Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-20-1995 - IX-C A 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 20, 1995 Action Agenda Item I SUBJECT: ADVERTISEMENT - OCTOBER 11, 1995 JPA PUBLIC HEARING DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING: YES _X—NO ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: - Proposed Legal Notice Gene Bell, Ext. 2589 - Agenda Item 16 from Chapel Hill Town Council Meeting on 9-11-95 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough - 732-8181 Chapel Hill - 967-9251 Durham - 688-7331 Mebane - 227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider the legal notice for the semi-annual JPA Public Hearing scheduled for October 11, 1995. BACKGROUND: In 1989, the Chapel Hill Town Council adopted a revised Comprehensive Plan. A feature of that plan was the creation of an Urban Services Boundary around the Town. The areas within that boundary are proposed to be eventually developed to urban densities. Through a series of small area plans, the Town seeks to address the question of how land in these areas can best be developed. On January 25, 1993, the Town Council established the Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group and charged it with developing a small area plan for the Council's consideration. On December 20, 1994, the Work Group presented a recommended plan. This draft Northwest Small Area Plan includes the Greene tract, a 169 acre parcel of land centrally located in the plan area and owned jointly by Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County. Because a majority of the Northwest Small Area is in the Joint Planning Area and requires joint action for adoption, the Chapel Hill Town Council adopted a resolution (included in attachments) at their meeting on September 11. It requests that Orange County and Carrboro consider the plan at a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing on October 11. RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends approval of the Notice of JPA Public Hearing for October 11, 1995. 2 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN A public hearing will be held at the OWASA Operations Center, 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro, N.C. , on October 11, 1995 at 7:30 PM for the purpose of giving all interested citizens an opportunity to speak for or against the following item: JOINT PLANNING AREA LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT 1. JPA-1-95 Chapel Hill Northwest Small Area Plan REVISE the Orange County-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan to incorporate the Chapel Hill Northwest Small Area Plan. The plan area is bounded generally by Interstate 40 to the north, Weaver Dairy Road and NC 86 to the east, Homestead Road, the UNC-owned Horace Williams tract and Chapel Hill High School to the south, and Rogers Road and Duke Forest to the west. The area contains approximately 1, 680 acres, about one-third of which lie in Chapel Hill's corporate limits. Most of the remaining area is in the Chapel Hill Joint Planning Transition District which is jointly planned with Orange County and Carrboro. The County sets the zoning using Chapel Hill categories and the Town is responsible for administration of development ordinances in the area. Residential density for most of the area currently averages slightly over two units per acre. The area around the Eubanks Road/NC 86/I-40 interchange is classified for mixed-use development allowing office and institutional uses and some low-density residential in the northernmost part of the study area. The recommended plan proposes a Village Pattern of development focused on the Greene tract (a large parcel of property in the center of the plan area owned jointly by Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County) . The Village Pattern is characterized by decreasing densities as distance from the village center increases. It is intended to create a pedestrian-friendly environment that provides easy access to a village center that will have neighborhood stores and a central transit stop. The opportunity also exists to develop a transportation corridor in coordination with the rail line that runs through the area. An Employment Campus is proposed along Eubanks Road near the NC 86/I-40 interchange. It would be intended to serve as a place of employment rather than as a shopping area. Also, a new large Community Park is proposed in the northwest corner of the Greene tract. 3 Amendments to the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan require approval of the governing boards of Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro. All interested citizens are invited to attend this hearing and be heard. Public comment will be received during the public hearing. Following the close of the public hearing, only evidence received in writing by the date of the Orange County Planning Board meeting following the public hearing will be considered by the Board of Commissioners for decision. Changes may be made in the advertised proposals which reflect debate, objections and discussion at the hearing. Questions regarding the proposals may be directed to the Orange County Planning Department located in the Planning and Agricultural Center, 306F Revere Road, Hillsborough, North Carolina. