City manager: council will submit resolution opposing Independence Boulevard extension to NCDOT

The council discussed a draft environmental-impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Independence Boulevard extension and a resolution opposing further work on the project.

City Manager Hall told the mayor and council that the state has issued a draft EIS and that the proposed resolution would submit the city's opposition as formal comments to NCDOT. "We believe the city taking this step to make this resolution and put it forward to say that the city is not in favor of this project moving forward is a statement they will have to take into account and address before they issue a final environmental impact statement," Hall said.

Mayor and council members asked whether the resolution would effectively halt the project; Hall said she could not predict how the state would respond but confirmed the city will submit the resolution if approved by council. A council member asked whether the public comment period closes today; Hall stated the comment period closes mid‑January and that a resolution approved at the next council meeting would be submitted to NCDOT.

Council members also asked about alternatives considered in the draft EIS, including options that would widen sections of the corridor or require property impacts; staff said the EIS considered several options and that some alignments would have more impact on homes and businesses than others.

Why it matters: the city is preparing formal comments opposing further work on a long‑standing highway extension project; the draft EIS and public comment window are the administrative steps that will shape the state's next actions. The briefing did not include a council vote on the resolution; staff said the city will submit comments following council action at the upcoming meeting.