AGENDA #11

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:      Response to Petition by Horace Williams Citizens Committee

 

DATE:            November 9, 2005

 

 

PURPOSE

 

This memorandum responds to a request to the Town Council from the Horace Williams Citizens Committee requesting direction for its work during 2005-2006.

 

The attached resolution would request that the Horace Williams Citizens Committee continue the work items included in its charge and directs the Town Manager to take into consideration the Committee’s recommendation regarding a process for the Town to consider regarding the future development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North).  

 

BACKGROUND

 

On October 7, 2002, the Town Council established the Horace Williams Citizens Committee. The 22-member Committee began meeting in March 2003.

 

The purpose of the Committee was to work with the University, its consultants, and its committees to review information about potential development of the Horace Williams Property and identify key issues for Council consideration. Please see Attachment 1, which provides the charge of the Committee.

 

In 2003, the Committee prepared a report containing Principles, Goals and Strategies for Guiding the Development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North).

 

On March 22, 2004, the Council adopted a resolution accepting the report and stated that the Council would “carefully review each of the recommendations to determine which ones need further work and how to go about doing so.” The Council also transmitted the report to the University Board of Trustees on April 5, 2004.

 

On May 5, 2004, the University made a presentation to the Town Council of a Conceptual Draft Master Plan for the development of the Horace Williams Property. On April 28, 2004 Mayor Foy transmitted a list of questions and concerns to Chancellor Moeser concerning the development.

 

Following the University’s presentation the Town Council requested that the Horace Williams Citizens Committee compare the University’s plan to the Principles, Goals and Strategies document. On October 11, 2004, the Committee reported to the Town Council and concluded that the Draft Conceptual Master Plan contained insufficient detail for a complete comparison to the Committee’s Principles, Goals and Strategies Report.

 

On December 6, 2004, the Town Council received a report from the Town Manager on rezoning, fiscal equity, and land conservation issues related to the Horace Williams Property. The Town Council called a public hearing to consider rezoning the portion of the property within the Town of Chapel Hill.

 

On April 25, 2005, the Town Council rezoned the Office/Institutional-3 (OI-3) portion of the property to Office/Institutional-2 (OI-2). The Council noted that the OI-2 portion of the property and the existing Residential-2 (R-2) portion of the property would be considered as holding zones until such time as more appropriate zoning is established. The Council indicated its willingness to work with the University at the appropriate time to develop new zoning for the future development of the Horace Williams Property in Chapel Hill.

 

On September 26, 2005, the Horace Williams Citizens Committee forwarded a status report to the Town Council concerning its work. The report identified matters that the Committee had considered in 2005. The report also asked for clarification on the anticipated need for work in 2005-2006 and on whether the Committee should become a standing committee. Please see Attachment 2.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The following provides a review of the status of tasks included in the Committee’s charge:

 

1.      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

 

Comment: This task was completed by the Committee’s report of January 28, 2004

 

2.      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.

 

Comment: This task was completed by the Committee’s report of October 10, 2004 that assessed the University’s Draft Conceptual Master Plan against the Principles document.

 

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

 

Comment: This task has been completed. The Committee has reported to the Town Council on several occasions, most recently on September 15, 2005.

 

4.      Propose a process for Council consideration, identifying points in the process where public hearings and forums would be appropriate, to bring information to the attention of the community and provide opportunity for citizen comment.

 

Comment:   This task has not been completed. A process for the planning and development of the property has not been developed. We believe that the Committee was asked to advise the Town Council on the steps which may be included in a process. We believe that the Committee could provide the Council with recommendations on points in the process when public forums and hearings would be appropriate.

 

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

 

Comment: This task has not been completed. This task cannot be fulfilled until the Town receives detailed plans and information from the University. We believe that the Committee could advise the Council on University proposals to develop the Horace Williams Property.

 

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

 

Comment: This task has not been completed. On April 25, 2005, the Council indicated that a new zoning district and ordinances would be a necessary step in the process of planning and dveloping the Horace Williams Property. We believe that the Committee can provide advice to the Town Council as requested.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We believe that the Horace Williams Citizens Committee still has tasks to perform based on the original charge.

 

We recommend that the next task addressed by the Committee be development of recommended options for a process to be conducted by the Council for consideration of University development plans at the Horace Williams Property.

 

Regarding the Committee’s question about whether it should become a standing committee, we recommend that the Committee continue at the Council’s pleasure.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.      Council Committee on Horace Williams Citizens Committee October 7, 2002 (p. 6).

2.      Petition from the Horace Williams Citizens Committee September 15, 2005 (p. 10).

 

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE HORACE WILLIAMS CITIZENS COMMITTEE CONTINUE WORK ON OUTSTANDING TASKS (2005-11-09/R-8)

 

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); and

 

WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill established 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; and

 

WHEREAS, the charge of the Horace Williams Citizens Committee was adopted by the Town Council on October 7, 2002; and

 

WHEREAS, the Committee’s charge includes a request to propose a process for the planning and development of the Horace Williams Property, to prepare recommendations for the Council’s consideration regarding the University’s plan for the Horace Williams Property once a proposal is developed, and to provide advice to the Council about ways to incorporate these Principles into the Council’s ultimate zoning and ordinances for the Horace Williams Property;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Committee is requested to continue its work as charged.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Manager take into consideration the Committee’s recommendation regarding a process for the Town to consider regarding the future development of the Horace Williams Property (Carolina North). 

 

This the 9th day of November, 2005.