MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Public Hearing: Development Ordinance Text Amendment- Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Liaison to the Design Commission
DATE: November 20, 2000
INTRODUCTION
This Public Hearing has been scheduled for the Town Council to consider a Development Ordinance text amendment. The proposal would create a new liaison position for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board on the Community Design Commission.
BACKGROUND
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.
On August 28, 2000, the Town Council called a Public Hearing for tonight to consider this proposed change to the Development Ordinance.
DISCUSSION
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.
On August 28, the Town Manager presented three options to the Town Council for possible response to the petition:
1. Create a New Liaison Position: The Council chose this option and called this Public Hearing to create the requested liaison position for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. With this option, membership of the Design Commission would 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: Another option before the Council was 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.
3. Revise the Design Commission Liaison Positions: This option would decrease the voting membership of the Design Commission to 10 members, all appointed by the Council. Each advisory board could appoint a designated representative to review the meeting materials 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.
The Council called tonight's Public Hearing to consider Option 1.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Community Design Commission Recommendation: The Community Design Commission considered the initial three options proposed at a meeting on August 16, 2000, and recommended consideration of Option 3 (Vote 9-0). Please refer to the Summary of Community Design Commission Action attached.
Planning Board Recommendation: The Planning Board voted 6-0 to recommend that the Council adopt Option 1. Please refer to the attached Summary of Planning Board Action.
Manager’s Preliminary Recommendation: Adoption of the attached Ordinance would carry out the option chosen by the Council and would create the requested liaison position for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
Attachments
1. Ordinance (p. 3)
2. Summary of Community Design Commission Action (p. 4).
3. Summary of Planning Board Action (p. 5)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CHAPEL HILL DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE REGARDING LIAISON POSITIONS TO THE COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill has considered the proposed amendment to the Chapel Hill Development Ordinance to adjust the liaison positions to the Community Design Commission, and finds that the amendment is appropriate due to changed or changing conditions in a particular area or in the jurisdiction generally and achieves the purposes of the Comprehensive Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
"25.5.1 Establishment of the Commission
A Community Design Commission, consisting of ten (10) members appointed by the Council, is hereby established. In addition to Council-appointed members, the Planning Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, Transportation Board, Greenways Commission, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and Historic District Commission shall designate one representative from their respective boards to be members of the Community Design Commission, each with full voting privileges."
Section 2. That all ordinances and portions of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 3. That these amendments shall become effective upon adoption.
This the __ day of __________, 2000.