AGENDA #6a

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Chapel Hill Town Council

 

FROM:            Mayor’s Committee for Town-University Discussion

                        Mayor Kevin Foy

                        Council Member Bill Strom

                        Council Member Edith Wiggins

 

SUBJECT:       Report on Discussions with University Representatives

 

DATE:             August 25, 2003

 

 

On June 25, 2003, following a Public Hearing, the Town Council considered taking action on an application for modification of the University’s Development Plan for the main campus.  The original Development Plan had been approved by the Council in October, 2001.

 

On June 25, the Council took the following actions:

 

  1. Approved a portion of the proposed changes;

 

  1. Recessed the Public Hearing until August 25 for consideration of two parking decks and a chiller plant;  and

 

  1. Endorsed the idea of a Mayor’s Committee to meet with University representatives between June 25 and August 25, to discuss unresolved issues.

 

This memorandum reports on discussions held over the summer.

 

SUMMARY OF PROCESS

 

This committee was appointed to discuss issues related to three unresolved components of the proposed modification to the University’s Development Plan:

 

 

The University appointed three representatives to meet with the Mayor’s Committee:

 

 

The committee met four times during July and August.  Summary minutes from each of these meetings are attached.  The committee also toured a combination chiller/deck on the campus of UNC-Greensboro (accompanied by other Council members and University representatives).  The committee had no authority to approve or agree to any resolution of the outstanding issues.  At each meeting, Council members noted that the Public Hearing on this modification application is still open, and that the purpose of the committee and its meetings was to generate ideas for consideration by the full Town Council at the reopening of the Public Hearing on August 25.

 

KEY ISSUES

 

The following key issues emerged during committee discussions.  We outline each issue here, with comments summarizing the ideas that emerged.

 

Proposed Cobb Parking Deck and Chiller Plant: The University’s June proposal calls for construction of a parking deck and chiller plant behind the Paul Green Theater and near the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery.  Based on our discussions with the University’s representatives and subsequent discussions between Town and University staff representatives, we believe that the University would agree to the following, in addition to meeting the regular conditions required by the OI-4 Ordinance and the rules for application of the Ordinance requirements.

 

  1. Reduce the number of parking spaces at the proposed Cobb Parking Deck from 641 spaces to a total of 500 spaces (with 462 of these spaces in a parking deck and 38 in surface parking) to reduce the number of additional car trips in the area.

 

  1. Construct an improved two-lane entrance and exit drive from Raleigh Street near Lewis Dormitory to provide a western access to the Parking Deck, to reduce the number of car trips using the Country Club Road access.  (The Committee believes that this access should be open at least from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.)

 

  1. Control the use of the driveway that connects to South Road and runs between the western wall of the Cemetery and Conner Dormitory so that traffic is one-way in at the morning peak use period and one-way out in the evening peak use period, to encourage use of this access instead of the Country Club Road access.

 

  1. Shift the Parking Deck and Chiller Plant building northward 10 feet to expand the distance between the building and the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery, and to allow development of a 20 feet wide landscaped buffer adjacent the Cemetery wall.

 

  1. Reduce the height of the Chiller Plant by 10 feet and shorten the overall length of the Parking Deck and Chiller Plant building by eliminating one bay of parking in the Parking Deck.

 

  1. Commit to overall design and façade treatments for the Parking Deck and Chiller Plant building as shown generally in the renderings presented to the Committee.

 

  1. Reaffirm its commitment to meet the requirements of the Town’s noise ordinance through noise abatement features incorporated into the design and construction of the chiller plant.

 

  1. Design pedestrian systems and access points to and through the proposed Parking Deck in a manner that minimizes pedestrian traffic through the Cemetery.

 

  1. Repair and reconstruct the northern and western stone walls of the Cemetery.

 

  1. Establish a standing procedure to provide parking for persons attending funeral services and for those making gravesite visitations at the Cemetery; and, establish a standing procedure to cease construction noise for a one hour period before and after funeral services.

 

  1. If determined by the Council to be desirable, install a traffic signal and pedestrian signal with appropriate crosswalk markings at the intersection of Country Club Road and Gimghoul Road to assist residents of the Gimghoul neighborhood in safely entering and exiting their neighborhood.  If signals are installed, provide non-standard fixtures in keeping with the historic character of the neighborhood.

 

  1. Make no change in the configuration of the Gimghoul Road connection to Country Club Road.

 

  1. Install a sidewalk on the east side of Country Club Road between Gimghoul Road and Raleigh Road.

 

  1. Make no change in the width of Country Club Road, limiting traffic changes to modification of pavement markings only.

 

  1. Modify the intersection of Battle-Boundary-Country club to improve safe movement in this area by intersection redesign, signalization or use of a traffic circle or roundabout.

 

The University earlier had agreed to stipulations regarding: compliance with light performance standards; screening of mechanical equipment; construction of a sidewalk on South Road from Country Club Road to Winston Dormitory; and upgrading traffic signal equipment and timing at several intersections.

 

Proposed Jackson Circle Parking Deck:  The University’s June proposal calls for construction of an 800 space parking deck at the intersection of Jackson Circle and Manning Drive.  The University continues to be in agreement with the stipulations originally offered and we suggest no additional stipulations in regard to this proposal.

 

South Columbia Street:  The University is prepared to agree with the Town to move forward on the South Columbia Street project in the configuration previously selected by the Council in 1998 (modified in 2002 to add a sidewalk on the west side), and to work with the Town to aggressively pursue funding for the project from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.  The University’s proposal is conditioned on the Town’s acceptance of their development proposals for the Cobb parking Deck and Chiller Plant and the Jackson Circle Parking Deck, and agreement that the South Columbia Street configuration would be subject to reconsideration by the Town and the University no earlier than one full academic year after completion of construction of the South Columbia Street project.

 

We note that the University has requested that all of the above proposals be considered together, as a single package.

 

NEXT STEPS

 

During the final meeting of the committee, University representatives outlined a revised proposal for the Cobb deck/chiller, coupled with agreement to join the Town in advocating for South Columbia Street improvements as previously agreed upon by the Town and University.  We expect the University to prepare materials outlining this revised proposal to present to the Town Council for consideration as part of the reconvened hearing on August 25.  We also expect to receive additional information from the University in response to questions raised by Council members.  It is our understanding that this revised proposal and supplementary information will be delivered on Friday, August 22, for distribution.

 

The Public Hearing on this application will re-convene on August 25, for receipt of further evidentiary materials from the Town Manager, the University, and the public. 

 

Once the hearing has been closed, the Council may choose to take action on this application on August 25.  University representatives have asked that the Council make a decision on August 25.  Absent the University’s agreement that there be additional time, the Land Use Management Ordinance provides that the Council shall act on these remaining items on August 25. 

 

A memorandum from the Town Manager will accompany this report, and include resolutions of approval and denial for the Council’s consideration.

 

ATTACHMENT

 

1.                  Materials and Minutes, July 31, 2003 (p. 1-1).

2.                  Materials and Minutes, August 5, 2003 (p. 2-1).

3.                  Materials and Minutes, August 15, 2003 (p. 3-1).

4.                  Materials and Minutes, August 18, 2003 (p. 4-1).