JOINT MEETING OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL AND

THE CHATHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1997 AT 6:00 P.M.

CHAPEL HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY MEETING ROOM

Mayor Waldorf called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Council Members in attendance were Julie Andresen, Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Richard Franck, Lee Pavão, and Edith Wiggins. Council Members Mark Chilton and Pat Evans were absent excused. Staff members in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant Town Manager Sonna Loewenthal, Planning Director Roger Waldon, Transportation Director Bob Godding, Assistant to the Mayor Alice Joyce, and Assistant to the Manager Greg Feller.

Chatham County Board of Commissioners in attendance were Chair Margaret Pollard, and Commissioners John Grimes, Henry Dunlop, and Betty Wilson. Commissioner Uva Holland was absent excused. Also present was Chatham County Manager Charlie Horne.

Mayor Waldorf welcomed the members of the Chatham County Commissioners to Chapel Hill and commented that there was no protocol or set agenda for tonight's meeting.

Margaret Pollard, Chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, thanked the Mayor and Council and stated she viewed this meeting as a mutually beneficial way to come together for discussion of shared interests.

Mutual Transportation Concerns

Planning Director Roger Waldon used a map of the joint planning areas to explain issues of current interest from a planning perspective. He noted that a key to Chapel Hill's planning with Carrboro and the County is a joint planning agreement which states how land is to be used in general. He pointed out the watershed area and the rural buffer, and the zoning designation for each.

Mr. Waldon used another map to show the major transportation routes within the County and the location of the park and ride lots in Chapel Hill. He noted that a few major developments in process included Southern Village, for which a Master Plan had been approved by the Council, plans for a new elementary school which would be located within Southern Village, and a 400 acre parcel known as Meadowmont for which the Council had approved a Master Plan last year and was expected to come up for Special Use Permit consideration in the near future.

Charlie Horne, Chatham County Manager, stated they had formed a Land Use Advisory Committee which, over the next year, would make recommendations on how land in Chatham County should be used. He said he hoped that as a result of that Committee’s work, some plans would be adopted. Mr. Horne also commented that they were pursuing an update to the Master Plan for Chatham County and a sewer feasibility study. He noted that Chatham County was in the latter stages of a strategic planning process along with Goldston, Siler City and Pittsboro, and expected to jointly approve a plan for Chatham County which would set a direction for the County’s future. Mr. Horne added that a twelve acre site was scheduled to come before the Board next week to provide for a development adjoining Cole Park Plaza.

Council Member Andresen remarked she was interested in knowing Chatham County’s long term development plans, such as water and sewer needs, road needs, and the like. Commissioner Pollard replied that the Thoroughfare Planning Committee was working on these matters, and invited the Council to attend their meeting as observers. Council Member Andresen said she would like additional information about several items referenced earlier by Mr. Horne.

Mayor Waldorf said she believed that Chapel Hill shared watershed protection interests with Chatham County.

Council Member Capowski asked whether or not Chatham County would eventually like to have Chapel Hill Transit service in Chatham County. Council Member Betty Wilson mentioned transportation was an issue the Commissioners wanted to discuss this evening. Council Member Capowski asked how many people commuted from Chatham County to Chapel Hill every day. Mayor Waldorf said her information was that daily traffic volumes on U.S.15-501 were about 37,000 trips per day.

Mayor pro tem Brown said one of the serious issues was transportation funding. She said this was the year that all parties needed to make a concerted effort to obtain funds to support the transit system. She noted that one way to fund the system included taxes through registration fees, tags, sales tax, transfer fees, and a parking tax. Mayor pro tem Brown noted that all of these issues should bring in funds to support a transit system. She stated that this gave each governing body the opportunity to choose from this menu to obtain the needed funds.

Mr. Horne said a transit system which would adequately serve Chatham County would require targeting the areas where persons needed to travel to and from work. Council Member Andresen inquired which particular areas these were in Chatham County. Commissioner John Grimes stated

that a study had concluded that it would be cost prohibitive for Chatham County to operate a transit system. He said if Chapel Hill wanted to extend service to Chatham County, this might be feasible.

Council Member Andresen inquired where major roadway improvements were planned in Chatham County. Commissioner Grimes replied that Hwy. 421 from Greensboro to Sanford was being improved at present, along with U.S. 15-501 to Pittsboro and U.S.15-501 to Lee County. He said this would increase the traffic flow coming into and around Pittsboro. Commissioner Wilson added that Highway 1 was also being widened at present.

Mayor pro tem Brown asked whether there would be a specific connection to the Research Triangle Park. Commissioner Grimes said he did not know of one. Mr. Horne noted that all of the roadways mentioned were already funded and underway.

Commissioner Grimes said the long range plan for Highway 64 was to have four lanes all the way through to Siler City. He said this would make Siler City a transportation hub for people traveling from Atlanta to Wilmington; as they would have to travel through Siler City.

Council Member Franck remarked that Chapel Hill Transit was an urban transit system, meaning it was geared to short trips with lots of riders, which affected funding. He said it was not a simple matter to put a bus on the road to Pittsboro, because it might affect the Town’s existing transit funding. Council Member Franck said if this idea was to be considered, advice should be sought from the Triangle Transit Authority, which was funded through a $5 surcharge from Wake, Durham and Orange Counties.

