ATTACHMENT 1

AGENDA #3a(3)

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Patterson [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 4:54 PM
To: Town Council
Subject: Petition to the Town Council

Note: I am resending my earlier message in case you had problems opening the photos. If you did, try the ones below. They are .jpg files.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like the Council’s assistance in dealing with what seems to be a Catch 22 for residents in certain neighborhoods in the Historic District.

I live on the eastern side of Cobb Terrace (“CT”) in the Historic District. This part of CT is essentially an alley or lane running between the backyards of the houses. The pavement is only 8 feet wide. There are no curbs or gutters. Houses and other structures are, in many instances, only 2 or 3 feet from the edge of the pavement. In a few places, there is only a 12 foot clearance between a house on one side of the alley and a tree on the other. Given the extremely limited area available, most parking areas are in the corners of properties, right on the property lines. See the photos below.

I would like to build a carport over my existing parking area at #7 CT. This area is approximately 10 feet back from the pavement edge and on the northern property line. My neighbor to the north is happy to agree to the erection of the structure in the proposed location.

I met with the Historic District Commission on April 8, 2004, for a courtesy review of the proposed structure and it’s location. At that time I advised the Commission that I intended to petition the Town Council to modify the setback requirements for properties on the eastern side of Cobb Terrace in order to allow the erection of carports over existing parking areas. They were unanimous in their approval of the proposed structure and location. They have approved the following wording.

“The Historic District Commission found that the carport proposed by Mr. Patterson is an appropriate structure for the eastern side of Cobb Terrace. The Commission also found that the proposed positioning of the structure, on or close to the property lines at the rear of the lot, is appropriate and consistent with the positioning of parking structures throughout the Historic District.”

I spoke to members of the Planning Department prior to meeting with the HDC. They advised that it was their experience that there was virtually no chance that the Board of Adjustment would approve a variance on setbacks for a parking structure, even though it was consistent with many other structures in the area. I was advised I would be throwing away $330.00 if I applied.

As you can see, I’m in something of a bind. The unique nature of my neighborhood makes it impossible to meet setback standards designed for suburban lots and properties.

I petition the Council to either;

1. Modify the setback requirements for eastern CT properties to allow the construction of parking structures over existing parking areas with (of course) the agreement of an adjoining property owner if the structure would be inside existing property line set back requirements, or

2. Grant the Historic District Commission the power to grant variances to set backs within the Historic Districts.

Thank you for you time and consideration.

Joe Patterson

7 Cobb Terrace

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Tel 919-933-5488