SUMMARY
MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING
OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
Monday, February 19, 2007, AT 7:00 p.m.
Present were Mayor Kevin Foy, Mayor pro tem Bill Strom, Council Member Laurin Easthom, Council Member Sally Greene, Council Member Ed Harrison, Council Member Mark Kleinschmidt, Council Member Bill Thorpe, and Council Member Jim Ward.
Staff members present were Town Manager Roger Stancil, Deputy Town Manager Florentine Miller, Assistant Town Manager Bruce Heflin, Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos, Town Information Officer Catherine Lazorko, Planning Director JB Culpepper, Development Coordinator Gene Poveromo, and Acting Town Clerk Sandra Kline.
|
4. |
Concept Plan: Sanctuary at Cobblestone Creek Multi-Family Development. |
Mr. Poveromo reviewed the concept plan proposal for a multi-family development
on 3.5 acres on the south side of Legion Road. He said
the proposal included 26 dwelling units, was zoned R-4 and R-2, and
would require a rezoning. The CDC had reviewed the plan on January 24,
2007, Mr. Poveromo said.
David Lindquist, representing Pick Enterprises, presented a site map and
described the Sanctuary at Cobblestone Creek. He said the front half
of the site was zoned R-2 and the back two acres were currently zoned
R-4. The site holds two houses, circa 1950 and 1980,
respectively. Mr. Lindquist described the site’s
slopes, elevations, drainage patterns, and significant trees.
Mr. Lindquist said the original plan had 26 houses, a small
clubhouse and pool area, and a one-way street
down the middle. After meeting with the CDC and talking with
neighbors, they had honed it down and moved elements around, he
said. Mr. Lindquist said the project included smaller units
designed for workforce housing.
Tim Kuhn, a resident of The Meadows, voiced concerns regarding public
safety, the environment and the potential for crowding. He
mentioned possible parking and access problems related to the single,
one-way street. Mr. Kuhn raised questions about the environmental
impact of the construction bridge and the need to clear trees to
build that bridge. He said there seemed to be too many units
on the buildable property, and he wondered if the setbacks would
create privacy issues for The Meadows as well as Cobblestone Creek.
Scott Baker, a Clover Drive resident, expressed concerns about safety
of the road which would be very close to his house. With regard to
privacy, he said, the applicant was planning to put a lot of houses
into the back section where so many houses might not be supported.
Mr. Baker told Council members that he also had environmental
concerns about losing trees, given how close houses would be to the
property line. He mentioned tree #9, in particular, and
wondered how its roots could be maintained with so many houses built
around it.
Lynne Kane said that the neighborhood supports the idea of
having more homes in the area. Their main concern had
consistently been over the number of homes, she said. Ms.
Kane pointed out that eliminating the pool would allow a little more
space between homes. She said that the neighborhood, in general,
was supportive of developing that property, and they hoped that other
property would be developed in the area as well.
John Dorward, representing the Turberry Homeowners Association, noted that
the plan had been revised several times. Turnberry homeowners like
it better each time they see it, he said. Mr. Dorward expressed
confidence that the Council and the CDC would work out the setbacks and
requirements for parking. They support the project in general, he
said, adding that they like the project’s scale, size and variety as
well as the workforce housing. Mr. Dorward said that Turnberry
homeowners think this development would be good for the
neighborhood.
Mayor pro tem Strom inquired about how the affordable housing element
would work. Mr. Poveromo replied that there would be a rezoning, which
would ask the applicant to commit to an affordable housing
component, whereas with a SUP the Council would require that it comply
with the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor pro tem Strom
ascertained that this plan would be for 15 percent affordable
housing, as opposed to Small House Ordinance rules.
He noted that the Town would prefer a rezoning.
Council Member Harrison verified with the developer that Cobblestone
Creek would have a 12-foot, one-way street with a sidewalk on one
side. He ascertained that the R-4 portion would
allow 10 units per acre, or 20 units, and four units per acre on the R-2
part, which would be five houses. Council Member
Harrison said that the rezoning was to allow the clubhouse
and pool and to allow more buildable space per acre. Council Member
Harrison asked if the applicant had not met the threshold for a concept
plan appearance before the Council. Mr. Poveromo said that this
was correct.
Council Member Thorpe asked citizens to email Council members with positive
comments as well as negative ones. He also asked Mr. Poveromo to include
a summary cover sheet with all concept plans.
Council Member Ward suggested that the applicant reuse or
relocate one or both of the homes that are on the site. He noted the
opportunity for bike and pedestrian connectivity in the northern
area. Council Member Ward suggested that the applicant
consider flipping the layout to make it easier to work
around #9. He said the area of sidewalk that was
shaded on the plan needed to extend out to Legion Road. Council
member Ward expressed appreciation for the work that the applicant had
done with the neighbors.
Mayor Foy said the road on the east side of the project did seem close to
its neighbors. He said that the Council was still going through a
difficult episode with precisely that issue, adding that they would rather
not have to confront that when the applicant comes back again for a
permit. Mayor Foy said he could not tell whether the density
was appropriate or not, noting that the mere fact that the zoning permits
it does not mean the Council would approve it. They need to be
respectful of what that property can handle, he said.
Council Member Greene asked the staff if there had been any consideration given
to stands of emerging hardwoods. Mr. Poveromo replied that
identification of tree stands would be done during the
department review stage of the process.
Council Member Greene said that the back section, to the right of the
stream, looked too crowded to her. She said she would like to
see fewer houses in that section.
Council Member Jim Ward MOVED, SECONDED BY Mayor pro tem Bill Strom, TO Adopt R-1. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (7-0).