MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1995

Mayor Broun called the hearing to order. Council Members in attendance were Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Mark Chilton, Pat Evans, Lee Pavão, Barbara Powell, Jim Protzman and Rosemary Waldorf. Also in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Managers Sonna Loewenthal and Florentine Miller, Long-Range Planning Coordinator Chris Berndt and Planning Director Roger Waldon.

Wayne Hadler, Chairperson of the Planning Board and the Northwest Small Area Plan Working Group, said the Group had met numerous times between May, 1993 and December, 1994 to develop a plan for an area in the northwest part of the Town's planning jurisdiction. He noted that several members of the Working Group were in attendance at this evening's hearing. Mr. Hadler thanked the Group's members for their hard work in developing a good plan. He also noted that three community meetings had been held with community residents throughout the process to discuss the development of the proposed area plan.

Long-range Planning Coordinator Chris Berndt presented an overview of the proposed northwest small area plan and briefly reviewed the study area boundaries. She noted that the approximate center of the study area was the Greene tract, a parcel of land jointly owned by the Town, Town of Carrboro and Orange County. Ms. Berndt stated that the Town of Carrboro was also in the process of developing a small area plan for the northern portion of its jurisdiction.

Ms. Berndt presented an overview of the overall proposed conceptual plan. She stated that the plan placed a special emphasis on neighborhood protection, including the Rogers Road, Billabong Lane and Northwood areas. Ms. Berndt also noted that the Working Group had proposed the idea of creating an employment campus along Eubanks Road, providing for a variety of possible business-type uses. She stated that the Working Group had also noted the possibility of establishing a transportation corridor along an existing rail corridor for pedestrian and bikeway trails and the possibility of a future busway or light rail system into the downtown and University campus areas. Ms. Berndt concluded her remarks by briefly reviewing possible implementation strategies for the plan. She stated that staff recommended that at the end of this evening's hearing, the proposed plan be referred to the advisory boards and the Manager for follow-up.

Robin Lackey, Chair of Carrboro Planning Board, noted that the Town of Carrboro also had a group which was planning for possible land uses in the northeast portion of Carrboro's jurisdiction. She noted that the Carrboro Board of Aldermen would likely have comments on the area plans in the future. Ms. Lackey expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Planning Boards and the respective Working Groups. She also expressed thanks to Scott Radway (the Town's liaison to the Carrboro Work Group) and Wayne Hadler for their efforts. Ms. Lackey said the Carrboro Work Group was especially concerned that a portion of Homestead Road might become overloaded in the future, necessitating widening of the roadway. She also stated that the Carrboro Work Group favored making improvements to Eubanks Road. Ms. Lackey said the Carrboro Working Group requested that the Council keep the future development of the Horace Williams property in mind when making decisions in the northwest portion of the Town.

Council Member Waldorf inquired whether the Carrboro Work Group planned to make a formal recommendation concerning future roadway connections for Eubanks Road. Ms. Lackey said the Group had requested that Carrboro Alderman and Group Chair Jay Bryan bring the requested connection before the Board of Aldermen for their consideration. She added that the Work Group also requested that the Board of Aldermen carefully examine overall transit issues in the area, especially Homestead and Eubanks Road.

Council Member Evans inquired about the number of acres in the Town of Carrboro's northeast small area plan. Ms. Lackey said although she was not sure of the specific acreage, she believed the area involved was larger than the area in the Town's northwest small area plan.

Martin Rody urged the Council to adopt the proposed plan. He suggested the reservation of right-of-way to extend Weaver Dairy Road west to Homestead Road in the future. Mr. Rody said the Northwest Small Area Plan Working Group had not made this recommendation because it feared the overloading of Weaver Dairy and Erwin Roads in the future. He also expressed concern that a planned residential area in the far northern part of the plan, surrounded by an employment campus, railroad and landfill would have more potential as an extension of the employment campus than as a residential area. Mr. Rody said he recommended that this area be set aside as an employment campus.

Bill Stott, Southeast Regional Real Estate Manager for United Parcel Service (UPS), said his firm fully supported the efforts of the Town's small area planning group. He also said UPS requested that the future zoning provide for continued use of the existing facility in its existing capacity as a service-related business. Mr. Stott said UPS had a large investment in the area and were in complete agreement with all of the plan's overall recommendations.

