AGENDA #4d
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to Petition Concerning the Greene Tract
DATE: April 14, 2003
This memorandum responds to a petition concerning the Greene Tract by Ms. Joyce Brown on January 27, 2003 (please see Attachment 1).
Ms. Brown’s petition requested that green or sustainable building standards be used on the 18 acres of the Greene Tract designated for affordable housing on the concept plan, and proposed a process for developing these standards.
BACKGROUND
The Town of Chapel Hill has participated with Carrboro and Orange County in discussions concerning the future of the Greene Tract. On November 11, 2002, the Town Council approved a concept plan and other points of agreement for the future use of the portion of the Greene Tract that remains in joint public ownership (please see Attachment 2). The Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Orange County Board of Commissioners have also adopted the proposal.
DISCUSSION
The next steps in the carrying out the agreement include:
* Report from the Managers on options for reimbursement of the Solid Waste/Landfill Enterprise Fund;
* Formal action by all three boards to approve conservation easements for the open space, no sooner than July 1, 2003 and no later than July 1, 2005; and
* Consideration by Chapel Hill of a small area planning process to examine desirable land use patterns for the Purefoy Road Area, including consideration of sewer in the area.
On February 24, 2003, the Council adopted goals for 2003 and an implementation plan. The goal of initiating a small area planning process for the Greene Tract was a “second priority” item, with an approved schedule to initiate work in 2004 and develop a planning process for consideration by the Council.
Based on these remaining steps to be undertaken, we estimate that development of the affordable housing site could be 5-10 years into the future, especially since sewer service is not now available in the area. Use of “green building” techniques are appropriate for consideration for affordable housing because the techniques can save low-income residents and owners energy dollars as well as having environmental benefits. Because refinements in “green building” techniques and standards are evolving and becoming more sophisticated every year, we recommend that developing standards be deferred until a point closer to implementation of a project on the designated site.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend the Council adopt the attached resolution endorsing the use of green and sustainable building techniques in the development of affordable housing on the site when it is developed in the future and recommend forwarding the petition concerning green building techniques to the Town’s partners in considering the future of the Greene Tract for consideration.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING GREEN BUILDING TECHNIQUES ON THE GREENE TRACT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITE (2003-04-14/R-5)
WHEREAS, the governing boards of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County participated in the Greene Tract Work Group and approved resolutions relating to a concept plan and other points of agreement for the Greene Tract in 2002; and
WHEREAS, the concept plan designates an affordable housing site of 18.1 acres on the Greene Tract;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council endorses the use of green or sustainable building standards for the affordable housing to be constructed on the Greene Tract.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council forwards the petition to the Council of January 27, 2003, by Ms. Joyce Brown to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Orange County Board of Commissioners for consideration as partners in the planning of the Greene Tract.
This the 14th day of April, 2003.