MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE

TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1995

Mayor Broun called the hearing to order. Council Members in attendance were Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Mark Chilton, Pat Evans, Lee Pavão, Barbara Powell, Jim Protzman and Rosemary Waldorf. Also in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Managers Sonna Loewenthal and Florentine Miller, Planning Director Roger Waldon, Development Coordinator Jennie Bob Culpepper and Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos.

Item 1 208 West Franklin Street SUP Request

Persons wishing to testify in the matter were sworn by the Town Clerk's designee.

Mayor Broun called upon Council Member Protzman. Noting a potential conflict of interest, Council Member Protzman requested recusal on this matter. Hearing no objections from Council Members, Mayor Broun granted his request. Council Member Protzman excused himself from the dias, noting that he would return consideration of the subsequent items.

Development Coordinator Jennie Bob Culpepper briefly reviewed site plans for the proposed project.

Ellen Weinstein, Partner, Dale Dixon & Associates, the project's architect, stated that due to the small parcel of land involved, it was most viable to construct a four-story building. Ms. Weinstein added that the applicant proposed a connection between West Franklin and Rosemary Streets and a colonnade intended for retail space and outdoor dining.

Planning Board representative Scott Radway said the Planning Board had unanimously recommended approval of the proposal.

Council Member Brown inquired why there was no recommendation from the Transportation Board on the proposal. Ms. Culpepper said the project had been reviewed by the Design Review Board and received expedited processing. She said this expedited process reduced the number of advisory boards reviewing the proposal. Ms. Culpepper indicated that the Transportation Board representative who was at the Design Review Board meeting was pleased with the proposal and did not see any reason to have the Transportation Board review the application. Council Member Brown expressed concern that the Transportation Board had not reviewed the proposal.

Council Member Capowski requested clarification of the applicant's proposal for a loading zone. Ms. Culpepper stated that Franklin Street would be able to accommodate offloading of larger trucks and trailers for the site. Mr. Horton said that it was not feasible to have delivery trucks backing on to Rosemary Street. Mr. Horton also said offloading of trucks could be accomplished in a short enough period of time that traffic congestion would not be a problem.

Council Member Capowski agreed with Council Member Brown that the Transportation Board should review the proposal. Mayor Broun stated that there had been a representative from the Transportation Board at the Design Review Board meeting who had indicated the Board's concurrence with the proposal.

Council Member Evans inquired about the proposed entrance along Rosemary Street. She also noted the importance of providing guaranteed access to refuse trucks for servicing of trash dumpsters. Council Member Evans inquired whether the applicant's proposed sidewalk continued all the way to Rosemary Street. Ms. Culpepper said this was correct.

Ron Strom, the applicant, accepted the proposed conditions of approval.

COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAVÃO TO RECESS THE MATTER TO MARCH 15TH WITH REFERRAL TO THE MANAGER AND ATTORNEY. THE MOTION TO RECESS WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

Item 2 State Employees Credit Union SUP Request

Persons wishing to testify in the matter were sworn by the Town Clerk's designee.

Ms. Culpepper provided an overview of the applicant's proposal.

Council Member Protzman returned to the dias at 7:25 p.m.

Bob Anderson, the applicant's representative, said the applicant concurred with the Planning Board's recommendations to the Council.

Bill O'Brien, stated that he had been asked by the Appearance Commission to change the color of the brick and that this arrangement was agreeable.

Planning Board representative Scott Radway said the Board had voted 7-1 to recommend Council adoption of Resolution A.

Council Member Evans requested additional information on the sidewalks along Hamilton and Prestwick Roads and about proposed street trees. Mr. Anderson noted that street trees were proposed along Hamilton and Prestwick Roads.

Council Member Evans said she favored having space between sidewalks and curbs, not directly adjacent to one another, for safety reasons. Noting that a significant percentage of customers would be pedestrians, Council Member Evans also said she favored reducing the number of parking spaces for the project. Mr. Anderson stated that if the number of parking spaces were insufficient, additional spaces could be added in the future.

Council Member Evans said although the plan was a good one, she did not favor having patrons cross a major thoroughfare in order to access separate shopping areas along NC 54. She also expressed her preference for the applicant providing a sidewalk connection to NC 54.

Mayor Broun said he also had concerns about the area's traffic patterns. Noting the proximity of Glenwood Elementary School to the proposed project, Mayor Broun inquired about the school's comfort level with the proposal. Ms. Culpepper stated that the school district had expressed its concurrence with the plans to date. Mr. Anderson noted that the Credit Union would open following the opening of school and close after the school had recessed for the day.

Mr. O'Brien expressed his concurrence with the proposed conditions of approval.

COUNCIL MEMBER WALDORF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHILTON, TO RECESS THE MATTER TO MARCH 15TH WITH REFERRAL TO THE MANAGER AND ATTORNEY. THE MOTION TO RECESS WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

Item 3 Blue Cross/Blue Shield SUP Request

Persons wishing to testify in the matter were sworn by the Town Clerk's designee.

Ms. Culpepper presented an overview of the proposed parking deck.

Phil Post, the applicant's representative, noted that he was commonly asked when the proposed facility would be opening. He also noted that the proposed deck would be centrally located to all of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield campus and would have a linked sidewalk system. Mr. Post also stated that parking facility would provide an entire bay of centrally-located handicapped spaces. Mr. Post stated that this deck would enhance Blue Cross/Blue Shield's transportation management system, which includes variable work hours and vanpools.

Brandy Long stated that the primary reason for this project was to promote the general safety and welfare of Blue Cross/Blue Shield's employees and visitors. Ms. Long said the proposed layout would accomplish this objective.

Planning Board representative Scott Radway said the Planning Board had voted unanimously in favor of the applicant's request.

Dallas Allford, Corporate Services Director for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, noted his appreciation for the input and help from the various boards as this project is moving forward.

COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAVÃO TO RECESS THE MATTER TO MARCH 15 WITH REFERRAL TO THE MANAGER AND ATTORNEY. THE MOTION TO RECESS WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

Item 4 Airport Road Mini-Mart SUP Request

Persons wishing to testify in the matter were sworn by the Town Clerk's designee.

Ms. Culpepper presented a brief overview of the applicant's request.

Mike Hammersley, the applicant's representative, Hakan/Corley, and Grey Moody, owner of the Mini-Mart property, were in attendance to answer any questions from the Town Council.

Planning Board representative Scott Radway said the Board had voted 6-2 in favor of the applicant's request.

Council Member Capowski questioned whether the bike lane on the east side of Airport Road was sufficient. Ms. Culpepper stated that the applicant's portion of the lane along Airport Road would be widened.

Council Member Capowski also inquired about inspection of existing underground fuel storage tanks at the facility. Mr. Moody noted that all improvements to the station had been made in December, 1993, with over $30,000 worth of improvements made to replace outdated tanks and piping.

Mr. Moody expressed his concurrence with the proposed conditions of approval.

COUNCIL MEMBER PAVÃO MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CHILTON, TO RECESS THE MATTER TO MARCH 15TH WITH REFERRAL TO THE MANAGER AND ATTORNEY. THE MOTION TO RECESS WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

There was no need for a closed session.

The meeting stood adjourned at 8:15 p.m.