AGENDA #1

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:

Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

FROM:

J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director

David C. Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Planning Coordinator

George Small, Engineering Director

Kumar Neppalli, Traffic Engineer

SUBJECT:

Work Session Regarding Development Activity in the North and Northwest Areas

DATE:

March 7, 2007

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this work session is to provide the Council an opportunity to discuss initiatives and activities in the north/northwest area of Chapel Hill. 

 

This work session will include a coordinated and comprehensive overview of development activity and planning efforts occurring in northern Chapel Hill and in the Chapel Hill/Orange County Joint Planning Transitional Area. The intended outcome is to provide information that the Council and citizens can use to:  1) understand the scope and impacts of development activity occurring and/or proposed in this area of Town, 2) learn about planning efforts and opportunities intended to manage growth in this area, and 3) consider alternative direction. 

 

BACKGROUND

 

On October 15, 2006, a citizen submitted a petition to the Town Council raising a series of questions concerning the impact of anticipated development in the north and northwest area of Chapel Hill. 

 

On January 22, 2007, we responded to the petition and the Council scheduled this work session requesting an overview of development activity and planning efforts occurring in the area.

 

DISCUSSION

 

To facilitate discussion, we will provide information concerning the following issues:

 

1.  Growth issues related to higher density development that are of Town-wide interest. 

 

A number of Council actions, including the 2000 Comprehensive Plan, anticipate higher density development to occur along the Town’s major transportation corridors. Formal development applications for higher density development are currently in process for the downtown and along several transit corridors.  To better evaluate and respond to proposed higher density development throughout the community, we have organized a Steering Committee with staff representation from several departments.  The Committee will evaluate potential impacts from all Town operations’ perspectives of anticipated higher density development activity, and will identify measures and resources necessary to respond to those impacts.  The staff Steering Committee hopes to complete its work by May 2007 in time to provide a report to the Town Council before its summer break.

 

2.  A number of planning initiatives are underway that impact the north and northwest area of Town.  These initiatives are summarized below and will be described in general terms at the work session: 

 

SUMMARY

 

The 2000 Land Use Plan and 2000 Comprehensive Plan identified land use and growth patterns for the area. The development occurring in the area is consistent with the assumptions included in these Plans. Pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the area have been limited, in part because portions of the area are outside the Town limits. Efforts are underway to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements as part of a comprehensive access and circulation analysis of the north/northwest area of Town. These and other initiatives will be further described at the work session. 

 

We are aware of Council and citizen concerns regarding current and proposed development in this area of Town, and this work session is intended to provide information for the Council’s consideration and discussion.  The formation of a staff Steering Committee will ensure that a framework is developed to address the consequences of anticipated higher density development.  This framework will provide a basis for the Council and the public to evaluate the results of the Comprehensive Plan decisions and consider whether alternative direction is desired.  A key element of our work will involve the Transit Oriented Development guidelines and the Long Range Transit Plan now being prepared by a consultant.   

 

We believe that current and planned efforts by Town staff will effectively anticipate and respond to development in and around the north/northwest area of Town.  We solicit Council direction regarding our work.

 

[ADDITIONAL INFORMATION]

The following material was presented to Council at the meeting.

  1. Northwest Chapel Hill Study Area presentation (PDF version, 4.3 MB)
  2. Citizen Correspondence