MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1991 AT 7:30 P.M.

Council Member Herzenberg called the meeting to order.

Council Members Julie Andresen, Joyce Brown, Arthur Werner and Roosevelt Wilkerson were in attendance. Mayor Jonathan Howes, Council Member Nancy Preston and Council Member Alan Rimer were absent excused. Council Member James C. Wallace was absent. Also in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Managers Sonna Loewenthal and Florentine Miller, Planning Director Roger Waldon and Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos.

Council Member Herzenberg said this evening's hearing was a special one to consider two elements to the Thoroughfare Plan. He said that the first order of business was to select a presiding officer for the meeting. Council Member Herzenberg requested nominations.

COUNCIL MEMBER WERNER PROPOSED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HERZENBERG BE APPOINTED THIS EVENING'S PRESIDING OFFICER. THE SUGGESTION WAS ACCEPTED BY ACCLAMATION.

Hearing on University Roadway Plan

Planning Director Roger Waldon briefly summarized the proposed realignment of Manning Drive. Council Member Brown inquired about the location of Ridge Road relative to the proposed South Loop Road. Mr. Waldon responded that he did not have a map immediately at his disposal showing the location of both roadways. Council Member Andresen inquired about the location of Mason Farm Road on the exhibit map before the Council. Mr. Waldon pointed out the location of Mason Farm Road.

Council Member Herzenberg said that thirty-three persons had signed up to speak on the University's proposed roadway plan. Council Member Andresen inquired whether the Council wished to entertain a time limit of three minutes for each speaker. Council Member Werner suggested a two-minute time limit. Council Member Herzenberg suggested that speakers limit their remarks to three minutes, if possible.

Jim Wells, President of the Interfaith Council, said the Interfaith Council's concern about the proposed Southern Loop was its impact on the availability of low-cost housing in the community. Mr. Wells requested that the Council follow the Town Manager's recommendation that the Southern Loop project not proceed until appropriate alternate housing had been made available.

Richard Wolfenden said that South Loop Road would impact much of the Town, including Mason Farm Road and Odum Village. He said that the Council should not have to react with a simple yes or no to the roadway proposal. He suggested that a review process be put in place for this type of roadway project. Mr. Wolfenden said that residents of the Mason Farm Road area had requested closure of Mason Farm Road as early as 1978. He noted that the Planning Board had approved the closure request at that time. Mr. Wolfenden said that the request for closure did not hinge on the Southern Loop Road being included in the Thoroughfare Plan.

Peg Rees expressed concern about the potential impact of the Southern Loop Road on surrounding neighborhoods and drainage facilities. She also expressed concern that the University had not specifically outlined where the proposed roadway would be aligned. Ms. Rees read an excerpt from a June, 1990 memorandum to the Council, outlining the need for more thorough analysis of the proposed South Loop Road. Ms. Rees said the fact that the Council had delayed previous votes on South Loop Road indicated that Council Members were not committed to inclusion of the roadway in the proposed Thoroughfare Plan.

Candice Carraway said that the roadway proposal would impact residents of Odum Village and all of Orange County by possibly eliminating affordable housing units in the University area. She urged the Council to vote against the South Loop Road proposal.

Ms. Carraway said the benefits derived from a new roadway did not compare favorably with the social cost of tearing down the Odum Village housing units.

Mary Bridgers, Director of the Odum Village day care facility,

said that the facility served multi-cultural dependents of students, faculty and staff. Ms. Bridgers asked the Council to weigh its decision carefully concerning day care and roadway needs.

Jennifer ____________, a graduate of the University's Planning department, presented a petition containing over two hundred and fifty signatures favoring efforts to save Odum Village.

Reverend Robert Seymour, Coordinator of Orange County Housing Coalition, said the coalition was very concerned about the provision of affordable housing in the Town. Reverend Seymour said there were many good reasons for the South Loop Road, but he was also concerned about the loss of fifty low income housing units in Odum Village. Reverend Seymour said the demolition of the Odum Village units would be an irreplaceable loss. He urged the Town and University to work together in concrete terms to provide affordable housing for those needing housing at the University.

