CONCEPT PLAN PROPOSAL
TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director
SUBJECT: Concept Plan: Downtown Economic Development Initiative, Wallace Parking Deck
DATE: March 20, 2006
INTRODUCTION
Attached is a proposal for Concept Plan review. This proposal involves retaining the Wallace Parking Deck and construction of approximately 6,000 square feet of retail floor area and 99 residential dwelling units consisting of approximately 145,696 square feet of floor area. Two buildings ranging in height from three to five stories are proposed. The site includes a 12,000 square-foot parcel at the corner of East Rosemary Street and Henderson Street. The site is located at 150 East Rosemary Street at the intersection of East Rosemary Street and Henderson Street. The 1.64-acre site is located in the Town Center-2 (TC-2) zoning district, a portion of the site is within the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District, and is identified as Chapel Hill Tax Map 80A, Lot 10.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On January 27, 2003, the Council enacted a Land Use Management Ordinance requiring that the Council conduct a Concept Plan Review for proposed development meeting specific land or floor area thresholds. Applications (other than in Town Center) meeting any of the minimum thresholds as shown below require Town Council review in addition to the Community Design Commission review:
| Characteristic | Threshold Triggering Council Review |
| Land Area | 5 acre |
| Floor Area | 100,000 |
| # of Dwelling Units | 50 dwelling units |
The Council has the opportunity tonight to hear this applicant’s presentation, receive a set of comments from the Community Design Commission, hear public comment, and offer suggestions to the applicant for consideration as further plans are drawn. At the conclusion of the evening’s discussion, we recommend that the Council adopt a resolution (attached) transmitting comments to the applicant.
An excerpt for the Land Use Management Ordinance with a description of the process for Concept Plans is attached.
The Concept Plan review process does not involve staff evaluation of the proposal. Review of the Concept Plan submitted is conducted by the Community Design Commission or the Historic District Commission and, in some instances, Town Council, as noted above.
BACKGROUND
On March 15, 2006, the Community Design Commission reviewed a Concept Plan Proposal for the Wallace Parking Deck. The Historic District Commission reviewed a Concept Plan Proposal for the Wallace Parking Deck at its March 16, 2006 meeting. The proposal reviewed by the Community Design Commission and the Historic District Commission is identical to the proposal before the Council tonight.
ELEMENTS OF REVIEW
A Concept Plan is a preliminary step toward preparation of a formal development plan and application. The Land Use Management Ordinance states that design and construction of site elements should include:
Appropriate descriptions and explanations of the relationships and balances among site elements;
The relationship of the development to natural features, neighboring developments, and undeveloped land;
Access and circulation systems;
Retention of natural vegetation, minimal alteration of natural topography, mitigation of erosion and sedimentation, mitigation of stormwater drainage and flooding;
Arrangement and orientation of buildings and amenities in relation to each other and to neighboring developments and streets;
Landscaping, preservation or enhancements of vistas; and<
Mitigation of traffic impacts.
The Town Council, Community Design Commission, and the Historic District Commission in examining development applications, are to consider the various aspects of design, with special emphasis on whether the proposed development is consistent with the Town’s Design Guidelines, and the Goals and Objectives of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. A work sheet for review of Concept Plans is attached for the Council’s use with this memorandum (Attachment 2).
A Concept Plan for this site was reviewed by the Community Design Commission on March 15, 2006. A Concept Plan for this site was reviewed by the Historic District Commission on March 16, 2006. A summary of comments from both meetings will be distributed when they are available.
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION
This Concept Plan Proposal includes the construction of two buildings. The buildings are proposed to range in height from three to five stories. The buildings are proposed to be constructed adjacent to and above the Town-owned Wallace Parking Deck. Proposed construction includes 6,000 square feet of retail and 99 residential dwelling units on the 1.64-acre site. The proposed development site is located on the south side of East Rosemary Street at the intersection of Henderson Street.
The Land Use Plan, a component of the Comprehensive Plan, identifies the site as Town/Village Center. The site is located in the Town Center-2 (TC-2) zoning district. The property is located within the Town limits, the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District, and the Town Urban Service Area. The property is identified as Chapel Hill Tax Map 80A, Lot 10.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council review this Concept Plan, receive comments from citizens, and adopt a resolution transmitting comments to the applicant.
ATTACHMENTS
