AGENDA #4h

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:      Comprehensive Plan Amendment Designating Potential School Sites on Chapel Hill’s Land Use Plan

 

DATE:            May 9, 2005

 

 

The attached resolution would amend Chapel Hill’s Comprehensive Plan to designate potential school sites on Chapel Hill’s Land Use Plan.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On September 7, 2004, the Town Council adopted a resolution to designate an amended list of potential school sites on the Land Use Plan.

 

In the most recent session of the N.C. General Assembly, a local bill was enacted that adjusts Chapel Hill’s ability to designate potential school sites on the Town’s Land Use Plan.

 

On February 14, 2005, the Town Council enacted an ordinance to change the Land Use Management Ordinance provisions for the reservation of school sites. The change extended the reservation period in which the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Board of Education can seek to acquire land designated as a potential school site from 12 months to 18 months after the final approval of Special Use Permit, Special Use Permit Modification, and Site Plan Review applications.  This action brought the reservation period into line with the reservation period for Subdivision applications. The Council also approved a resolution calling a Public Hearing for the purpose of considering amending Chapel Hill’s Comprehensive Plan to re-designate potential school sites on Chapel Hill’s Land Use Plan.  Once the Land Use Plan has been amended, the new ordinance language regarding reservation of school sites will become operational. 

 

On April 18, 2005 the Town Council held a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. No citizen comments were received.

 

DISCUSSION

 

In order for the enhanced Land Use Management Ordinance language to become operational, the Council should designate the following potential school sites on the Town’s Land Use Plan:

 

  1. Eubanks Road: Land north of the road and south of the Town Operations Center.
  2. Eubanks Road: Land south of the road and north of the Larkspur subdivision.
  3. Weaver Dairy Road: Land north of the road adjacent the Chapel Hill North shopping center.
  4. Weaver Dairy Road: Land north of the road between Chapel Hill North shopping center and Carol Woods.
  5. Horace Williams Tract: Land between Airport Road and Seawell School Road.
  6. US 15-501 South: Land east of the “Obeys Creek” area.

 

In accordance with the Council’s resolution of April 5, 2005 (please see Attachment 1), the American Legion property is not designated as a potential school site on the Land Use Plan.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Manager’s Recommendation:  We recommend that the Town Council adopt the attached resolution designating the potential school sites as shown on Map 1.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

  1. Resolution pledging not to designate property located at 1714 Legion Road as a potential school site. (2005-04-05/R-9) (p. 4).

 

MAPS

 

  1. Amendment to 2000 Land Use Plan. (p. 5).

 

A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN’S 2000 LAND USE PLAN TO DESIGNATE POTENTIAL SCHOOL SITES (2005-05-09/R-8)

 

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan adopted by the Council on May 8, 2000, designates five potential school sites identified by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education on the Land Use Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, on September 7, 2005, the Town Council adopted an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan adding and deleting potential sites to the Land Use Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, on February 14, 2005, the Town Council adopted Sections 4.5.8 and 4.7.8, Reservation of School Sites, as modifications to the Land Use Management Ordinance which extends the time period of reservation for school sites by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education to other forms of development requiring approval as Site Plans, Special Use Permits or Special Use Permit modifications;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council amends the 2000 Land Use Plan as shown on Map 1 attached to this memorandum to designate the sites on the Plan.

 

This the 9th day of May, 2005.

ATTACHMENT 1

 

 

A RESOLUTION PLEDGING NOT TO DESIGNATE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1714 LEGION ROAD AS A POTENTIAL SCHOOL SITE (2005-04-05/R-9)

 

WHEREAS, American Legion Post 6 owns property located at 1714 Legion Road in Chapel Hill; and

 

WHEREAS, a proposal has been suggested to designate this property as a potential school site on Chapel Hill’s Land Use Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, the American Legion has offered to provide the Town of Chapel Hill a right of first refusal on the property, should the Legion decide to sell it, in return for a pledge from the Town Council to not designate this property as a potential school site, as expressed in a letter dated March 25, 2005;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that in recognition of the substantial community contribution that has resulted from the American Legion’s investment in this property and the Legion’s generous policy of community use over many years, and in consideration of the Legion’s offer to provide the Town with a right of first refusal for this property should the Legion decide to sell it, this Town Council pledges its intention to not designate the property as a potential school site on the Chapel Hill Land Use Plan.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Council states its appreciation for the activities of the Legion.

 

This the 5th day of April, 2005.