AGENDA #4a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Designation of Kings Mill/Morgan Creek Neighborhood as a Residential Conservation Area
DATE: March 4, 2002
Adoption of the attached resolution would amend the Town’s Land Use Plan to designate the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek area a Residential Conservation Area.
At the June 11, 2001 Town Council meeting, Ms. Sally Greene, on behalf of the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek Neighborhood Association, asked the Council to help the neighborhood association to develop a small area plan and create a residential conservation overlay district. She noted that the neighborhood made this request because of the potential impacts of the University’s Master Plan on the neighborhood.
On November 12, 2001, the Town Council endorsed a schedule of action to amend the Town’s Land Use Plan to designate the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek area a Residential Conservation Area (see map, Attachment 1). The schedule included review by the Planning Board in January 2002, a public hearing before the Town Council on February 18, 2002, and final action by the Council on March 4, 2002.
On January 15, 2002, the Planning Board recommended the Council amend the Town’s Land Use Plan to designate the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek area a Residential Conservation Area.
The Kings Mill/Morgan Creek neighborhood is located immediately south of Fordham Boulevard, generally between Morgan Creek Road on the west and Manning Drive on the east. The University Botanical Garden and Hunt Arboretum are to the east and south of the area and the University campus is located to the north. The Chapel Hill Town Limits forms the southern boundary of the neighborhood.
On February 18, 2002, a public hearing was held to receive public comments related to the proposed amendment to the Land Use Plan. Six citizens spoke in favor of the proposed amendment; no one spoke against the proposed amendment.
Designation as a Residential Conservation Area means that when policy choices that affect these areas are before the Town Council, the balance should tilt in favor of protection and preservation, and that when new neighborhood protection initiatives are being considered (small area plans, design guidelines, occupancy or parking restrictions), these are the areas that should be considered first. A more detailed discussion of Residential Conservation Areas can be found in the February 18, 2002 memorandum prepared for the public hearing (see Attachment 2).
We believe that it would be appropriate to designate this area a Residential Conservation Area on the Town’s Land Use Map. The northeastern portion of the neighborhood is adjacent to the central campus (separated by Fordham Boulevard) and has similar characteristics as other areas currently designated as Residential Conservation Areas.
Planning Board Recommendation: The Planning Board recommended by a 6-2 vote that the Council amend the Town’s Land Use Plan to designate the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek area a Residential Conservation Area.
Manager’s Recommendation: We recommend the Town Council adopt the attached resolution, amending the Town’s Land Use Plan to designate the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek area a Residential Conservation Area.
1. Map: Proposed Addition to Residential Conservation Area (p. 4).
2. February 18, 2002 memorandum (p. 5).
A RESOLUTION amendING the Town’s Land Use Plan to designate the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek area a Residential Conservation Area (2002-03-04/R-4)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council received a petition from the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek Neighborhood Association requesting assistance in the planning of their neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek neighborhood is adjacent to the University of North Carolina campus and may be affected by future growth of the University;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby amends the Town’s Land Use Plan to designate the Kings Mill/Morgan Creek area a “Residential Conservation Area”, according to the map contained in Attachment 1 of the Manager’s memorandum to Council, dated March 4, 2002.
This the 4th day of March, 2002.