AGENDA #13.1
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposal to Discuss Performance Zoning and Development Review
Process Alternatives
DATE: October 23, 2000
This memorandum suggests that the Council schedule time to hear a presentation on Performance Zoning, and schedule a special meeting to discuss possible alternative processes for development review that might be recommended in a revised Development Ordinance.
Last Wednesday, on October 18, the Town Council received a presentation from Lane Kendig. Mr. Kendig is the consultant working on the project to revise Chapel Hill’s Development Ordinance, and he introduced the idea of using performance standards and performance zoning to reduce reliance on the Town’s Special Use Permit process. Council members asked questions about performance zoning, and several members asked that more information be provided so that the Council can fully understand this approach.
The Council also asked the consultant to prepare several alternative options for how the Town’s development review process might be restructured.
We believe that it is necessary to achieve common understanding about the proposed performance zoning approach, in order to consider whether or not this approach could viably reduce reliance on Special Use Permit proceedings. We therefore suggest a two-stage discussion.
First, we suggest that the Council invite Mr. Kendig to give a full presentation on performance zoning, with illustrations and time for discussion. We believe that it would be useful for the Council to schedule two hours for this issue, and then send invitations to all members of Town Advisory Boards involved in development review to come and hear the presentation and discussion. We suggest that the Council schedule this for 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Monday, November 20. That night is already set as a Public Hearing night, scheduled to begin at 7:00; but the agenda for the hearing is light, and we believe it would be reasonable to start the hearing at 7:45 instead of 7:00.
Second, we suggest that the Council schedule a special meeting to discuss process alternatives. This would be a meeting where alternatives would be presented by the consultant, and the Council would discuss the alternatives and be in a position to select one for the consultant to develop further. We suggest that this special meeting be called for Tuesday, November 21, at 7:00 pm. This would be a business meeting, televised, at which action would be possible. The advantages of scheduling this meeting on November 21 are that it would follow directly on the performance zoning discussion, and be cost-efficient by taking advantage of the fact that the consultant would already be in Chapel Hill because of the presentation the night before.
An alternative to calling a special meeting on November 21 would be to place this item on the Council’s agenda for its regular meeting on November 27. The advantage of this option would be not needing to call a special meeting. A disadvantage would be that the November 27 regular agenda is likely to be full with other items, reducing time for discussion and possible decision on this key procedural point for the Development Ordinance. Another disadvantage would be the need to pay the consultant for an extra trip to Chapel Hill just one week after the November 20 presentation.
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution, scheduling a presentation on performance zoning for 5:30 pm on Monday, November 20, and scheduling a special meeting to discuss procedural options at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 21.
A RESOLUTION SCHEDULING MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE ZONING AND POSSIBLE PROCEDURES FOR REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
(2000-10-23/R-13)
WHEREAS the Town Council has initiated a project to revise the Town’s Development Ordinance; and
WHEREAS the Council seeks information about how performance zoning might be built into the Town’s regulatory approach; and
WHEREAS the Council seeks to discuss alternative procedural options for review of development applications;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council schedules the following meetings:
This the 23rd day of October, 2000.