ATTACHMENT 11
Mayor Kevin Foy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Council members present were Laurin Easthom, Sally Greene, Ed Harrison, Cam Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom, Bill Thorpe, and 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 J. B. Culpepper, Development Coordinator Gene Poveromo, Senior Planner Kay Pearlstein, and Deputy Town Clerk Sandy Cook.
Mr. Poveromo stated that this 19.5-acre site was located on the north side of Purefoy Road approximately 700 feet east of the intersection of Rogers Road and Purefoy Road. He stated the proposal included construction of 52 single-family affordable dwelling units by Habitat for Humanity in collaboration with Orange Community Housing and Land Trust and EmPOWERment, Inc. Mr. Poveromo displayed a map and pointed out the location of the proposed development.
Susan Levy, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity, clarified that in their application they mentioned they hoped to provide a mixed income development, and that Habitat served persons with incomes at the 50 percent of median or below. She stated they did not yet have formal agreements with Orange Community Housing or EmPOWERment, although they were in discussions with them.
Ms. Levy stated the following:
Orange County had the highest housing cost in the State.
Most Habitat applicants lived and worked in Chapel Hill or Carrboro.
Habitat applicants performed vital services to our community.
Living close to work saves $100-$500 each month in transportation costs.
Land is increasingly scarce in the urban services boundary.
Ms. Levy stated that the Town’s 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development programs in Orange County had as one of its highest priorities to facilitate the construction of new or rehabilitated housing for families earning less than 60 percent of the area median income. She noted that Habitat was the only organization that consistently met that goal.
Ms. Levy displayed a series of photographs of Rusch Hollow as an example of the types of housing built by Habitat.
Mike Neal, engineer for the project, noted that the site was currently undeveloped land comprised of several parcels totaling 19.31 acres in the R-1 zoning district. He displayed a site map and pointed out the location of the proposed project. Mr. Neal said one of the concerns expressed by the Community Design Commission (CDC) was that all of the recreation area was located in the northwest portion of the project. The CDC, he stated, suggested relocating some of the recreation space in the northeast corner. Mr. Neal said they had now relocated a play area in the northeastern quadrant of the property.
Mr. Neal displayed several photographs of the site, looking north as well as south along Edgar Road and along Purefoy Road.
Mr. Neal indicated the three main topics, which were traffic, stormwater management, and recreation and open space. Regarding traffic, he noted that a single-family home was estimated to generate 10 trips per day. Mr. Neal said this 52-lot subdivision would generate 520 trips per day, and of those 520 trips, 350 would be new trips. He said the Town’s standards regarding traffic management and control would be met.
Mr. Neal stated that regarding stormwater management, the project was not located within the University or Jordan Lake protected watersheds. He said they would be using the regional approach to stormwater management, and that impacts on stormwater rate, volume, and quality would be mitigated using accepted methods.
Regarding recreation and open space, Mr. Neal stated that more than five acres of recreation and open space would be provided to this neighborhood, with active recreational elements integrated into the development. He added that recreational elements for all age groups would be provided.
Mayor pro tem Strom commented that he and Council Member Kleinschmidt had begun work on the Green Tract Small Area Plan effort. He said the 18 acres to the east of that site was the section planned to be used for an amalgam of affordable housing. Mayor pro tem Strom said he wanted staff to keep the Council apprised of how the two sites were working together, and hoped that Habitat would keep an eye on the plans for the Green Tract.
Council Member Easthom said the Town needed to think about providing transit service closer to the residents of this area. She said if they wanted to reduce the 520 car trips per day and serve others living in the area, there was a strong need for transit service to the area.
Council Member Ward said he hoped that a mix of affordable housing would be provided in this development. He said he hoped that there was some internal connectivity with the Green Tract, perhaps at the cul-de-sac in the far right corner of the site, so that people on foot and on bicycles could move about without having to use the streets.
Council Member Ward asked for a description of the five acres of recreation area and what amenities might be provided on them. Ms. Levy said that was to be determined, but it was clear that there was not enough recreational amenities of any kind in the neighborhood. She said while they could not solve all of the issues, they would provide amenities for small children as well as adults, by providing play structures as well as picnic areas.
Council Member Ward said he was pleased that they had responded to the comments from the CDC regarding providing recreational elements in other areas of the site. He said he was concerned about the proximity of any activities that might be near electrical high voltage lines. Council Member Ward said he believed any impacts such as that should be avoided.
Council Member Ward said regarding sidewalks, he wanted to make sure they were encouraging people to walk by providing that infrastructure.
Mayor Foy said when looking at the plat, the two lots numbered 14 and 15 seemed odd to him. Ms. Levy agreed, noting when they had purchased one of the parcels from Mr. Purefoy the contract contained a stipulation that he be able to repurchase those two lots for his use. She said one was meant for open space and the other for a relative to build a home. Ms. Levy said he may or may not buy the lots, but the agreement called for those lots to be created.
Mayor Foy asked if there was an access easement going from those lots down to Purefoy Road. Ms. Levy said yes, that it was an existing easement. Mayor Foy asked about the 14-foot setback noted on the plat. Mr. Neal responded that was the required setback in the R-1 zoning district from the neighborhood property line.
Mayor Foy asked if transit service were provided, would it travel up Purefoy and around the new road then down Edgar Street. Mr. Neal said that was correct, adding that the street would be built to Town standards and would be capable of handling buses.
COUNCIL MEMBER WARD MOVED, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM STROM, ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-2. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).