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , Monday through Friday. You may also call 732-8181 (Hillsborough) , 688-7331 (Durham) or 967-9251 (Chapel Hill-Carrboro) . When prompted for an extension number, please enter 2589. Marvin Collins, Planning Director PUBLISH: News of Orange Chapel Hill Herald September 27, 1995 September 28, 1995 October 5, 1995 October 6, 1995 4 AGENDA # 6 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and Town Council FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager SUBJECT: Northwest Small Area Plan DATE: September 11, 1995 We have attached a resolution for the Council's consideration that would: • Invite Orange County and the Town of Carrboro to attend a work session on the Greene Tract to be held at 5:30 p.m. on October 11, 1995; and • Forward the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan to Orange County and the Town of Carrboro for consideration at a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing to be held at 7:30 p.m. on October 11, 1995. This memorandum summarizes key issues discussed at a work session on the Northwest Small Area Plan held by the Council on August 30, 1995. Background On January 25, 1993, the Council initiated a small area planning process for the Northwest Area of Chapel Hill. The Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group met monthly from May 18, 1993 until December 20, 1994. During the Work Group's planning process, the Group held three neighborhood meetings to receive public comment on September 21, 1993, February 22, 1994, and on October 6, 1994. The Work Group also coordinated with the Town of Carrboro's Small Area Plan Work Group. The Carrboro Work Group continues to plan for Canrboro's northern planning jurisdiction, an area that is adjacent to the western border of Chapel Hill's Northwest Area. The two Small Area Plan Work Groups held joint meetings in January and October of 1994. On December 20, 1994, the Work Group unanimously recommended the Northwest Small Area Plan to the Council as a proposed addition to the Town's Comprehensive Plan. On January 23, 1995, the Council adopted a resolution that expressed appreciation to the Work Group, called a public hearing, and referred the recommended plan to advisory boards for review. On March 1, 1995, the Council held a public hearing on the recommended plan. On June 26, 1995, the Council reviewed all of the comments that had been received on the recommended Northwest Small Area Plan, and scheduled a work session on August 30, 1995. 5 2 At the work session on August 30, the Council and representatives from the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen discussed several key issues regarding the Plan. Based on the Council's discussion, we have attached a resolution for the Council's consideration that would call a Work Session on the Greene Tract and refer the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan to Orange County and Casboro for consideration at a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing on October 11, 1995. Key Issues Discussed at the Council's August 30th Work Session At the Council's work session on August 30, 1995, the following key issues were discussed: • Process for Discussing the Greene Tract • Employment Campus • Land North of the Employment Campus • Recommended Road "D" and the Recommended Road Network • Integration with Carrboro's Small Area Plan • Eubanks Road Alternative • Schedule of Future Landfill Site Selection Process Based on the Council's dialogue at the August 30th work session, we have made revisions as to how to proceed with the following issues: Process for Discussing the Greene Tract, Employment Campus, Land North of the Employment Campus, and Recommended Road "D." Based on the Council's discussion, we have revised "The Plan" section of the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan to incorporate these changes. (Please see Attachment 1 which contains replacement pages for pp. 35-39 of the Draft Plan.) We discuss each of these key issues separately below. Process for Discussing the Greene Tract We note that three governmental jurisdictions have ownership interest in the Greene Tract (Orange County, Carrboro and Chapel Hill). Based on the need for any discussion of this land to include intergovernmental discussion, the Council invited both Carrboro and Orange County to send representatives to the August 30th work session. Commissioners Bill Crowther, Alice Gordon and Don Willhoit attended the work session for Orange County, while Alderman Jay Bryan attended the session for the Town of Carrboro. The Council and the representatives for Orange County and Carrboro concluded that a work session on the Greene Tract would provide the best opportunity for the three jurisdictions to have additional dialogue on this jointly-owned property. The attached resolution would call such a work session at 5:30 p.m. on October 11, 1995. Employment Campus At the work session on August 30, the Council discussed the concept of an Employment Campus along Eubanks Road. In particular, the Council's discussion noted the proximity of this area to 6 3 the N.C. 86/Interstate 40 interchange and the existing landfill as criteria that support a non- residential land use in this area. It was also noted that Chapel Hill has a real need for flex- space, evidenced by businesses that have had to leave town to find adequate space. Based on this discussion, we continue to include the Employment Campus concept as a part of the Draft Northwest Area Land Use Plan. Load North of the Employment Campus The Council also discussed changing the land use for the area north of Old Field Creek to show additional Employment Campus area. The Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group had previously recommended this area for Residential Use (1 unit per acre). Based on the Council's discussion, we have revised the Draft Conceptual Land Use Plan Map for the Northwest Area to show additional Employment Campus area, north of the Old Field Creek. We have attached "The Plan" section of the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan, with the revised Conceptual Land Use Plan Map (please see Attachment 1, p. 36). We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution that would make this change to the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan. Recommended