AGENDA #4f

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       OWASA Water Storage Tank and Tower – Request for Tank Elevation Approval

DATE:             June 12, 2000

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority has requested that the tank column for the new Hilltop water tank not be painted and instead remain as unpainted concrete.   Please refer to the attached letter from Mr. Ed Kerwin, Executive Director.  There is a requirement that the Town Council approve plans for the final appearance of this structure.

BACKGROUND

The following provides a brief chronology of events for this project:

January 26, 1996                      The Town Council approved a Special Use Permit for the Hilltop Water Storage Tank and Tower.  A copy of the Special Use Permit is attached.  A condition of the approval required that detailed elevations of the tank, including color, be approved by the Town Council. 

October 28, 1996                    The Council approved color and lighting options for the water tank.  The Council required green at the base, with transition to light blue, then gray on top. 

June 4, 1997                            A Zoning Compliance Permit was issued authorizing construction and shortly thereafter work began.

May 17, 2000                          OWASA submitted a request for adjustment to the previous water tank color scheme (letter attached).

PROPOSAL

Attached information from OWASA describes the request for a change to the previous color approval, the public notification/survey process that the agency has conducted and the additional savings if the color scheme is adjusted as requested.  Key points from the letter include:

  • Construction plans changed from the original all steel structure to a combination concrete base and steel tank.  (Construction savings from this change totaled $150,000).

  • The tank has been painted.  The concrete base was not.

  • $80,000 could be saved if the concrete base does not have to be painted.

  • In a survey mailed to property owners, 35 of 42 respondents expressed preference for leaving the tank as is.

DISCUSSION

We believe that the combination of painted steel bowl and natural concrete base may represent a significant change in appearance from what the Council approved in 1996.  We identify these options for the Council’s consideration:

  • Approve the OWASA request to change the color scheme (Resolution A)

  • Delegate consideration of this request (and authority to approve of deny) to the Community Design Commission (Resolution B).

  • Take no action, leaving the 1996 approval requirements intact.

RECOMMENDATION

We believe that all of the options listed above are reasonable and available to the Council.  If the Council finds the existing state of the water tank to be acceptable, Resolution A would authorize that.  We also believe it would be reasonable to delegate this tank, as other appearance issues have been delegated, to the Community Design Commission (Resolution B).  If the Council continues to find the 1996 approval to be the most desirable option, no action is necessary.

ATTACHMENTS

1.   May 17, 2000 Request for Color Change (p. 5)

2.      Special Use Permit (p. 9)

RESOLUTION A

A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CHANGE TO THE APPROVED COLOR SCHEME FOR THE HILLTOP ELEVATED WATER TANK (2000-06-12/R-7a)

WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill approved a Special Use Permit authorizing construction of an Orange Water and Sewer Authority Water Storage Tank and Tower on January 22, 1996; and

WHEREAS, the Council included a condition of approval that requires that the tank color(s) be approved by the Town Council; and

WHEREAS, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority has requested a change to the color scheme authorized by the Town Council on October 28,1996 to allow the tank column to not be painted and instead remain as unpainted concrete;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council approves the request of the Orange Water and Sewer Authority for the following change:

            COLOR:          Concrete base, then gray on top.

This the 12th day of June, 2000.

RESOLUTION B

A RESOLUTION REFERRING A REQUEST FOR A CHANGE TO THE APPROVED COLOR SCHEME FOR THE HILLTOP ELEVATED WATER TANK TO THE COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION (2000-06-12/R-7b)

WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill approved a Special Use Permit authorizing construction of an Orange Water and Sewer Authority Water Storage Tank and Tower on January 22, 1996; and

WHEREAS, the Council included a condition of approval that requires that the tank color(s) be approved by the Town Council; and

WHEREAS, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority has requested a change to the color scheme authorized by the Town Council on October 28,1996 to allow the tank column to not be painted and instead remain as unpainted concrete;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council refers this request to the Community Design Commission for consideration and final decision.

This the 12th day of June, 2000.