Dee Gamble, a member of the Orange County Housing Coalition, stressed the importance of saving Odum Village as a means of affordable housing. Ms. Gamble said there was no possible way for the University to think about housing as a priority in the near future, due to competing academic needs.

Steve Wallace said there would be many adverse impacts from the proposed University South Loop Road. Mr. Wallace expressed concern that a University official had recently referred to the Odum Village site as prime development property. Mr. Wallace also said that the University had made a number of poor planning decisions. He stated that the South Loop Road proposal was a means for correcting past planning mistakes by University officials. Mr. Wallace said there was no empirical data to support the construction of the proposed roadway. He stated that State taxpayers money would be sought to construct the South Loop Road and possibly for reimbursement of housing at Odum Village. Mr. Wallace requested that the Council explore a more northerly alternative alignment for the proposed South Loop Road.

Mary Dale, President of the Laurel Hill neighborhood association, presented a statement concerning the need to preserve the Pinetum on the University campus. A copy of Ms. Dale's remarks are on file in the Town Clerk's Office. Council Member Andresen inquired about the location of the Pinetum. Ms. Dale showed the location.

James McEnery said he was concerned with the alternatives that the University might have in replacing Odum Village. He also expressed concern about the consequences of possibly taking properties such as Glen Lennox off the Town's tax rolls. Mr. McEnery said the University had many acres of land on which to construct replacement housing.

Katherine Thomas, a member of League of Women Voters of Chapel Hill, said the league supported affordable housing programs in the Town. Ms. Thomas said that students and families displaced from Odum Village would likely have no choice but to compete for remaining low-cost housing. Ms. Thomas stated that the proposed South Loop Road would divide the Odum Village community and cause noise and other related problems. She expressed concern that the University was trying to downplay the importance of Odum Village. Ms. Thomas stated that Odum Village provided safe and decent affordable housing. She stated that the Orange County Housing Coalition urged the Council not to approved the proposed South Loop Road, since a variety of other roadway alignments could be explored. Ms. Thomas requested that if the Council did vote for the South Loop Road, they have a firm commitment for replacement affordable housing to replace Odum Village housing units.

Using a map from the University Guide to Physical Development, Planning Director pointed out key features on the map, including the proposed realignment of Manning Drive and existing alignment of Ridge Road.

Adele Thomas said she hoped that the Council would not accept tradeoffs to squeeze people out of the local housing market. Ms. Thomas said that the University needed to do more to house students on the campus or the surrounding area. She said that housing corporation bonds could be used to build affordable housing for university students and staff.

Elaine Barney said the proposed South Loop Road was ill-planned and ill-advised. She said that the roadway would have a devastating impact on area residents, including increased traffic and noise and air pollution. Ms. Barney urged the Council to oppose the widening of South Columbia Street, the proposed Southern Loop roadway, parking decks in neighborhoods, and further environmental disruption.

Bill Barney requested that letters from three University area residents be entered into the record of the hearing. Mr. Barney read a letter from William Pearlman, strongly opposing the South Loop proposal. Mr. Barney said he believed that the Southern Loop roadway plan was ill-conceived, since there had been no input from those most directly impacted by the proposal.

Dan Coleman said he was the sixteenth speaker this evening, with no of the previous speakers supporting the Southern Loop proposal. Mr. Coleman said only Town staff and University officials supported the roadway proposal. He expressed that the University wanted increased roadway access with little regard for surrounding neighborhoods and their residents. Mr. Coleman said the University needed to take the concerns of area citizens seriously. He urged the Council to reject the proposed South Loop Road proposal.

