will support the community garden and help flush toilets. The developers plan to meet national LEED green-building standards for residential insulation, recycled construction materials and solar thermal hot water heaters, among other features.

Stormwater runoff will be directed to underground sand filters and a detention system. All utility lines will be buried, and OWASA will provide water and sewer services, replacing an existing septic system that has reached the end of its life, the developers said.

Development partners Trip Overholt and David Bell agreed to 28 conditions Tuesday, including housing size limits, making sure the locally built playground meets safety and disability standards and letting homebuyers seek financing from their own bank or credit union. In addition, the permit requires many of the project’s green building features to be in place before the developers receive an occupancy permit for the 26th house.

Look for more on this story in this Sunday's Chapel Hil News.