A ROUGH OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF BLACK MEADOW RIDGE
(Durham community members with more details are invited to send us suggestions)

1973 - BMR zoned PDR 6.2.   Durham County minutes from 1973 record: "Staff Comment:  The Ervin Company presented a revision of their original plan to the Planning Department and the Planning and Zoning Commission at the fifth public hearing.  This plan calls for a PDR-6.2 with a basic site design similar to the original plan.  The Planning Staff did not have an opportunity to review this most recent submission.  The Commission recommended approval of the PDR-6.2 plan as submitted."

1984 December - The current property owner acquired the title for BMR.

2002 June - Durham Parks and Recreation staff meet with the Eno River Association to discuss their proposed exchange of property to allow for development access to Roxboro Road in exchange for Durham greenway access through BMR. The Friends of West Point Park were neither informed of or invited to this meeting.

2002 December - The N.C. Department of Transportation removes Eno Drive from the long range transportation plan for Durham.

2004 May - A Real Estate Purchase Agreement states that BMR is under contract to Sun Forest Systems of Chapel Hill, NC

2005 April - The Durham City Council approves a resolution authorizing an exchange of property to provide development access to Roxboro Road, subject to approved negotiated terms.

2006 October - While investigating options for the Lower Warren Creek Greenway connection to West Point Park, the Friends of West Point Park learn from the Durham Parks and Recreation staff of plans to encourage development on BMR.

2006 October through 2007 May - The Friends of West Point Park request meetings with developer but are informed that they are not ready to discuss their plans.

2007 May - The Friends of West Point Park receive a copy of a transportation impact analysis for BMR, initiated by the developer - Sun Forest Systems of Chapel Hill, from the Durham Planning Department with a schematic site plan layout of the proposed BMR development showing 119 single family dwellings and 206 townhomes.

2007 June - The Friends of West Point Park meet with the Eno River Association and the Argonne Hills Neighborhood Association to discuss the possibility of preserving BMR.

2007 June -  Sun Forest Systems meets with the Friends of West Point Park to discuss the proposed BMR development.

2007 June - through 2007 November -  In a series of meetings at Durham City Hall, The Friends of West Point Park, the Eno River Association and surrounding neighborhood association members meet with Durham City Council members, planning department staff, city manager and mayor to discuss and show support for the preservation of BMR.

2007 July - The Director of the Durham Planning Department acknowledges that there is no original development plan in its archives from the 1970's for BMR.

2007 August - The Friends of West Point Park meet with the Conservation Fund of Chapel Hill to discuss a solution for BMR that would involve support from the N.C. State Parks system.

2007 August - The neighborhood associations of Argonne Hills, Horton Hills, Old Farm, RIver Forest and Lochhaven Hills meet to discuss the preservation of BMR.

2008 January - The Durham Planning Commission initiates a rezoning of BMR.

2008 February - The Friends of West Point Park meet with a Durham City Council member, staff from Durham Parks and Recreation Department and the Durham City Manager's office, the Conservation Fund, the Eno River Association and N.C. State Parks to discuss a preservation solution for BMR that would involve support from the N.C State Parks.  Both City and State representatives left feeling optimistic about a partnership.  The Eno RIver Association was asked to and agreed to initiate an appraisal for BMR.

2008 March - A member of the Durham City Council, staff from Durham Parks and Recreation staff and the Durham City Manager's office, the Eno River Association and the N.C. State Parks meet to discuss a preservation solution for BMR that would involve support from the N.C State Parks.  Durham government and N.C. State Parks representatives could not come to an agreement at that time. The City of  Durham representatives stated that they would look into the possibility of purchasing on its own BMR.  The Friends of West Point Park board members were not informed of or invited to attend this meeting.

2008 May - At the request of the Friends of West Point Park, the Durham Planning Commission puts its rezoning initiative on hold to allow for negotiations for the preservation of BMR.

2008 May - Due to delays in the Eno RIver Association's appraisal process, The Friends of West Point Park hire an appraiser for BMR.

2008 May - The Friends of West Point Park initiate a website, www.fowpp.org, as a medium to enhance public awareness for the need to preserve BMR.

2008 July -  The Friends of West Point Park receive appraisal results for use in BMR preservation negotiations.

2008 July through October - The Friends of West Point Park seek endorsements from Durham citizen and environmental groups for support to preserve Black Medow Ridge.

2008 November 6th - The Friends of West Point Park present their resolution and petition to an afternoon work session of the Durham City Council, asking the City to begin negotiations with the N.C. State Parks System for help in preserving Black Meadow Ridge.

2008 November 17th - The Durham City Council votes uninanimously to direct the Durham City Manager to negotiate a transfer of ownership and/or management of West Point on the Eno Park  in conjunction with the N.C. State Parks acquiring Black Meadow Ridge.