HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-29-2002 - 2a Afl�M�d 2�
MEMORANDUM
TO: orange county Board of Commissioners
Chapel Hill Town Council
Cawthorn Board of Aldermen
FROM: Craig Benedict,Orange Cormy Planning Director
Roger Weldon,Chapel}BD Planning Director
Roy Williford,Carrboro Planning Director
CC: John L'mk,Orange County Manager
W.Calvin Horton,Chapel Hill Town Manager
Robert Morgan,Carrboro Two Manager
DATE: April 17,2002
SUBJECT: Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan Asnendments for the Northwest Ara
The purpose of this memorandum is to report on progress toward adoption by Grange County of
the following amadmen6 to the Joint flaming LvW Usa Plan aM Map, presenter at the April
2001 Joint Planning Area Public flaring:
• Charging the designation of the Greene Tows from"Landfill Pending Furd,er Sand}"to
"Housinvvopea Space;
• Chm&9 the designation of land amth of BubaM6 Road ham "Open Space" to "Low
Residential';
• Changing the designation of Real north of Eubanks Raul. between the existing landfill
and MiWouse Road,from"MjxW Use Office Emphasis"to"open Space'; and
• Changing the designation of parcels between Milbouse Rand and Trumstate 40 Dom
"Mixed Use, Office Emphasis"to'Rmal Residential."
The purpose of these amendments is m promote consistency with the Chapel Hill 2000
Conprebell Plan.
Backaround
Is July 1998, the Chapel Hill Town Council initiated a revision of the Towns 1989
Comprehasive Plan sal 1986 Land Use Plan. A Work Group was appointed in the fall of 1998
with a ehmge to develop a cloth Phan to present to the Town.Council in September 1999. The
Preliminary target was to have a new Comprehensive plan adopted by the and of Novembet
1999. The 31-member Work Group conducted its work through a combination of public
symposia, public meetings, direction to staff and consultant, review, discussion, and editing of
materials prepared by staff and consultant,and a final vote to send the daft plan an M the Town
Council for consideration.
The Cauned received the report a the end of September 1999. The Council held two Public
Hearings and conducted three work sessions at which it discussed the drsft materials and heard
public comment. The Council also discussed a revised timeline for consideration of the draft
plans at its January 14, 2000 Planning Session. At that tim% the Council set target goals of
adoptingthe Downtown Small Area Plan by April 1,2000,and adopting the full Comprehwsive
Plan(which includes anew Land Use Plan)by May 1,2000.
At the and of the Council's February 7, 2000 work session the Council directed the staff and
neultsnt to make adjustments to the draft plan in response to the public comments and Council
statemenrs. The Council asked that this revised plan come to the Council 9 its March 27,2000
meeting for passible adoption. On March 27 the Council decided he hold three additional public
Infammtlon meetings at locations around Chapel }lily on the draft Plan in response W a citizen
petition. The Town Council subsequently adopted the Comprehensive Plan on May 8,200.
On April 11, 2001, a joint public hearing was held to receive public comment on the proposed
amendments. A resolution approving the amendments was forwarded t0 the governing bodies of
Orange County,the Town ofCanbom,and the Town of Chapel Hih for approval.
Recent Actions
On May 7, 20D1, We Chapel Hill Town Council adapted Resolution 2001-05.07IR-16b (see
Attachment 1), amending the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Map, according to the map
attached to the resolution. The resolution would designate mo Grome Tract as Homi4Opeo
Space and leave the Neville Tract as Open Space as shown on the 1986 Land Use Plan. This
resolution was adopted prior to the convening of the inner jurisdictional Greece Tract Work
Croup(see below,'Greene Tract Process').
The Carrboro Hoard of Aldermen took action on the mnrndmente in Jwe, 2001,but the Orange -
County Hosed of Corumissioners have nut acted on the resolution to amend the Joint Planning
Land Use Plan sad Map. All duce jurisdictions see participating in a joint Work Group
coricurnmag far disposition of the Greece TracS as noted below.
Greece Tract Process
In 1984,the pace governments of Orange County, Gorham, and Chapel Hill acquired the 169
acre Orions Tract. in 2000, 60 acres of this property was deeded to Orange County weer the
provisions of the 1999 interlaced"Agrewneat for Solid Waste ManegmrenC' This Agreement
also gave the County and Towns two yearn following the effective date of she agreement to
determine the ultimate use or disposition of the remaining 109 acres of Ne Greene Tract. The
end date of the bargaining penal as defined is the Agevnent is April 17,202.
In 2001, the three governments adopted aprocess to determine the Whence use or disposition of
the remaining 109'asses. Ajoint work group of We elected officials from enehjurisdiction was
has met since October, 2001. The Work Group held a public founa on a proposal to consider.
three basic uses of affordable housing, open closer, and recreation an November 15, 2001. In
November and December, 2001, the governing bodies each adoptai resolutions mdossing the
three basic uses, with some variations in emphasis and issues noted. In February, 2002, the
Work Group begun reviewing options for a preliminary concept plan based on a site analysis.
On March 21,2002,the Work Group adoptW a draft resolution in mucept The Work Group:
• Reached substantial agreement on a concept plan showing aPproxcnately 78 arcs
emmsoked for open space protcctas by a conervaeon easement wd'appmximately
15 saves f afPordablc bounce;
• Fee not Jon reached agrecmmt on about l l acres regarding the deaig®lion;
• Forwarded the proposal to the[three governing boards and reconwmded they accept
it as an interim progress report
• P.econnmded the Beard of County Camaissioners protst its 60 acre portion by
autiug a conservation easement ago;
• Recommended the Chapel Hill Town Council consider initiating a small area plan for
the Purefoy Road arcs: and.
Sapporkd renaming the property an recognize the significance of the area to the
• headwetem for three important streams(Bolin,Old Field Creek,and Booker Creek).
A Work Group daft resolution requests Not each gaveming board agree to oxtmd the April 17,
2002 and of the batgaiove period in the Laterlocal Agreement 60 days to permit fmaliaing a
concept plan. The Croup asked the Managers m arrange for a topographic survey of no Purefoy
Rand sore.
Options for Proceeding
The Planing smfB of Chapel Hit), Canboro, and Orange Canty note the ftlowing Options for
prvceeding toward adoption of the proposes ammdmmts m the Joint Planning Least Use Pfau
and Map:
1. Adopt no proposed amendments to no Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Map as
adopted bythe Chapel Hill Sown Council on May 7,2001{or
2. Adopt the proposed mnmdments to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Map.as
adopted by no Chapel Hill Town Council on May 7, 2001, but leave the designation of
the Greece Treat unchanged from its 19861aad Use Plan daeimatin CTumre Landfill,
Pending Future Sandy')until a final use is censured£or the Grcene Traat;or
3. Adopt the proposed amevdmews m the Joint Planing Iand Use Plan and Map as
adopted by the Chapel.Hill Town Council on May 7, 2001, but dmlgnm three pass
(housing, open space, and recreation) for do Greene Tract, as adopted by the duce
goveraingbodies in Novomtier and Deuemberaf20DI;or
0. Postpone adoption of the proposed accountants;to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and
Map until the Greene Tract Work Group finalized recorrrmmcatioru for a concept plan
on the Greene Tract.
'Jhe Joint Planning Agreement regaGes ell three governing bodies to adopt the same resolution an
order to amend the Joint Planning]and Use Plan and Map. Options 2, 3 and 4 would require a
new resolution be drafted and Rewarded to each jurisdiction fer revicw by each jurisdiction's
Planning Hoard and approval by cachjmisdiction's governing body..