Road "D" At the work session on August 30, an engineering study and a planning staff report were submitted which both indicated that the Road "D" recommended by the Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group, could not be built in conformance with engineering standards. Based on the Council's discussion, we have removed the Work Group's recommended alignment of Road "D" from the Draft Plan. Accordingly, we suggest showing Road "D" as connecting to Homestead Road in the vicinity of Merin Road. We believe that based on the conceptual nature of a comprehensive planning document, the exact location of this road does not have to be determined as part of this document. Rather, the exact location of Road "D" can be addressed at such time that development applications are submitted for properties in this area. Therefore, we have changed the alignment of Road "D" on the Draft Conceptual Land Use and Road Network Plan to connect to Homestead Road in the vicinity of Merin Road (please see Attachment 1, p. 38). As noted at the bottom of this map: These lines represent potential future local and collector roads. There is no funding allocated for these roads. As development occurs,roads would be constructed through the development review process. Road lines represent approximate road locations. Minor adjustments will need to be made as development and redevelopment occur. We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution that would make this change to the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan. 7 4 Integration with Carrboro's Small Area Plan The Council's work session included discussion with Carrboro Alderman Jay Bryan regarding Carrboro's ongoing Small Area Planning Process. Mr. Bryan noted that Carrboro considers Eubanks Road to be a significant future transportation corridor, and that Carrboro prefers to see improvements made to Eubanks Road rather than to Homestead Road. It was noted that the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Transportation Boards are planning to meet to discuss joint road issues after JJR Consulting presents information on the University's planning process on September 21. We believe that a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing on October 11 would provide the opportunity for additional dialogue on this issue. Eubanks Road Alternative The Northwest Small Area Plan includes an alternative alignment of Eubanks Road that the Work Group voted to not include in the recommended Plan. The Council discussed this alignment, known as the "Eubanks Road Alternative," indicating a desire for further discussion of this option. We recommend that the Council discuss this concept further with Orange County and Carrboro at a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing on October 11. Schedule of Future landfill Site Selection Process The Council inquired about the status of the future Landfill site selection process. The Landfill Search Committee selected four potential landfill sites for consideration, and has recommended one of them to the Landfill Owners Group for consideration. The recommended location is known as Site 17, and includes property owned by Duke University. The Landfill Owners Group has scheduled a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. on September 28, to receive comments on the four alternative landfill sites. The Landfill Owners Group will begin discussions on what landfill recommendation to make to Chapel Hill, Orange County and Carrboro in October. Conclusion Because the majority of the Northwest Small Area is in the Joint Planning Area, and therefore would require joint action in order to adopt a new land use plan, a key next step in the consideration of this draft Northwest Small Area Plan is for the Council to request that the draft Plan be scheduled for consideration at the Joint Planning Public Hearing on October 11, 1995. Based on the joint ownership of the Greene Tract by Orange County, Carrboro and Chapel Hill, we also believe that a key next step in the consideration of this draft Northwest Small Area Plan is. for the Council to request a work session with Orange County and Carrboro to discuss the Greene Tract. 8 5 Manager's Recommendation: That the Council invite Orange County and the Town of Carrboro to attend a Work Session on the Greene Tract to be held at 5:30 p.m. on October 11, 1995; and that the Council forward the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan to Orange County and the Town of Carrboro for consideration at a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing to be held at 7:30 p.m. on October 11, 1995. Attachment: 1) Draft Northwest Small Area Plan, "The Plan" (pp. 35-39) 9 ` 6 A RESOLUTION INVITING ORANGE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF CARRBORO TO ATTEND A WORK SESSION ON THE JOINTLY-OWNED GREENE TRACT AND ALSO FORWARDING THE DRAFT NORTHWEST SMALL AREA PLAN TO ORANGE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF CARRBORO FOR CONSIDERATION AT A JOINT PLANNING AREA PUBLIC HEARING (95-9-11/R-7) WHEREAS, it is the Town Council's role to comprehensively plan for the Town and its future growth areas; and WHEREAS, in 1989, the Council adopted a Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Chapel Hill and selected three smaller areas for further study; and WHEREAS, on January 25, 1993, the Council established the Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group and charged it with the role of developing a Small Area Plan for the Council's consideration; and WHEREAS, on December 20, 1994, the Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group recommended a Northwest Small Area Plan for the Council's consideration; and WHEREAS, on March 1, 1995, the Council held a public hearing on the Recommended Plan; and WHEREAS, on June 26, 1995, the