WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
407 Ransom Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

TO:        The Mayor and Town Council
FROM:  Baird S. Grimson
RE:        The Wesley Foundation Concept Plan Review Agenda Item #5
DATE:   March 10, 2008

We have been aware of the Wesley Foundation’s plans regarding their property at 214 Pittsboro Street for some time, as they were kind enough to present these plans to us last year.  At that time, we expressed our concerns about the size of the building planned and the fact that they would have to apply for a rezoning to implement their plan.  We stated at that time that we would be unable to support their application for two reasons.  These are:

l. It has been the policy of the Westside Neighborhood Association
to oppose any and all applications for rezoning in our neighborhood.  We worked very hard for the establishment of the Cameron/McCauley Historic District as we felt this designation would protect our older, in town neighborhood and enable it to withstand the pressures for re-development close to the UNC campus.

2.  The size of the proposed building, whether it be 5 floors or the alternative 4 floors, is substantially out of scale with all other structures in the Cameron/McCauley Historic District.

While the Town Council reviews the Wesley Foundation concept plan, which affects our older, historic, in town neighborhood, we hope the Council will keep in mind that the Comprehensive Plan specifically spells out “that it is the stated policy of Chapel Hill that neighborhood protection issues in these areas are paramount.  It means that, when policy choices that affect these areas are before the Town council (road issues, rezoning proposals, public investment decisions), the balance should tilt in favor of protection and preservation.”  The Cameron/McCauley neighborhood is one of the areas designated as a residential conservation area by the Comprehensive Plan.