ATTACHMENT 2

PLANNING Town of Chapel Hill 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514  phone (919) 968-2728    fax (919) 969-2014 www.townofchapelhill.org

CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW SUMMARY MINUTES
COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 2008, 7:00 P.M.

Chairperson George Cianciolo called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission members present were Mark Broadwell, Chris Culbreth, Kathryn James, Laura Moore, Glenn Parks, Polly Van de Velde, and Robin Whitsell. Staff members present were Senior Planner Kay Pearlstein, and Planning Technician Kay Tapp.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVOCATE, 8410 Merin Road,
File No. 9870-82-7443

The Town has received a Concept Plan Review proposal from Lisa Fischbeck for The Episcopal Church of the Advocate, located at 8410 Merin Road. The Concept Plan proposes to deconstruct an existing dwelling and construct 41,300 square feet of floor area including a chapel, classrooms, community building, retreat/education center, and playground. Parking for 141 vehicles is also proposed. The proposed development is located on the west side of Merin Road at the intersection of Homestead Road. Three access points to the site are proposed from Merin Street. The 16.4-acre site is located in the Residential-1 (R-1) zoning district, the Resource Conservation District, outside of the Town Limits, and inside the Urban Services Boundary, and Joint Planning Area. The site is identified as Orange County Parcel Identifier Number 9870-82-7443.

CONCEPT PLAN PRESENTATION

            The design team presented a proposal for a phased master plan for a church campus on a vacant parcel.

CITIZEN COMMENTS

            No citizens spoke on the application.

COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSIIONER COMMENTS

1. Commissioner Kathryn James liked the sustainability aspects of the design and asked how often it will be used during the day and/or night – day care, full week programs etc. She noted that buses do not serve the site. She suggested the applicant investigate the location of the railroad a way of moving people to and from the site.

She asked how the existing pond functioned and what happens when it overflows. The applicant replied that the pond is spring fed and captures run-off. The applicant stated that it has been in existence for a long time and the drainage area that it serves is small. They will continue to use it for stormwater management. The applicant explained that a pipe goes under the railroad tracks to an adjacent pond on Town-owned property.

Commissioner James liked the opportunity for a community garden and orchard. She asked who will maintain the existing orchard. The applicant replied that the orchard is non-producing; the trees flower but are not fruit-bearing.

Commissioner James recommended that the applicant consider “grass-pave” for overflow parking areas.

2. Commissioner Laura Moore liked the presentation and the site plan. She thought the building was dramatic and beautiful. She asked how the parking facilities are proposed to be developed with the phasing of the work and that refuse collection should not be relocated at the driveway entrance. She asked why parking was located so far away from the building. The applicant replied that church members wanted to enjoy a walk through the site as they approached the building. 

Commissioner Moore stated that parking areas need to be a hard surface and not gravel. Commissioner Moore wanted the applicant to maintain the site amenities.

3. Commissioner Robin Whitsell liked the solar panels proposed and recommended moving the building forward and placing the parking behind the building. She stated that the building was a lovely design and asked the applicant to create an equally lovely approach to the church along Merin Road.
4. Commissioner Chris Culbreth recommended that the trees be kept along Homestead Road to help screen the property and asked the applicant to augment the buffer. The applicant responded that evergreen shrubs will be planted with the buffer.

Commissioner Culbreth noted that without grading the view of the church from the pond will be about six feet above the pond level and that it could be a climb from the lower parking lot to the church. Commissioner Culbreth stated that asphalt needs to be available for older walkers and those with high heels and gravel and porous pavement may not be a useful surface.

Commissioner Culbreth recommended that sufficient parking be provided on to avoid parking on Merin Road. He also liked the modern architecture of the church.

5. Commissioner Mark Broadwell wanted to see landscape buffering along Homestead Road and suggested that the applicant consider gravel for the parking lot.

Commissioner Broadwell liked the materials proposed for the buildings and thought the plan was a great start.

6. Commissioner Glenn Parks stated that the Greenways Master Plan shows a trail near the railroad tracks and believed the Parks and Recreation Commission will want a trail connection to the greenway.

Commissioner Parks asked the applicant to consider alternative pavements.

7. Commissioner Polly van de Velde was concerned about the volume of parking being proposed. She stated that it conflicted with preservation of the site and suggested the applicant consider pervious pavement. She believed that parking along Merin Road may be okay if the applicant proposes to preserve the site.
8. Commission George Cianciolo thought the plan was attractive but concerned with the Homestead Road intersection, noting that on week days Homestead is a very busy road and high school traffic is considerable. He cautioned that the applicant study the intersection for safety including train visibility. He thought the plans were too detailed for a concept plan and suggested less detailed plans. He suggested emphasis on plans designed to elicit feedback rather than furthering the level of detail.

SUMMARY

     The Commission’s summary comments are listed below. The Commission generally supported the concept plan and offered the following recommendations and comments:

• Supported the sustainability of the proposal – orchard, solar panels, and community garden;
• Supported using the existing pond for stormwater management;
• Weekly church traffic patterns need to be studied;
• Liked the architecture and materials proposed for the buildings;
• Concerned with adequacy of the buffer along Homestead Road;
• Site design should consider dumpster location visibility and parking locations in proximity to buildings;
• Parking lot and driveway material selections should be studied for practicality and environmental sensitivity;
• Propose greenway links;
• Traffic at the Homestead/Merin Road intersection be analyzed for safety;
• Alternative to car travel should be considered – bus routes, train travel, greenway access, bicycle access; and
• Level of detail on the plans should be minimized.

Prepared for:         George Cianciolo, Chair
Prepared by:          Kay Pearlstein, Staff