AGENDA #1
MEMORANDUM
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Public Forum to Review Neighborhood Questions related to the Draft UNC Master Plan
DATE: September 27, 2000
The purpose of tonight’s public forum is to review neighborhood questions related to a Draft Master Plan for the central campus of the University of North Carolina.
On August 28, 2000, the Town Council received a petition from the Mason Farm, Whitehead Circle, Westwood, and Westside neighborhoods requesting a public forum on the Draft Master Plan for the central campus of the University of North Carolina (please see Attachment 1). At that time, the Council decided to sponsor a public forum for September 27, 2000, so that neighborhood questions related to the draft plan could be reviewed. Issues that have been identified by the neighborhoods include land acquisition, potential transit corridors, construction of parking decks, construction of new roads, construction of new buildings, and construction of a new chiller plant.
We mailed a notice of the public forum to about 1500 persons using various mailing lists, including the listing in the petition, the Town’s Comprehensive Plan mailing list, and a list of community/neighborhood groups (please see Attachment 2). Newspaper ads were placed in two papers. An ad in the Chapel Hill News ran on September 20, September 22, and September 24, 2000, while an ad in the Chapel Hill Herald ran on September19, September 22, and September 24, 2000. We also provided 210 copies of the notice to neighborhood representatives for distribution, and sent it to 182 persons on our e-mail database.
The University of North Carolina began development of a new master plan for central campus in 1998. The University selected the consulting firm of Ayers Saint Gross to undertake the work. A “Design and Operations Team” of university and community representatives was formed to work with the consultants, and has met regularly since that time.
The study progressed by studying four different “precincts” of the central campus. In addition, the University decided to commission an environmental analysis of the central campus and outlying properties.
Each “precinct” phase involved consultation with interested citizens and neighborhoods. We understand that University representatives met with the Mason Farm neighborhood in May and September 1999. In addition, we understand the University representatives held neighborhood walks in the Mason Farm/Purefoy, Westwood, Cameron-McCauley, Rocky Ridge/Laurel Hill, and Northside neighborhoods during the course of the study.
On February 23, 1999, the Town Council heard a presentation by Ayers Saint Gross on the work of the master plan to that date. This was followed by a Council work session on April 26, 1999 with the University’s transportation consultant, Mr. George Alexiou. On February 22, 2000, the University provided the Council with an update on progress.
15-501 Major Investment Study
Phase II of the 15-501 Major Investment Study has begun. Public information meetings were held last week in Durham and Chapel Hill. The purpose of the study is to provide policymakers with information to approve a fixed guideway corridor and technology between Durham and Chapel Hill. The attached memorandum provides a summary of the project and the scope of work (please see Agenda #2). The project is expected to be complete by June 2001. In addition to financial participation by the Town, the University of North Carolina has contributed $50,000 to the project.
At the public forum, a presentation will be made by University representatives, describing the status of the Master Plan draft. Following the presentation, a series of questions posed to the University by neighborhood representatives will be addressed by University representatives. The forum also provides an opportunity for citizens and Council members to ask questions.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Petition from August 28, 2000 Town Council meeting (p. 3).
2. Notice of Public Forum (p. 30).