ATTACHMENT 1

BACKGROUND OF INITIATIVE TO

REVISE CHAPEL HILL’S DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Following adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan in May 2000, the Town Council began a process to revise Chapel Hill’s Development Ordinance.  Following is a chronology of events:

January 8, 2001            Council adopted a Scope of Services and Budget for a contract with Freilich, Leitner & Carlisle.

January 22, 2001          Council held Work Session with the consultant Mark White of Freilich, Leitner & Carlisle.

April 18, 2001              Consultant Mark White presented a draft annotated outline to the Council.

May 29, 2001              First Draft Development Ordinance was presented to the following advisory boards:

• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board
• Community Design Commission
• Greenways Commission
• Historic District Commission
• Housing and Community Development Advisory Board
• Parks and Recreation Commission
• Planning Board
• Transportation Board

June 26, 2001              Council held a Public Hearing on the First Draft of the Development Ordinance.

August 28, 2001           Second Draft Development Ordinance was presented to advisory boards:

September 20, 2001     The Town Council held a Public Hearing to consider Second Draft of the revised Development Ordinance.   The Town’s consultant, Mr. Mark White of Freilich, Leitner, & Carlisle, was on hand to present the 2^nd Draft, answer questions, and participate in the discussion. The Council discussed changes that had been made in the 2^nd Draft, and heard presentations by Advisory Boards and citizens. At the conclusion of the September 20 hearing, the Council asked the Town Manager to prepare a follow-up report with suggestions about next steps.

October 10, 2001        Council decided to extend the schedule for this project (along with the consultant’s contract); to allow additional time for review of the 2^nd Draft; to direct the Manager to conduct a workshop to examine how the proposed regulations would affect actual projects; and to discuss on January 14 what direction to give the consultant for a 3^rd Draft.

January 14, 2002          The Council decided that additional workshop opportunities would be desirable, and that work sessions for the Town Council would be helpful.  The schedule called for a series of Council meetings, Public Forums, and workshops, followed by a Public Hearing for the Council to hear public comments on the Second Draft. The Council discussed the draft on three separate evenings:  March 18, April 15, and May 20.

June 3, 2002                The Council conducted another Public Hearing on the Second Draft

June 10, 2002              The Council adopted a resolution to direct changes to be made to the Second Draft, to create a Third Draft

August 23, 2002           Third Draft of the proposed Development Ordinance, now re-named the Land Use Management Ordinance, is delivered to the Town by the consultant.  Distribution begins August 26.