Decades of Roots, Deepening Every Year

The Central Pines Regional Council name reflects the full geography and identity of the communities we serve.

We continue to work across boundaries to build a region where communities thrive together. Decades of collaboration have created a foundation for addressing what comes next, from housing and aging to climate and connectivity. These challenges do not stop at town or county lines. Neither do we.

iWater recreation on Jordan Lake in Chatham County.

Triangle J expanded its role as a convener for the region.

Regional Summits brought elected leaders, local government staff and community partners together to address shared challenges and develop a stronger vision for the region’s future. The organization also received federal designation as an Economic Development District and helped launch Jordan Lake One Water, a partnership focused on coordinated water-resource management across the Jordan Lake watershed.

Triangle J focused on expanding access and connecting communities.

The organization helped reduce the digital divide for older adults by providing computers, internet access and digital skills training. It also launched the Center of the Region Enterprise partnership to support smarter growth along the border of Wake and Durham counties. The new Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization gave four counties and 12 small towns a stronger voice in transportation planning and funding.

iNew Hope Elementary School, Chapel Hill.

Triangle J helped turn regional planning into visible improvements in schools and community services.

The regional model-school initiative moved from concept to reality with the dedication of New Hope Elementary School, a project led by the Model School Task Force. Hillside High School in Durham was also recognized as a model high school focused on educational improvement and restructuring.

The decade also brought programs addressing hazardous household waste, cable and broadband infrastructure, and recovery from Hurricane Fran.

Triangle J became a hub for regional firsts and new ideas.

The organization’s initiatives included Foreign Trade Zone No. 93, North Carolina’s first GIS conference and a regional mental health program for emergency responders. Triangle J also began working with Orange County Schools on a regional model-school concept, exploring how technology and modern management could strengthen public education.

The 1970s brought a new name and a broader regional role.

As regional councils formed across North Carolina, the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission became the Triangle J Council of Governments. Its service area expanded to include Chatham, Lee and Johnston counties.

The organization also launched pioneering environmental initiatives, including the nation’s first regional water-quality management plan. It became home to the Triangle J Area Agency on Aging, helping communities address barriers to aging well.

iL to R: Pearson H. Stewart, unidentified Durham city official, George L. Simpson Jr.; Romeo H. Guest, Jr.; George Watts Hill at an early planning meeting about RTP. Held February 1958 Photo by Durham Herald-Sun

The Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission laid the groundwork for regional coordination.

The Commission published the Research Triangle Development Guide, the region’s first land-use plan. The guide established a shared vision for coordinating water, sewer, open space and development. The region also designated the Commission to review federally funded projects and ensure they aligned with local plans.

Our regional story began in 1959, when the North Carolina General Assembly formed the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission.

The new agency was built to plan with communities, not for them. Its charge was clear: help local governments in Durham, Orange and Wake counties prepare for rapid growth around Research Triangle Park. Its earliest priorities included water supply, infrastructure and the public services needed to support a growing population.