AGENDA #10

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            Council Committee on Horace Williams Citizens Committee:

Council Member Dorothy Verkerk

                        Council Member Jim Ward

                        Council Member Edith Wiggins

 

SUBJECT:       Horace Williams Citizens Committee

 

DATE:             October 7, 2002

 

 

Attached is a resolution establishing a charge, composition, and schedule of work for a HoraceWilliams Citizens Committee for the Council’s consideration.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On June 24, 2002, the Council appointed us to serve as a Council Committee to set the charge, composition, and schedule of work for the establishment of a Horace Williams Citizens Committee.  The Council has set a goal, adopted April 8, 2002, to prepare for discussions with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about forthcoming proposals to develop the Horace Williams tract (Carolina North).

 

The Council has named two Council members to serve on the Chancellor’s Horace Williams Planning Advisory Committee, and has recommended to the Chancellor the appointment of two citizens to that Committee.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Council asked us to consider the charge, composition, and schedule for the Committee.

 

Charge of the Committee

 

We envision that the Horace Williams Citizens Committee would be advisory to the Town Council in its deliberations with the University, and provide an additional structure for Chapel Hill citizens to express opinions related to the future development of the property.  The Committee would identify key issues, address citizen concerns, and report to the Council.

 

We identified several topic areas for which the Committee would develop Principles, including community interests and goals and objectives.  The topic areas include water/sewer, hazardous waste, stormwater, transportation, housing, schools, natural area protection, fiscal equity, and neighborhood interface.  The Committee may add other topic areas as desired.

 

The Committee would also identify points in the process where public hearings and forums would be appropriate.

 

Composition of the Committee

 

We propose the Council establish a committee of no more than 19 members, appointed to represent the Council, citizens with special expertise in the topic areas related to the Horace Williams property, neighborhood interests, and an elected official from the Board of Orange County Commissioners and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. 

 

We also recommend that the Mayor ask the Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to appoint a representative to the Committee.

 

Schedule

 

We propose that the Council consider advertising and making appointments to the Horace Williams Citizens Committee by November 25, 2002, as follows:

 

                        October 7:  Adopt resolution establishing Committee

                        November 11:  Accept nominations to the Committee

                        November 25:  Appoint citizens to the Committee

 

Once the Committee is established, we propose in the Committee’s charge that it report regularly to the Town Council, and that it propose a process for Council consideration identifying when Public Hearings and Forums would be appropriate.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend the Town Council adopt the attached resolution establishing the Horace Williams Citizens Committee.

 

 

A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A HORACE WILLIAMS CITIZENS COMMITTEE (2002-10-07/R-10)

 

WHEREAS, the Town’s Comprehensive Plan has a goal to provide an environment where the Town of Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill can collaborate to maximize mutual benefits;

 

WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan includes a strategy to continue the Town’s involvement in planning for the future development of the Horace Williams property; and

 

WHEREAS, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has stated its intent to prepare a land use plan to serve as a future guide for the development of the Horace Williams property (Carolina North);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council establish a Horace Williams Citizens Committee to work with the University, its consultants, and its committees to review information about potential development of the property and identify key issues for Council consideration.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the charge and composition of the Citizens Committee be established as follows:

 

A.     Charge of the Committee:

 

-         Develop a set of Principles, including community interests and goals and objectives, to guide the Council’s deliberations with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill regarding the development of the Horace Williams property (Carolina North), including the following topic areas:

 

o       Water/sewer

o       Hazardous waste

o       Stormwater

o       Transportation modes, including transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and auto

o       Housing

o       Schools

o       Natural area protection

o       Fiscal equity

o       Neighborhood interface

o       Parks and Recreation space/facilities

 

-         Provide advice to the Council concerning potential Town input to the University related to these Principles that should be considered, as the University’s plans are prepared.

 

-         Keep the Council informed about work in progress on a regular basis, beginning with a preliminary report 90 days after the first Committee meeting.

 

-         Propose a process for Council consideration identifying points in the process where Public Hearings and Forums would be appropriate, to be able to bring information to the attention of the community and provide opportunity for citizen comment.

 

-         Prepare recommendations for the Council’s consideration regarding the University’s plan for the Horace Williams property once a proposal is developed.

 

-         Provide advice to the Council about ways to incorporate these Principles into the Council’s ultimate zoning and ordinances for the Horace Williams property.

 

B.     Composition of the Committee:

 

Not to exceed nineteen (19) members to be appointed by the Council, including:

 

-     2 members of the Chapel Hill Town Council;

-     8-9 citizens with special expertise in the first eight topic areas relating to the Horace Williams property, as identified in the charge; and

-     3-5 neighborhood representatives.

 

In addition, the Mayor shall request that the Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Board of Orange County Commissioners, and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen appoint one member each to the Committee.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council expresses its intent to advertise and make appointments to the Horace Williams Citizens Committee by November 25, 2002.

 

This the 7th day of October, 2002.

 

 

Amended October 8, 2002.