Monday 18 February 2008

Chapel Hill Town Council

Subject:            Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) Modifications to Planned Development Housing Minimum Land Area Requirement in Residential Districts

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment.

I attended the 5 February 2008 Planning Board meeting to ask how zoning was determined (purchased vs buildable acres) and to express my concern about the change from 5 acres to one acre.  The Planning Board explained the zoning process and now I have a better understanding of that process. The Board tabled the discussion of the change from 5 acres to one acre until they could hear the history of why one acre was being recommended.

I do not support changing the 5 acre minimum.  The ordinance was passed because there were concerns re: density.  I don’t think those concerns have changed to many who live in Chapel Hill.

If the ordinance is considered, I do not support changing the requirement from 5 acres to one acre.  I think that is too drastic a change.  I think the Town Council will be inundated with proposals by applicants and that many who own one acre lots within Chapel Hill will be solicited to sell so that existing structures can be torn down and multi-family structures built.

If the ordinance is adopted, I am very supportive that applicants will be required to apply for rezoning permits, and that applicants will have to apply for a Special Use permit.  This will ensure that proposals will be scrutinized by the Town on multiple occasions.

Thank you again for the opportunity to provide comment.

Timothy A. Kuhn

The Meadows

37 Clover Drive

Chapel Hill, NC  27517