AGENDA #14a(3)

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            Council Member Bill Strom

 

SUBJECT:       Resolution Supporting Housing in Research Triangle Park

 

DATE:             June 11, 2001

 

The Research Triangle Foundation, owner and developer of Research Triangle Park, has teamed up with Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) and Craig Davis Properties to develop a 25-acre parcel of land for the Park’s transit center.  The property is located on Highway 54, next to Nortel Networks.

 

The project will be built in phases, with the first phase to include TTA’s bus transfer center, a hotel and conference center, the first strip of retail and office space, and one set of apartments.  This phase should begin construction this summer and be completed in 2003.  At full build-out, expected to be by the end of 2007, when the regional rail is planned to be running, the center will have about 90,000 square feet of retail, 730,500 square feet of office space, about 325 apartment or condominium units, a 25,000 square-foot conference center, and a 275-room hotel.

 

The Owners and Tenants Association has approved the concept, and Durham County has approved the zoning as office/institution 2.    Durham County will consider additional provisions for residential density and setbacks at the June 12 meeting. 

 

This will be the first time in the Park’s history that it will have residential housing.  Development within the Park was previously limited only to research and research applications.  Research Triangle Foundation officials report that the decision was made because it will be a natural fit for the land and it will help encourage use of transit.   

 

I ask that the Council adopt the attached resolution and request that the Manager send it to the Research Triangle Foundation Board of Directors, the Triangle J Council of Governments, and local elected officials in the Triangle.  The resolution supports the development of housing in Research Triangle Park and encourages the Research Triangle Foundation to work with Durham and Wake County governments and with the Triangle J Council of Governments to: (1) develop planning mechanisms to continue to examine housing opportunities in RTP; (2) develop mechanisms to transfer housing density from outlying areas into RTP; and (3) seek leading-edge applications of mixed-use overlays with the goal of transforming RTP into a pedestrian and transit-oriented community.  

 .   

 

A RESOLUTION supporting the development of housing in Research Triangle Park and encouraging the Research Triangle Foundation to work with Durham and Wake County governments and with the Triangle J Council of Governments to: (1) develop planning mechanisms to continue to examine housing opportunities in RTP; (2) develop mechanisms to transfer housing density from outlying areas into RTP; and (3) seek leading-edge applications of mixed-use overlays with the goal of transforming RTP into a pedestrian and transit-oriented community (2001-06-11/R-22)

 

WHEREAS, the Research Triangle Foundation is working with Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) and Craig Davis Properties to develop a 25-acre parcel of land for Research Triangle Park’s transit center; and

 

WHEREAS, the development project will include about 325 apartment or condominium units; and

 

WHEREAS, this will be the first time in the Park’s history that it will have residential housing; and

 

WHEREAS, housing and mixed-use development in Research Triangle Park is needed to relieve the negative impacts of sprawl; and

 

WHEREAS, between 1970 and 1999, vehicles miles traveled grew 140% nationally; and;

 

WHEREAS, both Durham and Wake counties received grades of “F” in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2001 report, which measures air quality as measured by ozone monitors; and

 

WHEREAS, the Research Triangle Foundation should continue seeking housing development opportunities and examining rules that prevent residential growth in the Park;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council supports the development of housing in Research Triangle Park and encourages the Research Triangle Foundation to work with Durham and Wake County governments and with the Triangle J Council of Governments to: (1) develop planning mechanisms to continue to examine housing opportunities in RTP; (2) develop mechanisms to transfer housing density from outlying areas into RTP; and (3) seek leading-edge applications of mixed-use overlays with the goal of transforming RTP into a pedestrian and transit-oriented community.

 

This the 11th day of June, 2001.