AGENDA #6b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Downtown Design Workshop Summary Report

 

DATE:             May 13, 2002

 

The attached resolution would set a work session for June 10, 2002 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss policy options and choices related to the future development of Parking Lot #2 and Parking Lot #5 in downtown Chapel Hill.

 

The attached report, “Downtown Chapel Hill Design Workshop:  Summary Report,” reviews the design workshops held February 16 and March 23, 2002.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Council goal of encouraging new residential, office and retail downtown development was established at the Council’s January 2000 retreat, and is stated in both the 2000 Comprehensive Plan and the 2000 Downtown Small Area Plan. 

 

Actions taken over the past five years toward achieving the goal of new residential, office, and retail downtown development include a 1997 design workshop for Parking Lot 5, the Council’s discussions with the University of North Carolina on a downtown employer-employee housing project last year, and authorization by the Council in October and November 2001 to pursue design workshops and computer visualization of downtown “opportunity area” sites.

 

At the Council’s August 29, 2001 work session on the employer-employee housing issue, the Council requested a report providing options for developing a Downtown Design Workshop, followed by a Request for Proposals, including a schedule for the process and proposals for public involvement.

 

On October 10, 2001, the Council adopted a resolution establishing goals for the Design Workshop. The Council also adopted a resolution authorizing the Town to implement a process for developing the workshop and Request for Proposals for Parking Lots 2 and 5, and authorizing the Town Manager to develop a proposal for Council’s consideration regarding a visual modeling instrument, including potential vendors, cost, and locations.

 

On November 12, 2001, the Council authorized the Manager to contract for services for Downtown Design Workshops, including computer visualization.  The Town subsequently hired DesignVis to undertake the computer visualization, and Peter Batchelor, FAIA, to coordinate the citizen workshops.

 

Design Workshops were held on February 16 and March 23, 2002.

 

COUNCIL GOALS

 

Excerpts from the Council’s goals for downtown as adopted on October 10, 2001 include:

 

·        Increase the supply of downtown housing, at a range of prices.

 

·        Identify appropriate sites for construction of housing, office and retail space.

 

·        Promote a higher/better use of Town-owned parcels now used for parking Lots 2, 3, and 5.

 

·        Enhance and expand public spaces, open spaces, and bicycle and pedestrian connections downtown.

 

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT

 

The attached report provides a summary of two Workshop sessions held on February 16 and March 23, 2002.  Peter Batchelor, FAIA, FAICP, acted as the facilitator for both sessions.  The Town’s computer visualization consultant, Chris LeBlanc of Designvis, provided computer models for use by the public in both sessions, and attended the March 23 session.

 

The workshops were designed to provide citizens an opportunity to express their ideas and opinions about future development on key sites in downtown.  About 100 citizens attended the first session, and about 50 citizens attended the second session.  Both workshops used a small-group discussion format moderated by citizen volunteers.  The computer visualizations were available to each group for use in discussions.

 

Key findings for each focus area include:

 

Lot 2

 

·        Seek a mix of retail, office, and residential uses.

·        The scale should be two-story at the street, and stepped back for upper floors.

·        Provide replacement parking, and parking to serve the additional space.

·        Incorporate pedestrian connections along West Rosemary Street, and connect to the Bank of America building, and Town parking lot #1.

 

Lot 5

 

·        Provide a mix of uses, including commercial, cultural, residential, outdoor dining, and an active public space.

·        Include replacement parking, and parking to serve the additional space.

·        Citizens generated a variety of concepts for Lot 5, reflecting the general sentiment that this location is a major community asset for Chapel Hill and downtown.  Use of the lot should serve the community’s goals.

·        The interface on Rosemary Street with adjoining residential neighborhoods is important.

 

West Rosemary Street

 

·        Encourage development of a mix of uses in this privately-owned area, including affordable housing and businesses which serve the adjoining neighborhoods.

·        Provide for an extension of park space in the area, and provide streetscape improvements.

·        Consider providing structured public parking in the area.

·        Transitions to the adjoining residential neighborhoods are important.

 

A fourth focus area, University Square, was considered at the February 16th Workshop, and then not pursued further at the request of the property owner.

 

The Summary Report provides additional detail on the Workshops and evolution of citizen’s ideas over the past months.  The computer visualizations are also on-line at www.townofchapelhill.org/planning/workshop.html.

 

NEXT STEPS

 

We seek the Council’s direction on next steps for this project.  If the Council wishes to proceed with considering a Request for Proposals for the development of Town parking lots, we suggest scheduling a work session to consider key issues in developing a Request for Proposals.  The purpose of the session would be to examine options for issues such as the timing of development, the mix of uses, the scale of development, appropriate open space and pedestrian connections, and provision of parking.

 

If the Council wishes to proceed, we recommend the Council adopt the attached resolution setting a work session for Monday, June 10, 2002 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. before the regular Council meeting that night.  For that meeting, we would prepare additional materials to provide the Council a framework for discussing policy options and choices.

 

After such a work session, with Council direction, staff would be in a position to develop a draft Request for Proposals for the Council’s consideration at a future meeting.

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

The attached resolution would set a work session for 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on June 10, 2002 to consider next steps for the development of Parking Lot#2 and/or #5.

 

A RESOLUTION SETTING A WORK SESSION TO CONSIDER NEXT STEPS FOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT (2002-05-13/R-13)

 

WHEREAS, the Council has received a “Downtown Chapel Hill Design Workshop Summary Report” with the work of two citizen workshops held on February 16 and March 23, 2002;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council sets a work session for Monday, June 10, 2002  from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. to consider next steps and options for the development of Parking Lot #2 and Parking Lot #5.

 

This the 13th day of May, 2002.