AGENDA #4g
memorandum
to: Mayor and Town Council
from: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
subject: Follow Up Report - Proposed Process for Developing a Joint Small Area Plan with Carrboro for Adjoining Downtown Areas
date: February 27, 2006
The purpose of this report is to provide additional information requested by the Council at its January 12, 2006 Planning Session regarding a proposed process for development of a joint small area plan in the area of West Franklin/West Rosemary Streets in Chapel Hill and Main Street in Carrboro. A map of this general area is provided for your information (Attachment 1).
The attached resolution would appoint members of the Council to initiate discussion with elected officials from the Town of Carrboro regarding a small area plan process for the West Franklin Street and West Rosemary Street area in Chapel Hill and Main Street area in Carrboro. The resolution requests that the Carrboro Board of Aldermen appoint representatives for this purpose.
At the Planning Session on January 12, 2006, the Council discussed the concept of asking the Carrboro Board of Aldermen if it would be interested in participating in the development of a Small Area Plan for the area of downtown Carrboro at the western boundary of Chapel Hill, including West Franklin Street and West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill and East Main Street in Carrboro. At that time, we informed the Council that we would return on February 27, 2006 with a resolution to begin this process.
Both Chapel Hill and Carrboro have experienced increased interest in the development and redevelopment of sections of their downtowns. Several development proposals have recently been submitted in the area of West Franklin Street and West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill and Main Street in Carrboro. These include the Greenbridge proposal in Chapel Hill and the 300 East Main Street project in Carrboro.
We believe it would be beneficial to both Chapel Hill and Carrboro to examine the common border area and develop a small area plan for the adjoining areas of the Chapel Hill and Carrboro downtowns. A small area plan would help ensure that both communities could better coordinate roadway, pedestrian, bicycle, public transit, and signal system improvements necessary to accommodate these developments.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution requesting the appointment of members of the Council to initiate discussions with elected officials from Carrboro regarding a small area plan process for the West Franklin Street and West Rosemary Street area of Chapel Hill and Main Street area of Carrboro.
ATTACHMENTS
