ATTACHMENT B
Summary of Citizen and Council Comments
Offered on March 26, 2001
On Proposed
Statement Regarding University Development
Compiled and
Transmitted to Town Council
April 9, 2001
On March 26, 2001, the Chapel
Hill Town Council discussed a proposal that had been prepared by Mayor Waldorf
and a Town-Gown Committee, on the subject of University development. Eight citizens addressed the Council at the
meeting, and Council members offered individual comments. In addition, Council Member Brown presented
a written statement with general comments and questions.
Following is a summary of the
comments made during this discussion. A
copy of Council Member Brown’s statement is attached.
- Timing of the Proposal: Several speakers asked for deferral of
action to allow time for review and evaluation of the proposal.
- Standards:
What will be the time frame for periodic review of development
standards that might be put in place with a new zoning district?
- Perimeter of Campus: Development of individual buildings in the proposed
perimeter sub-zone of the proposed OI-4 zoning district should require
approval of the Town Council, not the Planning Board.
- Statewide University Growth: Why does this growth need to take place
in Chapel Hill? What are the possibilities
for the University of North Carolina to choose to add facilities on other
campuses?
- Neighborhood Buffers: The Council should continue to insist
on attention to buffers where University development is adjacent to
residential neighborhoods.
- Traffic Analysis: The impact of increased traffic related to University
development will be experienced by residential neighborhoods, and needs to
be considered.
- Consideration of All University Development: As discussions continue, attention
should be given to all University development, including University uses
on the main campus, UNC Health Care facilities on the main campus, and
development on the Horace Williams tract.
- Impact on Schools: Review of the impacts of University development should
include attention to impacts on local schools.
- Heights of Buildings: As height limits are considered in the
new OI-4 zone, consideration should be given to interior as well as
perimeter areas, and attention should be given to topography and
elevations surrounding a particular development site.
- Benefit to Town: What benefits would the Town experience as a result of
University growth?
- Other Areas of Town: University growth will affect all parts of Town, not just
the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the campus.
- South Campus:
Implementation of the University’s Master Plan is an opportunity to
correct the mistakes that were made in the development of the South
Campus.
- Town Input:
This proposed process may result in the opportunity for the Town to
have a significant input into the form of University development.
- Immediate Projects: The University’s list of short-term projects includes both
those funded by the recent bond referendum and those funded by other
means.
- Implementation of New Zoning District: Under the proposal, only after
agreement is reached on quantity, location, form, and infrastructure
mitigation of negative impacts would the Town be obliged to enter into the
proposed OI-4 zoning agreement.
- Public Input:
What mechanisms would be in place for public input as this proposed
process might go forward?
- Control Mechanisms: What sort of mechanisms would be put into place to indicate
that all of the natural systems and the public facilities are able to
sustain the impacts of the University’s growth?
- Housing:
Will the impacts of proposed housing construction be considered,
even if this type of development is removed from floor area restrictions?
- Development Plan: A key difference between the current OI-3 and the proposed
OI-4 zones is the requirement of a development plan that would address
cumulative impacts of development.