ATTACHMENT 10
SUMMARY MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING
OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2005 AT 7:20 P.M.
Mayor Kevin Foy called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
Council members present were Sally Greene, Ed Harrison, Cam Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom, Dorothy Verkerk, Jim Ward and Edith Wiggins.
Staff members present were Town Manager Cal Horton, Deputy Town Manager Florentine Miller, Assistant Town Manager Bruce Heflin, Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos, Acting Planning Director J.B. Culpepper, Transportation Planner David Bonk, Senior Planner Phil Mason, Acting Development Coordinator Gene Poveromo, and Deputy Town Clerk Sandy Cook.
Item 4 – Concept Plan: Chapel Hill Kehillah
Mr. Poveromo stated that tonight the Council would consider a Concept Plan for the Chapel Hill Kehillah parking lot rental request. He said the property was located at the intersection of Mason Farm Road and Purefoy Road. Mr. Poveromo said that the proposal did not meet the intensity threshold required for a Concept Plan review by the Council, so on May 4 Chapel Hill Kehillah had asked for a Concept Plan review and that request was granted by the Council.
Mr. Poveromo said that the development proposal included the creation of a park/ride lot for approximately 50 vehicles for long-term lease. He said the site was located in the Residential-4 zoning district, and displayed an area map and an aerial photograph of the site.
Stanley J. Robboy, speaking as the applicant, said they were a house of worship and were seeking to use some of the relatively unused spaces during the day to help alleviate some of the financial pressures that they experienced. He said they had an active community program and this would help them to offset the costs.
Mr. Robboy displayed an aerial photograph that showed that the parking area was concealed from the street. He said if someone was driving by they would be unaware that a parking area existed. Mr. Robboy said they would make no changes to the site, noting the gravel lot would stay, and there would be no changes to the hedges or other plantings. He said there was some possibility that low-level lighting might be added for the evening hours. Mr. Robboy displayed additional photos of the area.
Mr. Robboy said they had contacted every neighbor and had received unanimous, written support for this request. He said there had been no one from the community expressing concern about this plan, so that was an expression of support. Mr. Robboy said they would hope that at this point the Council would move forward with some speed. He said they did understand there were processes that they needed to go through, but hoped those processes could be implemented quickly.
Council Member Ward commented that the Town and Chapel Hill Kehillah needed to balance the issue of buffering to keep it from being an eyesore with the issues of safety. He said buffering could cause concern that the area was so well hidden that the people using it would feel in jeopardy. Council Member Ward said make the lighting enough to provide security but not be a nuisance to the neighbors. Mr. Robboy said they had many activities at night and the members felt comfortable using the parking area. But, he said, they believed it was a good suggestion to add the low level lighting for extra security and planned to do so.
Council Member Harrison commented that he understood that because of the change in use this request needed an SUP. Mr. Poveromo said this was located in an R-4 zoning district, and they had classified the request to be for a park/ride terminal which would require an SUP in a rezoning district.
Council Member Harrison said because of the small scale of the project, he hoped that the Council would “go easy” on the request. He thanked Mr. Robboy for being willing to go through the process. Mr. Robboy said during the course of their research they had discovered that in the early 1980s the Kehillah had a permit to use that area as a parking lot, but variances had changed and somehow that designation had been lost.
COUNCIL MEMBER STROM MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VERKERK, ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-1. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).
A RESOLUTION TRANSMITTING COUNCIL COMMENTS ON A CONCEPT PLAN FOR THE CHAPEL HILL KEHILLAH – PARKING LOT RENTAL REQUEST (2005-06-20/R-1)
WHEREAS, a Concept Plan has been submitted for review by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill, for the Chapel Hill Kehillah – Parking Lot Rental Request; and
WHEREAS, the Council has heard presentations for the applicant, and citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Council has discussed the proposal, with Council members offering reactions and suggestions;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council transmits comments to the applicant regarding this proposal, as expressed by Council members during discussions on June 20, 2005, and reflected in minutes of that meeting.
This the 20th day of June, 2005.