Robert Bosworth noted that he and his wife owned property in the Homestead Road area. Mr. Bosworth said he was concerned about the plan's proposal to downzone nearby property from R-2 to R-1.

Gary Buck commended the Town Council for having sufficient insight to expand the Town's tax base with a plan to accommodate non-residential growth. Mr. Buck stated that too many non-residential projects had recently chosen to locate in Durham, Wake or Chatham County. He said the proposed plan was an ideal tool for diversifying the Town's tax base. Mr. Buck also said he hoped the Town Council would allow higher zoning densities and taller buildings in the northwest area. Mr. Buck concluded his remarks by thanking the Working Group for their efforts.

David Laudicina, a member of the Working Group and area resident,

suggested that diesel-powered trolleys could be used in a transit corridor located in the northwest part of the Town. He noted that the railroad right-of-way extended to the downtown and University campus area.

John Maddry, an owner of property along Airport Road, expressed concern that the plan outlined public roads on private property.

Mr. Maddry said he hoped to be able to sell his property for development in the near future in order to realize his retirement plan.

Calvin Mellot said he hoped to be able to extend his proposed industrial park in the future. He noted that an existing railroad track in the area might interfere with Mr. Rody's proposal to extend Weaver Dairy Road to Homestead Road.

Mayor Broun requested that the record of the hearing include letters received from Orange County Commissioners Chair Moses Carey and local attorney David Rudolf concerning the proposed plan. Mr. Horton noted that the Council's practice was to hold the record of hearings open until the Council acted on the matter.

Mayor Broun inquired about the location of proposed landfill site 17. Ms. Berndt point out the proposed location of the site. She added that the site was outside of the study area, excepting one small portion. Council Member Capowski inquired about the location of the current landfill. Ms. Berndt said the current landfill was contiguous to site 17 and within the study area.

Council Member Brown noted that although there was a rail line between University Station in Durham and the Town, there was no rail line between the Town and Hillsborough. Mr. Horton said this was correct.

Council Member Evans said the Group's plan was a good one. Mayor Broun thanked the group for their efforts. Council Member Brown thanked the citizen's group for the plan.

Council Member Brown emphasized the importance of preserving open space and green space and providing opportunities for affordable housing in the northwest area. She also expressed concern that the development of the Southern Village area did not appear to include much emphasis on preserving green space or trees. Council Member Brown suggested that the Council carefully examine the northwest area plan's elements concerning affordable housing and open space. She also suggested that the Council hold work sessions to discuss the plan in the future. Council Member Brown stated that the OWASA Board had recently received a memorandum from OWASA's Executive Director indicating that OWASA was experiencing higher than anticipate water usage. She suggested that the Council have some serious discussions about available resources.

Council Member Capowski inquired about the jurisdictional status of Duke Forest. Ms. Berndt said that Duke Forest was principally located in the rural buffer. Mr. Waldon noted that the land was also in the joint planning area, with jurisdiction for permit approvals resting solely with Orange County and consideration of rezoning requests being made by Orange County and the applicable local jurisdiction.

Council Member Chilton noted that as a contributor to the Landfill Fund, the Town had some say about the landfill site selection process and which options to pursue.

Council Member Protzman applauded the Working Group for its efforts. He suggested that the Council set up a logical framework for future in-depth discussions of the proposed plan by functions.

Council Member Waldorf said it would make a lot of sense for the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill to have joint discussions concerning their separate proposed small area plans.

Council Member Brown noted the importance of the Shaping Orange County Future's planning process, including consideration of matters such as the potential for transfer of development rights. She urged the Council to establish an overall detailed planning process as soon as possible.

Council Member Evans inquired when the Town of Carrboro would complete work on its proposed area plan. Ms. Lackey stated that the conceptual portion of the plan was almost completed. She added that the Town's two general small area plans appeared to mesh well together. Ms. Lackey added that it would likely be several months before the Town of Carrboro's process for the small area plan would be completed.

COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS, TO REFER THE MATTER TO THE MANAGER AND APPLICABLE ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

The meeting stood adjourned at 7:53 p.m.