Council received comments from the public hearing as well as written comments from advisory boards, citizens and other jurisdictions; and WHEREAS, on August 30, 1995, the Council held a work session on the recommended North-west Small Area Plan with representatives from Orange County and the Town of Carrboro; and WHEREAS, the Greene Tract is jointly owned by the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County and the Town of Carrboro; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council amends the draft Northwest Small Area Plan's Conceptual Land Use Plan and Road Network Plan Maps to (1) include a larger Employment Campus area north of Eubanks Road, and (2) to realign the recommended Road "D" to intersect with Homestead Road in the general vicinity of the existing Merin Road; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council invites Orange County and the Town of Carrboro to attend a Work Session on the Greene Tract to be held at 5:30 p.m. on October 11, 1995; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council forwards the Draft Northwest Small Area Plan to Orange County and the Town of Carrboro for consideration at a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing to be held at 7:30 p.m. on October 11, 1995. This the 11th day of September, 1995. 10 ATTACHMENT 1 The Plan Overview and areas efficiently serviced by public utilities, services, and transit, avoiding strip development, This report has examined the environmental and 2) small-scale professional, commercial and conditions of the study area,established goals and service employers in low-intensity developments objectives for the area, and identified several designed to minimize conflicts with adjacent building blocks for various land use patterns that residential development. could be used in the Northwest Area. Building on these criteria, this section presents a long-range The development of an Employment Campus in plan for the Northwest Area. this area also supports the Comprehensive Plan's Economic Goals of promoting employment in In formulating the plan, the Work Group also areas central to major transportation systems,with considered three alternative plans for the area(see surrounding higher-intensity residential uses. In Appendix). The consideration of all four of these particular, the Comprehensive Plan supports such plans produced the final recommended plan. a mix of uses in the N.C. 86 and Interstate 40 area. The recommended plan combines all of the planning concept"building blocks": Protection of This Employment Campus land use represents a Existing Neighborhoods, Affordable Housing, new category that would be primarily Open Space, Greenways, the Village Pattern, the characterized by small-scale flex-space and office Employment Campus, and the option of a uses appropriate to the area. In particular, the Transportation Corridor. Campus would serve as a destination that would attract employees for the duration of the work The Recommended Plan day. One of the first steps in formulating a plan was This new land use will require a new zoning the protection of existing residential category that will promote well-designed, neighborhoods. In particular, the plan seeks to functional places of employment. Some protect the Northwood neighborhood and the secondary uses that may be considered as part of Rogers Road and Billabong Lane areas. the "employment campus" concept are service- oriented uses, research and development uses, Based on the fad that the northwest area contains and medical facilities. some of the little land left in Chapel Hill that is In keeping with the Town's adopted suitable for office, commercial or retail use, and Comprehensive Plan Goals, the plan reflects the considering that the area has easy access to an Town's existing mixed use land use on the land interstate interchange, an Employment Campus is east of N.C. 86 and north of Weaver Dairy Road. shown along Eubanks Road and Millhouse Road. Mixed Use zoning calls for a mix of commercial, The Employment Campus is intended to support office, and residential in this area. the Town's Comprehensive Plan Goal of Based on the large amount of commercial square encouraging a local economy characterized by footage (259,200 s.f.) that has been approved as varied scale and types of educational, research, professional, commercial and service activities. part of the Chapel Hill North development, the proximity of existing residential neighborhoods, In particular, the Comprehensive Plan suggests a and in support of the Town's Entranceway local economy including 1) office, institutional, Protection Goals, the plan reflects an Office- and commercial employers of small to medium Institutional land use for the lots at the southeast scale, located in conveniently accessible centers intersection of N.C. 86 and Weaver Dairy Road. Northwest Small Area Plan Page 35 -- 3:tog - — 1■ � F, r :�.7 v m F. q • • NORTHWOOD V :: •,� ��, • L 1 • A ;7 N PARK n• ♦'��� � .ti� F n y'>;�vx;,. =. �/I��i J��dDi' IU t�f-� V •` 1 12 r A Village Pattern of development is shown along A transportation corridor developed in the rail line, south of the Northwood subdivision. coordination with the rail line could be used as a The village pattern is primarily located on the pedestrian/bikeway, busway, guided busway, or Greene tract. light rail transit access to other parts of the Town including the Northern Park and Ride Lot on The Village Pattern consists of mostly residential Eubanks Road, the Employment Campus area uses: single family detached houses, townhouses, along Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill High School, and apartments. The Village has an office and Seawell Elementary School, the University's commercial area within easy walking distance of Horace Williams tract, Downtown Chapel Hill, the