AGENDA 13(b)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit
DATE: January 10, 2005
Tonight the Council continues the November 15, 2004 Public Hearing on the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit. We recommend that the Council adopt Resolution A, continuing the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit to the February 14, 2005 Public Hearing. Please refer to the accompanying agenda item 13(c) regarding the applicant’s related request for expedited processing of a Special Use Permit for the Dobbins Hill Development.
BACKGROUND
On November 15, 2004, the Council held a Public Hearing on the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit. The proposed development, located northeast of the intersection of US 15-501 and Erwin Road, proposes 149 dwelling units, 50,000 square feet of office/retail space, and 402 parking spaces on a 20.81 acre site. The Public Hearing was continued to January 10, 2005.
On December 6, 2004, in response to Council’s comments during the Public Hearing concerning affordable housing, the applicant for the Wilson Assemblage proposal presented the Council with a petition. The petition includes a proposal for an affordable housing component and requests expedited processing for modifications to the Dobbins Hill Special Use Permit. The petition was referred to the Town Manager for comment.
In further response to Council comments from the November 15, 2004 Public Hearing, the applicant has also proposed modifications to the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit. The applicant has submitted a written summary of the proposed revisions (Attachment 1). A copy of the Wilson Assemblage site plan presented to the Council on November 15 (Attachment 2) and an illustrative color copy of some of the proposed changes to the Wilson Assemblage site plan (Attachment 3) is also included.
APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL
In response to Council comments during the November 15, 2004 Public Hearing, the applicant is proposing several modifications associated with the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit. The applicant is also offering a proposal for an affordable housing component in Dobbins Hill. Some of the elements of these proposals, as offered by the applicant, are summarized and discussed below:
Affordable Housing and Dobbins Hill: In order to provide an affordable housing component for the Wilson Assemblage development, the applicant is proposing development of affordable housing on the adjacent Dobbins Hill development. The applicant, Crosland Inc., is the property owner and developer for the adjacent Dobbins Hill affordable housing community. The applicant believes that there is adequate space on the Dobbins Hill site for one to two new tax credit apartment buildings. However, the applicant believes that in order for this proposal to be successful, it will be necessary for the Council to grant expedited processing of the Special Use Permit and Final Plan Review for construction of additional housing on the Dobbins Hill site. Please refer to the accompanying agenda item 13(c) and the applicant’s December 1, 2004 petition for additional details on the affordable housing.
Proposed modifications associated with the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit: During the November 15, 2004 Public Hearing, the Council expressed concern with some of the proposed site design elements for the Wilson Assemblage development. In response to Council comments, comments from advisory boards and the applicant’s proposed affordable housing component, the applicant is proposing some site plan modifications to Wilson Assemblage and the adjacent Howell Office Building (Howell Properties) site on Sage Road.
An illustrative color copy of some of the proposed changes to the Wilson Assemblage site plan is attached (Attachment 3) along with a written summary of proposed revisions (Attachment 1). For comparison, a color copy of the Wilson Assemblage site plan presented to the Council on November 15 is also included (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION
An affordable housing component for the Wilson Assemblage is a desired Comprehensive Plan goal, but is not an ordinance requirement. We believe that the applicant’s proposal to provide additional affordable housing in Dobbins Hill, as the affordable housing component for the Wilson Assemblage, is a practical plan worth pursuing. The accompanying agenda item recommends expedited processing for the Dobbins Hill application.
Regarding the applicant’s proposed changes to the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit, we believe that Council consideration of the project should be continued to the February 14, 2005 Council meeting. We believe that the changes proposed by the applicant can be evaluated and a recommendation forwarded to the Town Council for consideration and possible action on February 14, 2005.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt Resolution A, continuing the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit Public Hearing to the February 14, 2005 Public Hearing.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION CONTINUING THE WILSON ASSEMBLAGE SPECIAL USE PERMIT PUBLIC HEARING (2005-01-10/R-14)
WHEREAS, on November 15, 2004, and January 10, 2005, the Town Council held Public Hearings on the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit application; and
WHEREAS, in response to comments from the Town Council and Advisory Board the applicant is proposing to modify the site plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Wilson Assemblage Special Use Permit Public Hearing shall be continued to the February 14, 2005 meeting.
This the 10th day of January, 2005.