AGENDA #6b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Continuation of Public Hearing on Modification of UNC Development Plan

 

DATE:             August 25, 2003

 

 

Tonight the Council re-opens a Public Hearing to consider an application for modification of a Development Plan for UNC.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On June 25, the Town Council considered an application to modify a Development Plan for the UNC main campus.  The plan had originally been approved by the Council in 2001.  The Council voted on June 25 to approve a portion of the proposed modification, and to recess the Public Hearing until tonight on unresolved issues.  The hearing was held open to consider these components of the original application:

 

·        Proposed parking deck and chiller plant near Old Chapel Hill Cemetery

·        Proposed parking deck at Jackson Circle

 

The Council also agreed on June 25 to ask the Mayor to convene a Mayor’s Committee to work with University representatives and meet between June 25 and August 25 to discuss unresolved issues.   Mayor Foy and Council Members Bill Strom and Edith Wiggins met on multiple occasions over the summer with University Trustees Richard Williams and Roger Perry, and Nancy Suttenfield, University Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.  A report on those discussions is included in an accompanying memorandum. 

 

A resolution is attached which would approve the balance of the modification request, with conditions.  Also attached are:

 

·        Materials prepared by the University proposing adjustments to planned facilities

·        Copies of correspondence

·        Copy of Manager’s memorandum from June 25

 

DISCUSSION

 

The accompanying memorandum from the Mayor’s Committee describes the nature of discussions over the summer, and describes changes to the Cobb Deck/Chiller Plant that were discussed in meetings.  Materials from the University are attached that specifically offer adjustments to the proposals.  In summary, the new changes that are proposed to the plans since June 25 are:

 

·        Reduce planned parking for the Cobb deck and related surface parking from 642 spaces to 500 spaces;

 

·        Reduce the previously proposed height of the chiller plant;

 

·        Shift the footprint of the proposed deck/chiller 10 feet to the north;

 

·        Add an access to the deck from Raleigh Street, which will increase the total number of access points to the deck from two to three;

 

·        Manage the directional flow and hours of operation of the access points in a manner that will reduce future deck traffic on Country Club Road;

 

·        Design pedestrian systems and access points in a manner that minimizes the incidence of pedestrian traffic through the adjacent cemetery.

 

These changes are in addition to requirements that we recommended in June, which included installation of a traffic signal at the Country Club/Gimghoul intersection and repair of stone walls on the northern and eastern boundaries of the Chapel Hill Cemetery.

 

We note that the University is also proposing, as a part of a package of changes, that the University re-affirm its support for the Town Council’s 1998 plan for South Columbia Street improvements, and that the Town and University jointly seek State action to fund and construct those improvements.

 

Finally, we offer (in the attached resolution) a series of additional conditions of approval that respond to concerns and ideas that have been raised in continuing discussion of the University’s proposals.  These additional conditions are:

 

·        The design of signal poles and equipment shall be in keeping with the historic character of the neighborhood.

 

·        The University shall install a sidewalk on the east side of Country Club Road, between Gimghoul Road and NC 54.

 

·        A previous requirement established in the Council’s October, 2001 approval of a Development Plan, to widen Country Club Road to add additional turn lanes at its intersection with NC 54, is rescinded.  Lane changes may be accomplished with re-striping, but no widening of this Road shall occur as part of this Development Plan.

 

·        The exterior design of the chiller/deck shall be similar to drawings of a proposed façade shown at the June 25, 2003 Public Hearing on the application.  Pedestrian systems and access points shall be designed to minimize pedestrian traffic through the adjacent cemetery.

 

·        The location of the new deck/chiller as shown on the proposed plans shall be shifted to the north to allow the installation of a 30-foot-wide Type C buffer.

 

·        The University shall establish a standing procedure to make parking available, in the deck or accompanying surface spaces, for persons attending funeral services and for those making graveside visitations to the cemetery.  The University shall also establish a standing procedure to require that work on projects near the cemetery shall be interrupted for a period from one hour before to one hour after funeral services.

 

·        An improved two-lane entrance and exit drive shall be provided between Raleigh Street and the new deck with this access open at least from 6:00am to 6:00pm, Monday-Friday.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached Resolution A, which would approve a modification of the UNC Main Campus Development Plan to authorize construction of the Cobb Deck/Chiller Plant and the Jackson Circle Parking Deck, with conditions.

 

Resolution B would deny the application.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.      Material Submitted by the University, August 22, 2003 (p. 1-1).

2.      Area Map: Country Club Rd., Raleigh St., and South Rd. (p. 2-1).

3.      Copy of June 25 Council Resolution recessing Public Hearing to August 25, 2003 (p. 3-1).

4.      Manager’s memorandum from June 25, 2003 (p. 4-1).

5.      Copies of Correspondence (p. 5-1). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4