residences. Active and passive recreation and possibly the University's main campus. areas are proposed through various dedicated open space areas, and a network of greenways A new large Community Park (approximately 50 would preserve perennial stream corridors and acres) is shown in the northwest quadrant of the provide access to the Town's future Northwest village pattern. The park is located in this Community Park. quadrant based on the natural physical boundaries of the area. This park will help meet the future An interconnected grid street system is proposed, recreational needs of residents. The park will also which would disperse traffic and promote a help to preserve existing neighborhoods by pedestrian-friendly environment. The opportunity buffering them from future development. Finally, also exists to utilize the adjacent rail line as a the park will buffer future development from the transportation corridor. southern portion of the existing landfill. The perennial stream corridors are shown as potential greenways that could provide a network LEGEND connecting the village area with surrounding residential areas. In particular, it is recommended that a greenway be established that would ��������� TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR connect the Town's Northern Community Park VILLAGE CENTER (along N.C. 86) to the new Community Park (on V� the northwest side of the village pattern). Various open spaces in the village area would also be OTRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR incorporated into the greenway network. ACCESS POINTS Elsewhere in the area, residential development is 10 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE shown, with density generally decreasing as 6 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE distance from the village center increases. 4 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE Residential densities to the north and west vary 2 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE from one to two units per acre. Residential areas 1 DWELLING UNIT PER ACRE east of the rail line and west of N.C. 86 show a density of 4 units per acre. EMPLOYMENT CAMPUS MIXED USE The easternmost portion of the study area, on the OFFICE / INSTITUTIONAL north side of Weaver Dairy Road, is shown with a density of four to six units per acre. The land AREAS TO BE PRESERVED between the village and the University's Horace GREENE PARK Williams Property shows a density of four or six units per acre, reflecting projected future development on the Horace Williams tract. Northwest Small Area Plan - — Page 37 _ Jr��o►►. . a� _--=-_�.� ,gyp 1,� .- ►•�n�� , cr -- •' a� � .; T.... � � i�i�}—r—� --irk FW am L IL ImmOlIVAImps Lop nil _ Or. ,mvl `1S 'I �'� ►��� 777 fir... . J-.w,.- p-.■ ago MILAN IA IMP IN �n H L51■� ```��.t' + . �_ ►i,•f• i �`��` v lob Revised 9/11/95 14 • r The Recommended Road Network Road A: This road is part of the Town's Thoroughfare Plan, extending west from the This report has utilized several building blocks intersection of Weaver Dairy Road and N.C. 86, enroute to developing a recommended conceptual and then curving south to intersect with land use plan for the Northwest Area. Building Homestead Road. A small portion of this road is on these criteria,this section presents a long-range being built as part of the Northwood V road network for the Northwest Area. subdivision. Depending upon the future plan for the Horace William tract, the road could In formulating the road network, the Work Group continue to extend southward to an intersection reviewed modeling data for both the road network with Estes Drive and/or Airport Road. and for transit ridership. The modeling assumptions used for this process are listed in the Road B: This road would provide an internal road Appendix, and the modeling data for the from the present railroad crossing of Mill House recommended conceptual land use plan is Road, southward to intersect Eubanks Road and included in the Projected Impacts section of this Road A. In particular, this road would move report. traffic away from the existing Mill House/Eubanks Road intersection that is next to the railroad The Conceptual Road Network Plan Map crossing. illustrates all of the local road network options that are being recommended for the Northwest Road C: This road would provide access for the Area and are described as follows: internal land parcels to Eubanks Road, Road A, and N.C. 86. The option would also exists to provide access from residents on Purefoy Road to LEGEND Road C. ROAD NETWORK Road D: This road would provide access for internal land parcels to Road C ai} Homestead 111111111 TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR Road. . Road E: This road would provide access from V VILLAGE CENTER internal land parcels to Weaver Dairy Road. OTRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR Road F: This road would provide access from ACCESS POINTS intemal land parcels to Weaver Dairy Road and N.C. 86, and would also permit transit access to 10 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE the Northern Community Park. 6 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE .- 4 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE X&!- This letter designation indicates that 2 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE intersection improvements are needed to maintain 1 DWELLING UNIT PER ACRE traffic efficiency is this area.The N.C. 86/Eubanks Road/ Interstate 40 intersection will require EMPLOYMENT CAMPUS extensive study and innovative solutions to alleviate existing and future intersection problems. MIXED USE Currently, this intersection is under study by the OFFICE / INSTITUTIONAL North Carolina Department of Transportation ® AREAS TO BE PRESERVED (NCDOT). GREENE PARK Northwest Small Area Plan Page 39