AGENDA #4f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Scheduling a Public Forum on Principles, Goals and Strategies for the Development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North) and on Office Institutional-4 Zoning Regulations
DATE: February 9, 2004
The attached resolution would schedule a public forum inviting citizen comment on draft Principles, Goals and Strategies for Guiding the Development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North) and on the current Office Institutional-4 zoning regulations.
BACKGROUND
Principles, Goals and Strategies for the Horace Williams Property
On October 7, 2002, the Town Council adopted a resolution establishing a charge for the creation of a Horace Williams Citizens Committee. The charge included the development of principles to guide the Council’s deliberations with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill regarding the future development of the Horace Williams property (Carolina North).
On October 8, 2003, the Committee submitted its Recommended Principles, Goals and Strategies for Guiding the Development of the Horace Williams Property report to the Town Council for consideration.
On November 17 and 24, 2003, the Council reviewed the report during two work sessions and a Council business meeting. On November 24, the Council voted to refer the Council’s comments and amendments to the report back to the Horace Williams Citizens Committee for input.
The Committee met in December 2003 and January 2004 to review the Council’s comments and changes. On January 28, 2004, the Town Council received from the Horace Williams Citizens Committee a revised draft of the report.
Petition Regarding Office Institutional-4 Zoning
On June 23, 2003, then-Planning Board Vice Chair Sally Greene asked the Council to initiate a process for reassessing the timetable for reviewing applications under Office Institutional-4 zoning, and consider appointing a Mayor's committee to look at lengthening the timetable. The Council unanimously received and referred the petition to the Manager.
On September 22, 2003, the Council received a report on the petition (please see Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION
On January 28, 2004 the Council requested that a public forum be scheduled to allow for public input on the Principles, Goals and Strategies for Guiding the Development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North) report, as presented to the Council by the Horace Williams Citizens Committee. The Council also requested that the forum allow for public comment on the Office Institutional-4 zoning district regulations.
If the Council decides to initiate a change to provisions of the Office Institutional-4 zoning district, the process would be as follows:
According to General Statutes and case law, protest petition provisions apply to proposed amendments of the Land Use Management Ordinance. If the owner(s) of more than 20% of properties to be affected by such an amendment file a valid protest petition, a 3/4 vote of the Council would be necessary to enact the change (7 positive votes).
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopt the attached resolution setting a public forum date of Monday, March 1, 2004 to receive public comment on Principles, Goals and Strategies for Guiding the Development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North), and on the timetable for reviewing development applications submitted under Office Institutional-4 zoning.
ATTACHMENT
A RESOLUTION SCHEDULING A PUBLIC FORUM ON Principles, Goals and Strategies FOR THE HORACE WILLIAMS PROPERTY (CAROLINA NORTH) AND ON OFFICE INSTITUTIONAL-4 Zoning regulations (2004-02-09/R-6)
WHEREAS, the Council established the Horace Williams Citizens Committee to develop a set of Principles to guide the Council’s deliberations with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill regarding the development of the Horace Williams property (Carolina North); and
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2004. the Horace Williams Citizens Committee presented to the Council its revised Recommended Principles, Goals and Strategies for Guiding the Development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North) report; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2003. the Council received a petition to consider potential changes to the timetable for reviewing projects proposed under Office Institutional-4 zoning;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council schedules a public forum for Monday, March 1, 2004. to receive comment on the Recommended Principles, Goals and Strategies for Guiding the Development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North) report, and on the Office Institutional-4 zoning regulations.
This the 9th day of February, 2004.