AGENDA #9
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Call Public Hearing for Development Ordinance Text Amendment -Response to Petition from Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board
DATE: August 28, 2000
· Create a New Liaison Position for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board on the Design Commission; or
· Overall Revisions to the Design Commission Liaison Positions
Or alternatively, the Council may choose to direct the Manager to establish an informal non-voting liaison role for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board on the Design Commission immediately with adoption of Resolution B.
On June 26, 2000, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board petitioned the Town Council to create a new Liaison position on the Community Design Commission, for a member of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. We attach a copy of the Board’s petition.
In accordance with the Town’s Development Ordinance, the Community Design Commission presently has liaisons from five advisory boards: the Planning Board, the Transportation Board, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Greenways Commission, and the Historic District Commission. We note that the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Design Commission both meet on the same night as the Design Commission each month. Consequently, the Parks and Recreation Commission is not regularly represented by a liaison at Design Commission Meetings. In addition, because the Historic District Commission acts in place of the Design Commission in the Town’s Historic Districts, a Historic District Commission liaison does not regularly attend Design Commission meetings either.
We have identified three options for consideration on this matter:
1. Create a New Liaison Position: We believe that one potential response to the petition would be for the Town Council to initiate the process to amend the Development Ordinance and create the requested liaison position for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
This response would require Council approval of a Development Ordinance Text Amendment. The Development Ordinance Text Amendment would increase the membership of the Design Commission to include 10 members appointed by the Council, and up to 6 liaisons appointed by different advisory boards. All 16 members would have full voting privileges on all Design Commission agenda items.
2. Establish an Informal Non-Voting Liaison Role: We believe that another potential response would be to add a designated representative of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board to the Design Commission mailing list. This designated representative would receive a full packet (agenda, plans, etc.), and would have the opportunity to attend the meeting and present comments (verbal or written) to the Design Commission for consideration.
This response would not require the approval of a Development Ordinance Text Amendment. This role could be established immediately, upon direction from the Council.
3. Revise the Design Commission Liaison Positions: We believe another potential response would be to “redesign” the role of all Design Commission liaisons. A “redesigned” liaison role would not involve voting privileges on the Design Commission, but would involve sending a designated representative from the relevant advisory boards a full packet for each meeting. The designated representative could then review the packet, and determine whether or not there are items of interest to that respective advisory board. The designated representative could then attend the Design Commission meetings, and present comments to the Design Commission for consideration. This approach would provide some relief for Design Commission liaisons in terms of meeting attendance, and would also make it easier for alternative advisory board members to attend and share comments in the event that the designated representative is unavailable to attend a particular meeting.
This response would require adoption of a Development Ordinance Text Amendment. This proposal would decrease the voting membership of the Design Commission to 10 members, all appointed by the Council.
We look forward to receiving the Council's direction on these and any other options the Council may wish to consider.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Community Design Commission Recommendation: On August 16, 2000, the Community Design Commission voted unanimously to recommend option 3 above: A redesign of all Design Commission liaison positions. Resolution A would call a Public Hearing to consider the Development Ordinance Text Amendment. Please refer to the attached Summary of Community Design Commission Action.
Manager's Recommendation: We recommend that the Council adopt Resolution A to call a Public Hearing for November 20, 2000 to consider a Development Ordinance Text Amendment for these options or options as the Council desires or adopt Resolution B which would direct the Manager to establish an informal non-voting liaison role for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board on the Design Commission immediately.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Petition (p. 6).
2. Summary of Community Design Commission Action (p.7).
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CHANGING THE LIAISON RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION IN THE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE (2000-08-28/R-21a)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council has received a petition from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board's desire to participate in the work of the Community Design Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has indicated a desire to consider changing the liaison relationships for the Community Design Commission to be:
Select Option:
· Create a New Liaison Position for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Board on the Design Commission;
· Overall revision to the Design Commission Liaison Positions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby calls a Public Hearing for Monday, November 20, 2000 to consider the proposed amendment to the Development Ordinance.
This the 28th day of August, 2000.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ESTABLISH AN INFORMAL NON-VOTING LIAISON ROLE FOR THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD ON THE COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION (2000-08-28/R-21b)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council has received a petition from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board regarding the Board's desire to participate in the work of the Community Design Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has indicated a desire to establish an informal non-voting liaison role for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board on the Community Design Commission;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby directs the Town Manager to establish an informal non-voting liaison role for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board on the Design Commission immediately.
This the 28th day of August, 2000.