Rosemary Waldorf stated that several key issues surrounded the proposed alignment of Manning Drive. She noted that the University had the authority to construct roadways in the campus interior, using University funds. Ms. Waldorf stressed the need for the University's roadway plans not to take absolute priority over other Town road needs. Ms. Waldorf noted the need for improvements to NC 86 and Sage Road. Ms. Waldorf noted that if the Department of Transportation were required to purchase rights-of-way for the South Loop Road, the result would be a very expensive intercampus roadway. Ms. Waldorf stated that the South Loop Road proposal offered a good opportunity to advance discussions on other matters of mutual interest to the Town and the University.

John Sanders, Institute of Government Director, said that the South Loop Road was not a child of the University's land-use plan. He also noted that the need for the roadway had been anticipated twelve or thirteen years ago. Mr. Sanders said that Odum Village could not be saved forever. He stated that more intensive uses for the site were anticipated when Odum Village had been constructed about twenty-five years ago. Mr. Sanders said that new buildings were being constructed on the campus in response to needs of the University. He stated that the facilities would generate additional traffic and the need for more roads. Mr. Sanders said that the defeat of the South Loop Road proposal would ensure traffic congestion and inconvenience. He urged the Council to

recommend the inclusion of the South Loop Road in the Thoroughfare Plan.

William Hildebolt said he supported the South Loop Road proposal. He said the roadway would aid in encouraging pedestrian traffic between the south and central campus areas. Mr. Hildebolt also noted the importance of providing low-cost housing to replace Odum Village housing units. He urged the Council to include the South Loop Road in the proposed Thoroughfare Plan.

Donald Boulton, Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs, said that University officials continued to work hard on student housing quality of life. Mr. Boulton said that the University was continually planning for affordable housing needs. He said that the University was unable to meet the housing needs of students, faculty and students by themselves. Mr. Boulton stressed the need for cooperative affordable housing efforts between the University and other local entities.

Bill Huffines, a Health Sciences faculty member, stressed the need for new program development at the University. He said that pedestrian and vehicular traffic would continue to increase tremendously in the foreseeable future. Dr. Huffines stated that the new ambulatory care facility was absolutely necessary to meet the needs of patients. He urged the Council to include the proposed South Loop Road in the Thoroughfare Plan.

Dr. Tom Griggs stressed the need to continue to provide quality medical facilities at the University. He stated that ease and safety of access to these facilities were more than a convenience to their users.

Harry Gooder, Chairperson of the University Faculty, emphasized the University's role as a national university in areas such as the biological and human sciences. Mr. Gooder said that a good deal of future traffic would be funneled into the center of University activities, while the South Loop Road would put traffic on the periphery of the campus.

Ben Tuchi said that the South Loop Road proposal had been discussed at a variety of forums. He also noted that the University was committed to creative alternative housing to Odum Village prior to construction of the proposed roadway. Dr. Tuchi said that the first map displaying the rough outline of the South Loop Road was drafted in August, 1962, well before plans for the Smith Activity Center. Dr. Tuchi said the University had substantial concern for its neighbors. He noted that the original University land-use plan was significantly different from the current plan due to the University's concern for its neighbors. Dr. Tuchi said that the South Loop Road would divert traffic away from the Mason Farm Road area. He requested the Council's support of the inclusion of the South Loop Road in the proposed Thoroughfare Plan.

David Biggs, a member of the Student Environmental Action Coalition, asked that the Council reject the South Loop Road proposal. Mr. Biggs expressed concern that the proposed Ridge Road extension would require elimination of the Pinetum. Mr. Biggs stated that more people would have to use mass transportation in the future due to declining air quality. Mr. Biggs said that demolishing Odum Village would be a mistake. He requested that the Council disapprove the inclusion of the South Loop Road in the proposed Thoroughfare Plan.

__________________ said that those with fixed incomes are disturbed by increasing Town, County and State budgets. He expressed concern about the growing role of special interest groups in setting the public agenda. __________________ also expressed concern that taxpayers were increasingly being asked to support projects such as the South Loop Road.