Commissioner Wilson inquired how much the U.S. 15-501 park and ride lot was used. Council Member Franck said it was almost at capacity. Chapel Hill Transportation Director Bob Godding said there were between 275 and 300 cars in the lot on a typical day.

Mayor Waldorf said if serious consideration were given to extending the transit system into Chatham County, a park and ride lot would most likely be warranted.

Commissioner Wilson said she believed there was an agreement to explore this possibility, and asked how to move forward on this matter. Council Member Andresen that responded Chapel Hill could certainly initiate such a process. Mayor Waldorf commented that the Council could ask the staff to begin exploring options.

Council Member Andresen asked what would be the major loop for people from Chatham County to access the Research Triangle Park. Commissioner Grimes answered that there were several routes now used, none of which were direct routes. Mayor Waldorf asked whether or not an extension to Jack Bennett Road was being considered. Commissioner Grimes said not at this time.

Mayor pro tem Brown asked if there was a representative from Chatham County to the Transportation Advisory Committee. Commissioner Grimes answered he was the representative to this committee.

Council Member Andresen asked whether there was any interest in Chatham County for a small aviation airport. Commissioner Pollard said there was one in Siler City, as well as a grass airstrip located in Pittsboro. Commissioner Wilson stated that the Sanford-Lee Regional Airport was also being developed on the Chatham County line.

Mayor Waldorf said it was her impression that Chatham County and Chapel Hill had been working well together regarding U.S. 15-501 South, and she hoped that the cooperation between the two entities would continue.

Town Manager Horton said staff could come back with some options in the near future, probably within thirty days.

Process for Continuing Communications

Mayor Waldorf said she believed some mechanisms should be in place in order to continue communications between the two entities.

Council Member Capowski suggested a group of officials meet every two months to discuss any issues of mutual interest, similar to the Durham-Chapel Hill Work Group which met bi-monthly.

Council Member Pavão agreed, noting that he was an alternate on that group and it was working very well.

Mayor Waldorf said she believed an Orange County Commissioner should be included in this work group, as well as a representative of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. She suggested that a member of the OWASA staff might also be included. Mayor Waldorf said she was interested in setting up a mechanism so that Chatham County Commissioners, the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Orange County Commissioners could talk about any issues they believed were pertinent. Commissioner Wilson said we should not limit this group just to transportation, but OWASA should probably be invited only when water and sewer issues were to be discussed.

Mayor Waldorf noted that the consensus was that a new committee be formed of representatives from the Chatham County Commissioners, Carrboro Board of Aldermen, Chapel Hill Town Council, and the Orange County Board of Commissioners to meet bi-monthly to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Commissioner Wilson asked when the committee would meet. Council Member Pavão suggested meeting during the lunch hour. Commissioner Wilson suggested for continuity that the meetings should take place in the late afternoon or early evening.

Mayor Waldorf suggested that the location of the meetings should alternate to provide convenience to those attending. She commented that each entity should choose their work group members after this evening’s meeting, when everyone was in attendance.

Other Planning Issues

Council Member Andresen said the links between the two counties certainly include the watershed area. Council Member Andresen also said she hoped the new Meadowmont development would be built so as to not increase the runoff of pollutants into Jordan Lake. Commissioner Grimes noted that Chatham County’s water supply came from the Haw River and Jordan Lake. Mr. Horne added that all of North Chatham County’s water came from Jordan Lake.

Council Member Andresen asked whether any water plants were planned for construction in the future. Mr. Horne replied they had the capability to expand the existing plant when needed. He said in instances of emergencies, they could link into other service lines.

Mayor Waldorf asked whether any of the annexations planned by the Town of Cary had been opposed by Chatham County. Commissioner Wilson replied none had been officially opposed, mainly because they had no authority to refuse the annexation.

Council Member Capowski said he understood that Chatham County had asked for a larger allocation of water from Jordan Lake. He asked whether they were confident there would be enough water available for Chatham County. Commissioner Grimes replied no, adding that their staff was working on increasing Chatham County’s allocation from Jordan Lake.

Council Member Capowski asked whether Chatham County had any control in this matter. Commissioner Wilson answered that the Town of Cary owned the intake line, which was shared with Chatham County.

Council Member Capowski asked whether any hog farms were proposed for Chatham County. Commissioner Wilson answered land values in northern Chatham County had increased, and she did not believe that anyone would pay $12,000 an acre for a hog farm. Mr. Horne commented that the area’s terrain was not feasible for a hog farm operation.

Commissioner Wilson said five hundred dwelling units on six hundred acres was proposed ;just outside of Pittsboro, but would have its own wastewater treatment plant. Council Member Andresen asked who would be responsible for overseeing the plant. Commissioner Wilson answered this would be the responsibility of the State. She noted that a golf course would be included on the site.

Mr. Horton said he would be in touch with all concerned to begin the processes discussed this evening.

Commissioner Wilson requested that a meeting be set for a follow-up to tonight's discussion. After some discussion, Tuesday, May 6th at 5:30 in Siler City was chosen for the follow-up meeting.

Commissioner Wilson invited those interested to attend a meeting of the Chatham County Commissioners at the Council on Aging Building in Pittsboro from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15^th.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.