The public raised many concerns about the Obey Creek development plan at a public hearing with the Chapel Hill Town Council at the Chapel Hill Public Library on Thursday.
This meeting was the second of two held to inform the public on current plans for development and present feedback from past plans, followed by an opportunity for the public to ask questions. The Obey Creek development is currently in the second of three phases, which was added in Jan. 2014 to extend negotiations between the developers and town council.
The main concerns the public presented were how the development will affect traffic and housing plans in Obey Creek, which was said to have half of the units age-restricted for those 55 and older. Other questions addressed the creek’s capacity to flood, protecting its water quality and a piece of land that could become a school.
Traffic solutions proposed by the developers include joining new roads to the park-and-ride access of 15-501 and Market Street, extending the intersection of 15-501 with Culbreth Road and Mt. Carmel Church Road and creating a new ramp to mitigate traffic in the intersection of Fordham Boulevard and 15-501.
When questioned by the public, the developers were unable to answer many questions, stating they were not traffic engineers and a separate meeting covering traffic is scheduled for May 20.
Housing was the other major concern for the public.
“There is interest in housing for those who work in Southern Village and Obey Creek,” Jason Damweber, assistant to the town manager, said.
The council expressed interest in creating more affordable housing, along with the plans to create an age restriction for some of the units.
“This type of housing is for people who are capable of independent living,” Ben Perry of East West Developers said when asked about the age-restriction.
As a way to encourage interaction between Obey Creek and Southern Village, the developers proposed an overpass bridge connecting the two areas. The public wants this bridge to be crossable by both bikers and pedestrians without congestion issues.
The proposed school area will not be developed and can be purchased by Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in the future — but this would not occur for at least another 20 years as it is not within the developers’ means.
“The starting point needs to be the town’s long term comprehensive plan,” said Roger Waldon, the principal of Clarion Associates consulting firm.
The Obey Creek development will comply with Chapel Hill’s 2020 Comprehensive plan by making green space within the development as well as making it accessible by bike paths.
At this time, the development team is waiting for the North Carolina Department of Transportation to assess their proposed traffic solutions, so development will be at a standstill until this occurs.
Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