George Jackson said that encroachment by the University into surrounding neighborhoods was substantial. He also expressed concern about the tone of arrogance of some University officials regarding the lack of concern for neighborhood residents. Mr. Jackson urged the Council to eliminate the South Loop Road.

_________ McFadden, a UNC alumnus said he loved the University, but not the way University officials ignored its neighbors. He expressed concern that the University had not consulted with those impacted by the proposed roadway. Mr. McFadden said if there was an acute need for the roadway, the University should fund the proposal itself. He said that the decision to demolish Odum Village was a political rather than economic decision.

Brian Johnson, a resident of Purefoy Road, said the Thoroughfare Plan was absurd. Mr. Johnson said he objected to the roadway plan until he could receive additional explanations from University officials.

Dr. Vincent Kopp, representing the Human Services Advisory Board,

said the Board believed that the proposed South Loop Road and its impact on Odum Village needed to be reevaluated. Dr. Kopp said that the Town often faced multiple conflicting needs, with emphasis being placed on balancing these needs.

Joe Capowski, an engineer and designer, said that he lived five hundred yards from the end of the University's health affairs area. He urged delay of the proposal to allow the University to come back with alternative roadway proposals. Mr. Capowski noted that no Town residents, other than an ex-officio student representative, served on the University's Board of Trustees. Mr. Capowski said that the South Loop Road presented a golden opportunity for Town and University officials to work together.

Martin Feinstein said that the roadway plan was a failure in creativity and imagination. He implored the Council and University to reconsider decisions such as the proposed South Loop Road proposal. He noted that the south campus area could utilize alternative transportation such as a monorail system in the future.

Peter Todd, representing the Triangle Group of the Sierra Club, said the Club opposed the plan since it did not focus on alternative transportation. Mr. Todd stressed the need for University officials to be more conducive to community planning.

Joan Bartel urged the Council to develop better drainage arrangements along South Columbia Street.

John Kent of the New Hope Audubon Society expressed concern about the proposed roadway going through the Pinetum.

Council Member Andresen noted that the University was taking a much more active role in going out to adjoining neighborhoods. She added that the University had not planned well in the past. Council Member Andresen said that there were some sound conceptual reasons for the South Loop Road, including directing traffic away from the center of campus. Council Member Andresen inquired about the timeframe for adoption of the Thoroughfare Plan relative to new air quality standards. Mr. Horton responded that timing relative to this matter would have little substantial impact. He indicated that it would be unlikely that plan would be recommended by the Transportation Advisory Committee prior to Fall, 1992. Council Member Andresen requested information on projected traffic counts, under scenarios were the roads were approved or not approved. She stated that the University's planning mechanism was having a hard time dealing with a recent building boom on the campus. Council Member Andresen emphasized the need for Town and University officials to continue to work well together. She added that the Mason Farm Road situation could be handled separately from the consideration of the South Loop roadway.

Council Member Brown said she was not sure how the proposed roadway would help to eliminate traffic in the campus area. Council Member Brown expressed concern about environmental and related impacts of the proposed Loop Road. She urged the Council to continue its commitment to neighborhood planning and traffic reduction as a means of preserving the Town's character.

Council Member Wilkerson emphasized the importance of focusing on human needs, particularly housing. He stated that the removal of additional property from the tax rolls would impact the Town as a whole. Council Member Wilkerson also expressed concern about the alignment of Ridge Road and related environmental impacts. He urged the Council to take the University's roadway needs into the context of the entire Thoroughfare Plan.

Council Member Werner said the issue under consideration was whether the Council would put the South Loop Road on the Thoroughfare Plan. He stated that the University would continue to construct buildings and might build the South Loop Road with its own funds, if the roadway were not approved in the Thoroughfare Plan. Council Member Werner said there were a variety of issues for further debate with the University. He noted that these dialogues should continue.

