ATTACHMENT 2

CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW SUMMARY MINUTES

COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008, 7:00 P.M.

Chairperson Jonathan Whitney called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission members present were Mark Broadwell, George Cianciolo, Chris Culbreth, Kathryn James, Gretchen MacNair, Glenn Parks, Amy Ryan, and Jonathan Whitney (Chair) Staff members present were Kay Pearlstein, Senior Planner and Kay Tapp Senior Planning Technician.

St. Paul A.M.E. Church Master Plan at Rogers Road and Purefoy Road
(File No. 9870-54-3735)

The Town has received a proposal from St. Paul A.M.E. Church Community for a Concept Plan Review for the St. Paul A.M.E Church Master Plan. The proposed development is located at the corner of Rogers Road and Purefoy Road. The proposal includes: a 600 seat sanctuary, administrative offices, fellowship hall, wellness center, senior and teen centers, senior housing, townhouses, single-family dwellings, affordable housing, daycare center, playing fields, and a cemetery. Access is proposed from Purefoy Road. Parking for 273 cars is also proposed.  Construction is proposed in several phases with the first phase to include the 600-seat sanctuary building, townhomes, and the wellness center. The 22-acre site is located in the Residential-1 (R-1) zoning district.  Portions of the site are located in the Resource Conservation District. The site is identified as Orange County Parcel Identifier Number 9870-54-3735.

CONCEPT PLAN PRESENTATION

A presentation was made by George Williams, project architect for the church, proposing a phased master plan for St. Paul A.M.E. Church. The applicant also proposed design options.

CITIZEN COMMENTS

No citizens spoke

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

1. Commissioner George Cianciolo asked about the location of the stub-out from Purefoy Road and how that played into the design. He recommended that the applicant locate the stub-out on future plans.

Commissioner Cianciolo asked the applicant to explain the phasing of the project. The applicant replied that financing would dictate the timing of the phases and would be included but generally said that it would be constructed over a 10 year time frame and that a church would be in the first phase and the Wellness Center in the second phase. Both acknowledged that it was outside the Town's Urban Services boundary.

2. Commissioner Chris Culbreth liked the layout of the development and that housing was provided for all ages. He stated that the project would add to the community.
3. Commissioner Amy Ryan liked the housing mix and wondered if all the housing would be affordable. She noted that there were many hardwoods on the site and that a tree survey would be required. She pointed out that preservation of the tree canopy should be a goal. She suggested that the athletic fields be relocated to avoid removing so many trees.

Commissioner Ryan thought that circulation would be an issue and supported the 2- entrance option with access to Rogers Road and Purefoy Road. She also supported connection to the Purefoy Road development. She recommended the applicant increase circulation options.

4. Commissioner Kathryn James approved of way the design worked with the topography. She recommended that the applicant look for ways to reduce impervious surfaces on the site as well as the number of stormwater ponds. Commissioner James wanted the applicant to provide energy-saving dwellings making them not only affordable but "green"as well.

Commissioner James believed community gardens should be developed for food production and for fostering inner-generational activities.

She asked the applicant to continue working on connectivity of the development to the surrounding area.

5. Commissioner Glenn Parks liked the project and the cross-sections used to depict the site. He thought that it showed a dynamic program with wonderful benefits. Commissioner Parks encouraged the applicant to explore communal housing. He looked forward to further development of the housing designs.
6. Commissioner Jonathan Whitney recommended traffic be slowed down on Rogers Road to accommodate the activity generated by the development. Commissioner Whitney endorsed the structure of the village proposed by the applicant

SUMMARY

• Connect to Purefoy Drive Subdivision.
• Endorsed the mix of housing for all ages and housing types.
• Preserve trees and work with the topography on the site.
• Improve internal circulation with 2 entrances to the site.
• Reduce impervious surfaces and amount of stormwater facilities.
• Make housing affordable and "green".
• Utilize community gardens to knit different age groups together.
• Good visual representation.
• Overall support for a dynamic project and great addition to the community.

Prepared by:

Jonathan Whitney, Chair

Kay Pearlstein, Staff