AGENDA #A3

 

MEMORANDUM

 

From:               Chapel Hill Community Design Commission

 

To:                   Chapel Hill Town Council

 

Date:               February 22, 2006

 

Subject:           Recommendations Regarding 2006- 2007 Chapel Hill Town Budget

 

            At its February 22, 2006 special meeting the Community Design Commission recommended that the following items be given priority by the Town Council in its 2006-2007 budgets.  The first three items are listed in their priority of importance to the CDC. 

 

 

  1. Fund An Additional ½ Time Planning Staff Position: In response to the much appreciated & more effective inspection process regarding CDC compliance; the CDC recommends that the 2006-2007 budgets include sufficient funds to add a ½ time Planning Department staff position to coordinate & facilitate review of final construction drawing compliance with CDC approved designs, and provide additional CDC compliance oversight during the building process & before the final CO inspections.  This additional oversight will help alleviate the current burden of ‘after the fact’ compliance review by the CDC.
  2. Mass Transit Advocacy: In that the CDC advocates planned high density development & encourages alternative transportation and walk-ability; the CDC recommends that the 2006-2007 budgets includes additional funds to further create programs and adopt policies encouraging the use of public transit near high density developments, recreation and retail areas.
  3. Bus Shelters: The CDC recommends that the 2006-2007 budgets includes funds to provide & maintain attractive bus shelters for existing bus stops which currently do not have them. The CDC further recommends that the Town consider instituting an “adopt-a-shelter” program for its bus shelters. Such a program would allow neighborhood organizations, civic groups, or high school students fulfilling their community service obligations to help maintain bus shelters by seeing to it that trash is picked up, schedules/maps are in place, equipment is functional, etc..  They would not be expected to make any repairs or replacements but would notify CHT staff when such was required.

 

The CDC hopes that each its suggestions will be carefully considered in terms of the potential benefit versus cost.  In response to ways in which the Town might save costs or generate revenue, the CDC endorses the following recommendations:

 

1.      The CDC recommends that the Town consider charging a $300.00 fee for Concept Plan Review (currently free); and further consider increasing all fees charged for CDC review by 10%.

 

2.      The CDC recommends that the Town consider approaching its partners with the idea of allowing advertising on the outside of CHT buses.  Such advertising should obviously be tasteful in keeping with Town standards.  The revenues generated from such advertising could be used to improve CHT services, such as adding route service or improving amenities (bus shelters, route map/schedule wheels, etc.)