Council Member Herzenberg requested that the staff give further consideration to the Southern Loop roadway alternative referenced by Steve Wallace earlier in the hearing. Council Member Wilkerson said he hoped that the matter could be back before the Council at its July 8th meeting.

COUNCIL MEMBER WERNER MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRESEN, TO REFER THE MATTER TO THE MANAGER AND ATTORNEY. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (5-0).

The Council took a ten minute recess between items.

Hearing on Laurel Hill Parkway

Planning Director Roger Waldon provided an overview of possible alignments for Laurel Hill Parkway. He noted that the roadway alignment was currently tied to several key and fixed points along a roadway corridor. Mr. Waldon said that the 1984 Thoroughfare Plan called for swinging the road further to the east and realigning Watkins Road. He noted that the green line on the exhibit map had been adopted as the proposed roadway alignment by the Durham City Council.

Council Member Werner said there still appeared to be some confusion over the green and red lines on the exhibit map. He inquired about the implications of shifting the proposed roadway alignment. Mr. Waldon responded that major alignment shifts would have to be analyzed very carefully, perhaps warranting modification of the Thoroughfare Plan.

Council Member Werner inquired who would make decisions for modification. Mr. Waldon said that the State Department of Transportation would review changes in alignment recommendations.

Council Member Werner asked if alternative B offered a better alternative than the green line. Mr. Waldon responded that alternative B would not involve Corp of Engineers property, but would necessitate a sharp turn in the roadway alignment. Mr. Horton noted that the concept of thoroughfare planning was not very precise. He noted that it was possible that the Laurel Hill Parkway might not ever be constructed. He noted that a lot was dependent on if and when private development occurred in the area.

Council Member Werner said the roadway alignment proposal would impact where developers would choose to build.

Council Member Andresen inquired whether alternative A would necessitate a written commitment to cross the Corp of Engineers property. Mr. Waldon said no, adding that an alignment not crossing the Corp property would be easier to achieve. Council Member Andresen emphasized the importance of landowners be aware of where proposed thoroughfares would be located. Mr. Waldon noted that final plats had not been recorded in some portions of the Oaks III subdivision. Mr. Horton said he was not sure that specific alignments could be recorded on all plats.

Council Member Brown said the Council was being asked to make a precise decision on a very imprecise matter. She urged the Council to do something creative and innovative on the planning of the roadway.

Council Member Herzenberg said that there appeared to be something almost scared about the proposed point of connection along NC 54, near the park and ride facility. Mr. Waldon stated that part of the planning process was to anticipate where future public facilities would be located. Council Member Werner said it was a good idea to align the roadway into an existing park and ride lot. Mr. Waldon said the intersection was possibly a good place for the installation of a traffic signal. Council Member Brown encouraged the Council to have a macro, rather than a piecemeal outlook, concerning the Thoroughfare Plan.

Conrad Neumann said that he and his neighbors had previously addressed the Council on several occasions concerning the Laurel Hill Parkway proposal. He noted that the topography, scenery and history of the area were noted depicted on the exhibit map before the Council. Mr. Neumann said he preferred the construction of no new roadway at all. He urged the Council to consider topography, drainage, quality of runoff and scenery of the area in their decisionmaking process. Mr. Neumann also stated that construction of a roadway in the area would have a very detrimental impact on area wildlife.

Peter Todd urged the Council to consider none of the alternatives for Laurel Hill Parkway. He expressed concern that the small area plan for the southern portion of Town showed the proposed Laurel Hill Parkway still planned, with the exception of the Mason Farm area. Mr. Todd said that the Carrboro Board of Aldermen had voted to take the western portion of the parkway off the thoroughfare plan. He urged the Council to take a more active role in preserving the entranceway to the Town.

Hunter Doughetry, Chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the Cross-County Association, said he was convinced that growth would happen, as evidenced by neighborhoods along Pope Road.

Mr. Doughetry said he believed that adequate planning needed to be done to protect neighborhoods. He also stressed the need for adequate roadways to handle traffic. Mr. Doughetry also stressed the importance of disclosing the location of rights-of-way to property owners.

William Farrell, a member of the Oaks Villas Homeowners Association, said the villas was a growing community with

twenty-four houses and sixty-two lots. He stated that the proposed alignment directly abutted some of the lots. Mr. Farrell said that high speeds on the roadway would pose significant hazards to quality of life. He also stated that the perceived need for the parkway was highly questionable, due to overly optimistic demographic and traffic projections. Mr. Farrell said that use of the existing right-of-way would be less expensive and pose less problems than other alternatives.

Charles Heinmiller said that a parkway was inappropriate in the proposed area. He noted that there were adequate highways in the area, including U.S. 15-501. Mr. Heinmiller said there was no special need for a new highway in the area.

Jean Friedman, President of the Oaks Homeowners Association, said the association looked to the Council to protect property values in their neighborhood. Ms. Friedman said that thirty-three parcels of land, valued at $100-$150,000 each would be directly impacted by the proposed parkway. She requested that the Council carefully evaluate whether the roadway corridor was necessary. Ms. Friedman said that homeowners in the area did not believe that there was a need for designation of the parkway.

Ed Harrison, representing the Headwaters Group of Sierra Club,

said he lived in the Chapel Hill portion of Durham County. He thanked the Council for resolving to delete Laurel Hill Parkway north of U.S. 15-501. Mr. Harrison said he reluctantly requested that developers wishing to build in the area reserve necessary right-of-way for a minor thoroughfare.

Toby Carr said that the Oaks III subdivision had difficulty in obtaining signs, streets and street lights and Laurel Hill Parkway had not been referenced to property owners by the developer.

Mr. Carr said there was obviously no need for the parkway. Mr. Carr urged the Council to vote against the parkway proposal.

Debbie McCarthy expressed concern that the Laurel Hill Parkway would create noise and pollution by unwanted development. She urged the Council to maintain the area as one of low-density residential. Ms. McCarthy also emphasized the importance of preserving open space in the New Hope corridor. Ms. McCarthy said

that Pope Road was a less environmentally sensitive alignment than Watkins Road. He requested that the Council consider entirely eliminating the parkway proposal.

Ella Woods said that generations of her family had lived in the Chapel Hill area for approximately one hundred and fifty years. Ms. Woods said she could not see why the roadway was needed, since U.S. 15-501 was being widened as a major roadway link. She urged the Council to eliminate Laurel Hill Parkway from the plan.

Jack Chandler said the proposed roadway alignment would directly impact the location of his business on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard. Mr. Chandler said that motorists would not exit the loop road to reaccess U.S. 15-501. Mr. Chandler said that additional traffic and shopping centers were not needed on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard.

Tom Heffner said that many previous speakers had stated that the proposed parkway was not needed. Mr. Heffner encouraged the Council to delete the parkway from the Thoroughfare Plan.

Linda Convissor, President of the Cross-County Communities Association, said the road was not needed in a low-density area. Ms. Convissor said it was critical that those who caused the need for the road take responsibility for the location of the roadway. She also stressed the importance of planning roadway alignments and right-of-way dedication as far as possible in advance.

Jack Smyre of the John McAdams Company and representing the DuBose family, said that alternative B was a surprise development to the DuBose family. Mr. Smyre said that the family had made plans for the green line and alternative A proposals, but found alternative B to be greatly troubling. He noted that the family desired that the parkway be taken off the plan altogether.

John Kent, Conservation Chair of the New Hope Audubon society,

expressed concern about the alignment configuration proximate to Mason Farm and the Corp of Engineers easement area. Mr. Kent said it was important for small area planning to occur in the area. He also urged the Council to keep any future roadways out of wetland areas.

Council Member Brown said she would forward several questions to the Manager.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRESEN, TO REFER THE MATTER TO THE MANAGER. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (5-0).

The meeting adjourned at 11:54 p.m.